Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-09-01

the glass in her cabin windows broke
into bits; n smell of sulphur tainted the
air.
Now. Aunt Betsey kneU the world
was coming to an end! Falling on her
knees, she prayed fervently that Tobey
and Jim and herself, and ''ole Mars
an ole Mis- an de chillen an Mars
Abram Lincoln an JEFF Davis an all
good Christians and miserable sinners
might be brought inter de fold" And
she was still pouring forth this ALIEN
bracing prayer, when night came bring
| ing son and husband home.
Their day had been very eventful.
They had found the town in an uproar.
A certain wild young cavalry officer,
with a name like that of a novel hero
Earle Van Dorn-had galloped into
Holly Springs with his reckless brigade,
before the soldiers in camp were awake,
TO their utter confusion and overthrow.
Not much blood had been shed, but all
the Federals were captured. disarmed
and released on parole. Holly Springs
the pretty little town-was out OF its
wits with Joy. Handkerchiefs and tiny
| flags-starred and barred-waved from
every window. Houses were thrown
open TO chance guests in gray. and as
few had time to enter, the gateways
were crowded with children. Matrons
and maids, laughing, weeping. shaking
hands, asking a thousand questions,
stopped only to regale their friends
with the delicacies most enjoyed by
these sons of chivalry-buttermilk and
onions.
Toward the middle of the day the
fO,,,, leu A,,,lI.~c-. IL II
house were fired. These held army
stores that could not be taken away
: delicate eatables for the hospital, boxes
of medicine, barrels of -four, coffee,
sugar, tea, whisky, brandy and wine; so
it was determ' ned to destroy them,
rather than leave them for the benefit
of the enemy.
The people of Holly Springs had
known by this time what it was to suffer
actual want, and they could but feel a
pang on seeing the fire lick up what
would have been life-blood to so many.
The black population found it too much
to endure, and for once taking the in
itiative. they set an example, followed
by all who had strength for the venture,
and so they hurried from all parts of
the town with wheelbarrows, bags and
baskets. and rushed rs it seemed, into
the very heart of the flames. They
would come back laden with whatever
came nearest to hand, and perhaps some
angel of the Odd watched over them,
for not n life was lost during their per-
ilous work.
Tobey and his father had their share
in all the excitement. Uncle Jim
skipped around in his white trousers
like patriot on an electric machine, and
shouted, "Hooray for Van Dornr' loud
er than anybody; and when the robbing
or saving of the foundry stores began
he was in his element. He went halves
with man in town who owned 90
cart, and together they worked like
Troians.
Tobey soon escaped from his father 5
eye, spurTed on by his own ambition.
He knew that firearms were stored
somewhere in the building, and he de-
termined to fit himsel out in way to
strike terror to the heart of every other
/ boy in the village. He ran up the
stairs, though the smoke curled about
him and little daggers of flame were
striking with wavering menace ut the
steps. Running through passage he
tried to dash into q room where he fan
cied he should find what he sought, but
the door was locked. Daunted for an
instant. he looked about him wondering
what to do. At this instant the thun-
derons explosion of the powder shook
the building with frightful violence.
Tobey fell, stunned. deafened and
frightened half TO death. When he
picked himself up he saw that win
dow leading into the locked room was
shattered into fragments. and. with a
spirit worthy of blue blood, he jumped
through.
1t was the paymaster's room. Some
one had evidently left it in hurry,
some one who had tried to save the
money just received for payday, as the
chests were open and their contents
partly gone; some one who had re-
membered to lock the door rs he fled.
Tobey was greatly disappointed.
What a stupid thing to find nothing but
boxes filled with green pictures. and not
a sign anywhere of pistol or bayonet.
The little boy had never handled any
money. never seen any, might almost
say. The crisp, new bills looked pref
ty, and with sudden remembrance OF
his mammy's fondess for FASTING pict-
ures on the cabin walls, Tobey thrust a
handful into each pocket and stuffed out
the bosom of his flannel shirt with as
many as it would hold. When positive
ly driven out by the heat, he bounded
down the stairs, the last living being to
leave the doomed structure, and worth
much more than when he entered it.
As night fell, Van Dorm galloped out
of Holly Springs as hurriedly as he had
entered. The town grew quiet, the peo-
pie dispersed to their homes. Aunt
Betsey at herprayers, as have said, was
surprised by the return of the wander
ers, both in n state of radiant Joy. Aunt
Betsey heard their account of the day
with many comments of wonder; but
when a full coffee sack was thrown down
beside her she merely folded her hands
and said: "Bress de Lordr' And who
wouldn't have said the same thing who
for two years had been drinking coffee
made ofgoober peas and sweet potatoes
They toasted royalty that night. and
when supper was over Jim climbed the