The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-12-29
A Rsnaa Scarf that HsiA . Little
CSstrahana.

Colonel Perry's vile had arrived al brig
sae headquarters The motley crowd o
eonirnbands grouped a6ou, the ontskirt'
Of the camp bad seen her In her eiose-iii
tins blue travelling dress, aud her shii'
bat with its long scarlet feather. as he'
carriage. ia which she "a, stately and
gracefully as queen, dashed up the sand,
road. the proud Colonel aud several OF his
brother field officers galloping alongside,
| elar now she's sweets a rose. She's
10 po'r sNodern white trssb-real, nigh
smart Of = lady; looks as pearty as my
missus Is'bel. said slight, brightfaeed
little darkey who had been all eyes while
the carriage was in sight. !.
Dyer hcah. niggersg he continued,
turning somerset which landed him IN
the thickesi OF grinning group. Less
we uns go up TO the Kun'l's quarters dis
ebening an show um how we folks down
soufkin dance, just to pay our specs to
de lady.
That was how II happened that the love
ly Mort bern bride. sitting in the door OF
her husbands tent. looking ont inio the
weired light Of lanterns, torches and
camp. fires which CLEANED and streamed
up through the messy, interlaced branches
OF the rosinous woods, heard approaching
nearer and nearer a curious confusion OF
melody rs the contrnbands marched to
the music OF their own voices up the hill
TO the camp.
Soon tne strange witching reirains seem.
ed 10 grow defined in measure and har-
mony, while here and there and oil about
her were shadows in dancing silhouettes as
curious aud grotesque as an artists fancies'
Well. well, you have outdone yourself,
my fine little fellow. she cried, as the
dusky sprite Of lad, who was the author
OF this impromptu ovation, tnrned aeres
OF somersets in his approach, and left
bouquet OF roses at her feet. What is
your name?
Henry Clay, missus.
Then Isuppose you are from Kentucky2
laughing good naturedly.
Yes, missus.
i will decorate you, then, in acknow.
ledgment Of the gift Of roses in honor OF
your illustrious name, and taking long,
bright. narrow Roman scarf from her
neck the charming young bride wound it
in the place of a Corporal's stripes, tying
the ends in jaunty bow about the boys
slender arm. The whole party, white and
black. shouted with laughter at the
antics OF delight in which the little fellow
INDUCED as he went ducking and bowling
and squiriming away and was lost amid
the darkness Of his. .ebon-hued companions.
Before morning an alarm ran along the
line which signifed that the enemy was
aprrosohing. The camp was hurriedly
broken up, the ladies' were quickly hustled
away, and before another evening the
brigade was under hot fire in one Of the
long; sickening conflicts OF the war of the
rebellion.
A week later the Colonel was sitting at
night.fall, looking far away over the smoky
horizon, ::and wondering what the results
OF the morrow would be, when small,
coal black lad, with brilliant Roman
scarf, knotted tightly about his arm, dol1ed
his Erimless hat in front of him and said:
Want to hire boy, Marse Kun'l? How
will do?
What could little fellow like you do in
such ajplace like as this?
Do right smart Marse Kunl? twirling
his remnant Of hat.
What il l shall be obliged to stay right
here in this earth work? Could you bring
me my coileeg
Try me All see. Marse Kun'l.
So that was how il came about that
Colonel Perry was dependent for six
dreadful weeks upon Henry Clay for
rations, and not, once did the faithful
little creature fail him.
Looking across the field plowed with
bali aud shell. he would see, from day to
day, the tiny black Of boy, with the
Roman scarf bravely flying, as he zigzaged
back and forth, darting and crouching
while narrowly missing the whistling bull
let's and screaming shells, but always
turning up safe. and appearing from new
and unexpected quarter. He would then
produce the wcll.filled canteen marvellous
stores OF fresh bread and eggs and fried
chicken aud cakes from beneath his smock-
frock which was world too large for him.
One day Colonel asked;
Where do you get these provisions,
Clay?.
Oh, don't you nebber mind. Narse
Kun1. jes 50 Ions yer gifts um. Bout
two sights an go.by down back o the
old camp-groun' dar's IN ole auntie dat
Ibis in cabin. She's mighty glad. de
por ole woman is, ter earn little script |
desc haad times
But the ole camp is FIVE or six miles
from here. Clay.
Wal, now, dat's jes what knowed yer's
gwine ter AZ. Marse Kun1. Dyer know
dar's hosscs 'nuf all roun, an 20 cant
lose nigger 10 de woods nohow. Nebber
you mind. MArse Kunl, Henry Clayll |
come up right Wild de biscuits ebbery |
time.
When, three months later. Colonel |
Perry was sent to the hospital, sick, Henry |
Clay went also. The faithful negro lad.
with the Roman scarf. now faded and be- |
grimei, still decorating bis arm, fitted
hither aud thither about the hospital ward.
stood for hours watching the Colonel's
restless slumbers. or lay and slept like an
Intelligent dog on the floor at the side OF
hts col