The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-08-31


house were fired. These held army
stores that could not be taken away
delicate eatables for the hospital, boxes
of medicine, barrels of flour, 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 as 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 a life was lost during their per-
ilous work.
Tobcy and his father had their share
in all the excitement. Uncle Jim
skipped around in his white trousers
Ike patriot on an electric machine, and
shouted, . Hooray for Van Dorm" 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 a GO
cart and together they worked like
Trojans.
Tobey soon escaped from his fathers
eve, spuTed on by his own ambition
He knew that firearms were stored
somewhere in the building, and he de-
termined to fit himsel out in a 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 at the
steps. Running through passage he
tried to dash into room where he fan
c;ed 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 a 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 a 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-
mem bered to lock the door as he fed.
Tobey was greatly disappointed.
What stupid thing to find nothing but
boxes filed with green pictures, and not
a .gn 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 mammys 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 herprayeTs, as 1 have said, was
surprised by the return of the wander
ers, both in state of radiant Joy. Aunt
Betsey heard their account of the day
with many comments of wonder; but
when full coffee sack was thrown down
beside her she merely folded her hands
and said: Dress de LOrdr' And who
wouldn't have said the same thing who
| for two years had been drinking coffee
made of gOober peas and sweet potatoes!
They toasted royalty that night, and
when supper was over Jim climbed the
magnolia tree and tied the sack of coffee
securely TO its branches; the bag of flour
he hid under che house, and into every
/ rabbit hole in the mound he packed a
can of fruit.
"What is you up to now, Jim?'' said
Aunt Betsey.
"Never you mind, old 'ooman, tain t
no fool head on dis nigger's shoulders
In fact, Mr.. Kinkle's wits seemed
preternaturally sharpened; and the
event proved his wisdom. The next
day Grants army came pouring into
| Holly Springs, and men were detailed
to search every house in town for stores
4 that might have been saved. 1t was
done thoroughly; those who had gained
! treasures lost them as speedily, and
were warmly thanked by the jolly sol
diers of Uncle Sam for their exertiOns in
the cause of the Government.
They called on the Kinkle family
Jim met them at the door, 81 clay pipe
in his mouth, his trowsers blue, his SEN
timents loyal.
ssMe got anything, gen'lemenP'' he
said, in a tone of great surprise. sWhy,
lor' was sick IN bed with the rheumatic
all day, an wouldn't a-been able ter
hav' acted like dem harem-scarem Mig
gers in town eff y had a wanted to.
IObey here, he went in, an somebody
gin him an ole powder flask. an a can
To- pineapple. We done eat de pineapple
| las night; but / know Mr.. Lincoln
wouldn't begrudge dat much ter a good
Union niger like me-"
This eloquence was not convincing,
and the soldiers made a pretty good
/ search. But they did not think of
! looking under the house, nor up the
trees; nor in the rabbit holes. So jim
/ saved his prizes, and held his head very
high all the rest of his life in cOnse-
quence.
Tobey said nothing about the pretty
! green pictures; he kept them for a rainy
| day as it were, when Aunt Betsey should
be cross. His night-dress was exactly
the same as his day-dress; so the bills
rested safely where he had placed them
and nobody suspected what q walking
bonanza he had become.
Van Dorn's raid was on Saturday.
Oh the MOuuay 1ollOWinS Aob0y vas
hanging about the smoking pile that
had been the foundry building, when
two officers rode up and looked sadly
on the ruins.
There's no use lamenting,' said one
of them at last; ''let us light our cigars
and 60"
the other felt in his pocket mechanic
ally. . have no Matches he said;
have you?"
"No, but we can light them from the
tire--so much good it can do us, at least!
Here, boy! fetch me a COAL