The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1880-12-23
rbc Spy's Story.


as a Codfedetate spy
"Never. But was mighty nea'
being caught up once, and The onIy
way escaped was by beng caistook
for my brother jim" Here the
smile on his face spread into broad
grin, and he chucklo1 as lis mind
wont back to tho serio conical a1>
venture. Tom Wood, or "Unclo
Tommy" ae ho was known in Gem
oral Lees camp, had mover been
with tho army ia Flanders, but he
had learned their habits all tho same,
and was perhaps as wicked u hunter
as ever shouldorod rifle.
"Bnt I'll toll you about how |
liked to have been caught. II was
late in December, aud it occurred to
mo that / would take my Christmas
frolic by making little scout out to
my home in Randolph county. We
were campod at tho Warm Springs,
and had nothing to do in camp aud
| felt lonesome like. AZ Christmas
drew on, got to thinking about my
old woman aud the Children at home.
They were away inside tho lines
of the enemy, and thought that
Christmas would be moro like Christ
mas to them If could unexpectedly
drop down among. SO shoulder
cd my old gun and away went, out
through Pocahontas aud down into
Randolph. l got along first rate on
my way out saw no Federals slip.
ped around their pickets, saw my
family, and after enjoying myself for
a season, started back.
"Of course kept out OF the way
of all the settlements and stuck to
tho mountains. | stopped at no
bodys house unless know them to
be true-bluo Southernors. One
night came to tho Greoubriar. and
Just rs datk came on "A heavy sleet
set in. | was cold, tired aud hun,
cry, aud the only house whore
J could ind shelter was the homo of
old Billy johnson, whom | knew to
DO the most ultra Union man in all the
region. | bad no personal acquuin-
= tauco with him, and didn't think that
he had ever seeu me, 80 concluded
TO risk myself unior bis roof that
nigh. anyway. 1t was my purpose
to give hin q fictitious name, for
felt pretty sugo that II iis discover.
ed that was Tom Wood, the rebel
scout. would not 1.-Two to SEQ day
light. Mastering up courage, an
helped along 10y tho wot aul cold,
sought refuge under Johuson's roo
and was Hospitality received. While
sitting by the lre warming myself,
Johnson kept looking in TO my face
: earnestly, when all at once be rose
from his scat, Approached, aud
: standing directly in front Of me
says Ain t your name Wood :"
"Horo was a poser, aud | thought
, l was caught. | know that il ho re,
cognized me it would do no good to
. lie about it, so owned up aud said
that was my name, "Well," saii
. he, "this is Brother Jimmy Wood
: ain't it T.
"This relieved me. You SEQ hc
l mistook me for brother jim, and
seeing how it was, 1 humorcd The
mistake, though Jim is BLASTED
sight ugler man than me. You sec
jim is Methodist and leader il
y the church, aud so is johnson, and
that's how he called me 'Brothe
Wood And then he sat down aud
talked over old times and tho camp
meeting in the hills. aud wa
! willing he should most do of The
: talking.
81 got along very we'll until W
sat up to supper, when johnson call
cd on me to say grace. 1 had don
s many hard days work; had been oil
a many long scout, have been il
= some mighty hard fights but tel
@ you honestly, boys, tho hardest an'
), hottest work / ever done was to 60
: out that blessing in genteel way
d At bed time Brother johnson pu
the Bible on the stand, snuffed th
candle and asked me to lead in fami
g ly worship. I read chapter in tn
l. book, and kneeling down offered a
'r the first prayer OF my life, not for
8 getting to pray for the restoratio