The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-12-01


An undefned feeling OF distrust flashed
over me. Although, as general thing,
the slaves were friendly to the Union ar
my, it sometimes happened that the
we're 80 strongly attS "hed
to the whites, they imbibed in full
all the unreasoning hate: their
owners toward Federal soldier5 The
house servants in a Southern amily.
very like the courtiers about a king,
were intensely loyal to their own mon
archs or masters. A master was mon
arch to his slaves. The masters wife and
children were loved and respected as the
royal family is generally loved and re-
spected by kings courtiers.
When 1 told the woman 1 would fill
the canteen myself, she only stood still
and scowled and stared with her old yell
low boney-bared arm stretched out.
Her manner was peculiarly irritating
coming from one in her position. There
was some excuse for a white persons
hate toward our army, but none for the
blacks. Unless the woman was an idiot,
bu6 LuuHL nave E&1OT1 II Jul AACAd4dCo
the freedom of her race
At this instant another woman appear
ed on the scene. This second woman
was evidently the mistress of the house
and of the slave. She was tall and fair;
pride and aversion and grief were all
plainly seen in the expression in her
face. Although dressed in the homes
home spun cotton goods, at that time
worn by all Southern women, her aspect
and air showed high breeding and re-
fnement. At sight of my uniform, SO
hated by rebel women, she turned so
pale, thought she was about to faint.
1 hastened to quiet her alarm by a polite
and deferential manner; uncovering my
head as to queen, bowed to her.
what does he want, Fanny" she
asked of the slave woman.
AS respectfully as possible, I made
known my want.
"Show him the cistern, Fanny" she
coldly said, evidently avoiding direct
speech with me.
1t may have been something of a spi>
rit of pique which caused me suddenly
to feel a strong desire to FORCE this proud
woman to look directly at me and speak
directly to me.
After the first glance at me, and the
palor which followed, the white lady
looked at the slave woman-not at me.
So-with an air of great Difference, yet
touched with authority, said:
"Perhaps, Madam, YOU will be so good
as to show me the cistern, and your SER
want will be kind enough to hold my
horse while fill my canteen."
She did not look at me, but at the yell
low slave, as sine coldly said, Fanny,
we must obey; he is our master. Take
his horse, and tell him to follow me-"
Again did the gaunt yellow arm and
hand of the slave, Gts skinny condition
and the extreme delicRcy, almost atten
uation of the white lady gave me the inn
preston that they were almost in a state
of starvation stretch out toward me.
Il sprung from the horse, and up the
steps, and followed the tall slender form
CT the mistress as she led the way,
! through a wide hall, to the back door,
and pointed, with her transparent hand,
to cistern in the back yard I bowed
and thanked her. She turned and left
me. 1 had failed in getting a second di,
rect glance, or any direct speech from
this proud woman. AS pumped up the
cool, clear water, and slaked my thirst,
aud filled my canteen, I looked around
on the place and house.
The scene was peaceful and charming
ly suggestive of domestic harmony, oil
love and affection. The house was nc
stately structure, but was lovely with
vines and flowers and porticos, I had
observed that tho wide hall had passed
through was hung with pictures. The
aspect of the place Indicated culture and
gentle breeding. began 10 have some
desire to know more of the inmates; to
break down the icy barrier; or rather tc
turn away the current of hate l knew this
lady bore me,-bore me because of the
uniform wore 1 could understand and
excuse the white woman's hatred, but
inwardly mathematical the yellow wo
man as a fool, not to recognize as friends
the soldiers who were bringing freedom
to her people.
After 1 had filled my canteen, anC
had started to return, a fresh and charm
ing feature was added to the scene.
chubby child three or four years ole
came up from the garden which stood
at the rear of the house. She was brigh
and rosy and dimpled, her hair wa
brown and Wavy and blown about; he
blue eyes looked at me in a frank anC
friendly way. She held the skirt of he
little short home spun dress, clutcheC
tightly in her little fat fingers. TIL,
skirt was full of flowers, red and blue anC
white; and pinks peeped from thu
folds and crevices and trailed down owe
the little bare legs and feet.
Now big and bearded, and bronzec
and hardened, as I was by four year
of hard fighting, deep in my heart, IN
der my soldiers uniform, was a tende
spot, which was kept soft and tender b.
thoughts of little four old girl. which
had left at home in Rhode Island, safe
ly removed from all sight or sound o
the cruel war. Too often did the tram
of soldiers, the rattle of rifle ball, an
the roar of cannon, make the awful lul
laby of Southern babes.
The little Southern Rebel looked a
me, glad light in her innocent eye,
she at least had no hate in her baby hear
r for Union men.