Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-10-11
Captured.
a SroRY OF THE REBELLION.

| '~''u-Nh'Ah- VI dlillH wis SldllOneU With
Jew men TO gsud gap in the Virgini
Mountains. The blockade of the who,
'outh at that time was very rigorous, an
supplies of any kind were rarely smurglo
through the union lines.
One morning as the lieutcnant sa
smoking in the door of bis tent, one of hi
'utlying pickets presen' cl him; self re:
md blown with running.
I've got 'em. sir! It's some of thin
rebels-hookin' it across the lines.
brought 'em TO with round turn!"
"WhereP" exclaimed the lieu,anant, n,
re jumped to his feet. lie was Young an,
Jealous, and had not yet had a chance t,
rove his zeal. Rebels bre ,klnr tn,
ines. well done, Wright
Ca ryiDg provisions, silr
mo dOubt-no donbt. Arms and am
nunition, too, of course. Where are they
We're they taken prisonersp"
| The man looked sheepish
'Fney're back in the W. Idl, sir. Ii,sj
'Ghed il along
| "L7 What on earth"
| Tne lieutenant followed Wright, who
IN TO the woods. dashed behind copse
nj hauled out little girl of about ter
years of age, carrying basket. A don
key stood beside ner.
There they be. lieutenant. She wa,
'oolin' it past the pickets, singn' Dixie
o herself rs aisy rs yer please"
| like your hands Off the child!
hought you had captured dozen men
YOU braggart! Who are you, my childP'
"fm Dora Netlley, sir"
| Dora WAS II chubby, freckled child, will
,onesl brown eyes. which reminded the
leulenant of his little sister away out ir
Michigan Still, important information
II ps and dispatches had often been car
led by women and children since the war
bagan, and this might be bearer of nfor.
nation, child though she was.
where did you come from, Dora?r
From Martinsburgh, sir"
And what have you in that blske,P'
The child's face grew red, she shut her
lips and remained silent.
"Search it, Wright"
"Here S tea, sir, ana a little p,ckage of
sugar, and here's bottle of quinine pills. "
where are you going with these things,
Dorap"
She looked wildly from side to side, her
chin q'ivering, and then she burst out
into passionate sobs.
"Oh, let me go, sir! It's my mother
She Is down on tho plantation, all alone
The negroes have all followed your army,
and my mothers alone and sick. lust
thought I'd buy her little tea and sugar
and the medicine"
GLOW do you know she is sickP"
"Patscy told me. Patsey's the coach
Io fplloXuaI no Il
Martinsburgh lie said there was nobody
to take care of her."
And you rode from Mart nsburgh here
On this donkeyp'
Yes, sir"
"And meant to pass the linesp"
Dora nodded and her eyes splrkled.
rhis kind-faced lad was not 50 te rib!e a
Zoe, after all,
"l was just going down the road.
| have ridden it on Spot hundred times
before"
Wrights face WAS eagerly turned to tho
officer.
"Oh, lit the child 60. leltcnant. What
harrum kin she do with her bit of ia for
ner sick mther? / wish I'd been in bett cr
business whin teched you. sissy"
IL wish you had," said Dora simply.
GLOW does it happen that your mother
is aloneP' asked the lieutenant. where
is your father?"
Dora's cheeks glowed a fiery red. She
looked at the ground uncertainty. She
was a quick-witted child, and had seen
he pity and sympathy in the officers
eyes. If she could hide the fact that her
family were actively concerned with the
coniederates, there was 4 chance that she
won be allowed 10 pass. But-to lie!
where is your father, Dora?" he
repeated.
"In the army!n she faltered.
Fighting for the union?n said Graham,
lnckiy.
rlere was a long pause.
lie S with Lee.' she said at last.
And your brothersp"
rhcy are with Dick Asby."
rhe young officer tur ned away impa-
GENTLY. He had hoped to find a 'pretext
+ being of service to the child.
walk down tho field bit, leftenant,
m keep yer back this way" whispered
Wright. I'll give her the wink to be eft
aud what harrums done?"
"No. am sorry, Dora, but l cannot
let you pass through the gap. 1t Is
igaiDsl orGcrs.'
She did not make any noise, but dropped
IN the grass and buried her face in her
hands.
Il want molher!' she SC bbad. "Oh,
want mother"
'Ye see, child" explained Wright, mo
support or comfort kin be carried to the
inimy."
"She's not an enemy" cried Dora,
angriy, "She's mother"
Come with me, Dora" said tho lieu
tenant. He lifted her on the donkey and
led her to the farmhouse, where the wife
of General R-had her quarters. She
was gentle, motherly woman, and he
told her the story.
81 am going to the commanding officer
to telegraph for permit for her to pass
the lines. You can discover whether she
has anything contraband concealed about
her. But would stake my life on the
honesty of the child"
You will have ride of twenty miles
in the hot sun, lieutenant" said Mrs. R..
"Do you know the chidP'
mo; but cannot help thinking, what
il that poor woman yonder were my moth
er and this child little Alice"
Mrs. R-took the girl up to little
chamber which she told her should be her
own until the lieutenant returned, kissed
her and left She felt impatient with the
dreadful turmoil and sorrows of the war.
This poor mother, dying alone perhaps.
and the child wandering through the
country! Why was there no one who could
set it all rghtP"
In the meantime Dora had hidden her
basket, locked the door, and kncoled down
by the side of the bed. She was praying
with all the strength of her little heart TO
God to help hor. And on the other side
OF the mountain, in q solitary house, her
mother lay alone, her hands covering her
pale, worn face, while she, too, spoke to
he same friend, who had been her friend
in whom she had trusted all her life.
Down the valley galloped the lieutenant
u stranger to them both-prompted, he
thought, by casual likeness of the child
to his sister. Yet was there not one who
could and would in his own good time set
all this turmoil and all others righp
At the end of the day Lieut.. Graham
opened the gate of the farm house. Mrs.
r., with Dora, hurried out to meet him
ar l,ooxr h ., rn,r E,oo Won he ro e,ooool