The Worthington advance., 1881-03-03
HARRISON AND THE WIDOW.

HARRISON AND THE WIDOW.
In the twelfth New York Infantry
there WAS Il private soldier. who was
certainly Il man Of many oddities.
Seen at one time you would say that
Dan Harrison had blue eyes. Five
minutes afterwartl YOU would make
oath that they were black.
Dan also had wonderful control
over his voice. lie could mimic the
voice of any man in the brigade. He
could bark Ikea dog, bray like a mule,
whistle like Il bird, and was the won.
dor Of the camp.
There were yet other reasons why
Dan was considered greater than II
menagerie. He could drop one sluul-
der three inches lower than the other.
He could walk as if one leg was short
or than the other. He could work
his ears like a horse. lie could cramp
his hands until tley seemed to have
been drawn all ont Of shape by rhcu.
matism. He could make it appear
that he had a squint in either eye.
and he could raise his eyebrows clear
up into his hair, He was 4 farmers
son, genial, brave and good-heartcd.
and he was never tired of doing So,ne-
thing to am,,se us.
Soon after UeintZelman made his
reconnaissance. from in front Of Alex
.ndria down towards Centreville. he
sent for Dan Harrison. and the result
of the interview was that Dan was
engaged by the government as Il SPY.
His curious physical structure and
his natural GOODNESS and bravery fitted
him for such dangerous work. and
may say here that for three years he
was accounted the most daring and
successful spy in the service.
One lonely. rainy night III the ''e:.n-
ming of '62, Dan Harrison set out to
work his way into the Confederate
intyenchments at Centreville, charged
tosee everything that could be seen a:ul
hear everything that might be turned
to value to the Federal cause.
The spy left the Federal outwo>tS
and headed directly for CentrcviIlc.
lie met with no adventure that night.
laid III the woods all the next day. or
advanced under cover Of them. and ut
dark again took the highway. He knew
that danger lurktd in every fence
corner for one who skulkcd along, and
therefore put Il bold face on the mat
ter and walked briSkly forward. pass
ing quite Il number Of negroes and St'v-
crat whit" men without being dis
Iurbed. Just then many slaves We're
trying to reach the Federal lines. and
this fact got Dan into trouble.
About . clock, as he stepped brisk
~ along, patrol consisting Of thr""
men SpranS from the bushes aud con-
lie Il negro. when. finding that he WAS
white man, the leader Of the patrol
began asking leading questions and i'll
slsting upon prompt replies. For some
reason Dan thought best to change
his plans. Dropping his left shoulder
and humping up his buck, he replied
to their questions ina whining. drawl-
ing voice in imitation of Il l,alf-wit.
Laid for niggcr and captured Il
f"ol'' growlcd the leader, aS Dan be-
gan to ask silly questions and dance
around.
"Whar Ito yc live !" asked one of
the others.
lin ze-moon," drawled Dan. laugh.
ing as loud as he coild.
GLOW did y"u get down llcrc!'
"Oll-a-strinS-lla! ha ha!" And
II" jumped and chnckled as it hc had
got off Il good joke.
Well. suppose we'd hcttar give
him kick and let him go remarked
the leader.
''1Ie's no ngger, don't know enough
to he soldier. aud we'd better hurry
him along.
II don't know about that !" remark
ed the third man, who had all along
been silent. Il don't know OF amy
fool in this neighl'orhood. and we
shouldn't let this chap go until we
have closer look 1T him. Here. You
Internal idiot. do YOU know amy one
around here =
"MissuS BroWI,--\SS,,1 Brown -
replied Dan. using the first name that
came in his way.
Well. it's only Il step down thar"
said the man, land If she knows him
it's all right.
SO there Was a Mrs. Brown close at
hand ! No one could have been more
surprised than the spy. and nc rcarc!
he had gotten himself into Il bad
Scrapc. There was no course for him
hut to go along, and go he did. anus
ing the men for Il quarter Of q mile
with strange and silly talk. Mrs.
Brown WAS widow, living in a com.
Portable though small farm house.
anl Dan marched straight up to her
door. She was Il woman about fifty
years of age with kind face and
mothcrly ways.
Widder Brown. began the leader
OF the party. as he put his hand on the
spy. eve captured this fool down the
road tlIare. Tie acts and talks like a
fool, but we want to make sure that
he amt tricking us. lie SAYS that he
wants YOU. If YOU know him that's
all we want
'Missus Brown know TOMMY"
ci'cklcd Dan. us he boldly entered the
house and sat down, and took the fam
lily rat on his lap.
the widows vanity was /, bit flat
tered. in the first place that she had
been called upon to identify stranger.
ana III the next place she would lose
prestige if she failed to do so.
Mcbbc / know hinl--,nchbc | do
not, she replied as she looked around
Ter her spectacles. Somehow or
ether alluS know all the fools going.
and most OF EN- come around here for
''ttclS. Now. then. I'll look at him."
She put OH her spcctacleS took the
candle in her hand. and Dan was srru.
t,n'zed for Il long minute. He looked
up into her face and grilmcd and
ch'lcklcd. though his heart WAS in his
mouth.
She doesn't know him. whispered
one of the men.
The widow overheard it. and now
she was on her mcttlc. WALKING Slow
~ across the room to put down her
candle and spcctacles. she turned. and
said:
eS. he's a fool. and YOU are big.
ger fools for stopping him!''
"Tllcn you know him 2" asked the
leader.
S: I rather fhinE IT,,