The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-09-01
TOBEY'S FORTUNE.

In 1862. Tobey was small black boy
living in Holly Springs, which was then
q Southern town unluckily placed in the
path of both armies, ST. that its war rec
ord soon became of the most exciting
nature. But none had an experience to
be mentioned in the same breath with
Tobey. who had fortune in his grasp
and never knew il! 1t is too outrageous
for belief, but it is literally true, and this
is how it happened:
1t was the twentieth of December
''the glorious. glorious twentieth" the
people of Holly Springs call TO this day.
Tobcy, whose other name was Kinkle;
was awakened early in the morning by
the sound Of firing.
cit up, pappyr' he called excitedly,
''don't you hear de shootin'P'
Uncle Jim Kinkle. who was snoring
comfortably in one corner of the cabin,
under a great pile of dingy quilts and
spreads, was slow in coming to the sur
face.
What's the matter, Tobe?" he growl-
ed in sleepy tones.
"Fightin's de matter" shouted Tobey,
hopping up and down. Don't you
hear the guns? Come out to de mound.
an wake up nanny, SO she kin come,
too"
He was off with these last words, and
Uncle Jim, now fairly aroused, jumped
up and jumped into his clothes in about
the length of time it was said to take
the wife Of BILLY boy" to make a cher
ry pie.
Then he dashed out, head in front. as
bull charges. He was soon with To-
hey on tine top of an old mound, from
which there was good view.
Great gran daddym cried Uncle Jim,
as he looked Jerusalem crickets!
Pharioh an all his hostsr'
A vigorous fight was going on; the
sharp crack of rifles and occasional yells
were borne distinctly to their ears. Sud
denly ringing cheer burst from thou
sand Threats; a mounted squad tore like
| q whirlwind across the field, with an
other in hot pursuit.
(Which is runnin'? Tobey," cried
Uncle Jim. ..My eyes is gcttin ole. l
can't tell tudder from which"
"HOoray fur de Ragged Rebsr'
shriekcd his offspring. DE Yank is
gittin over de groun' like skeered rab-
bitS- VNOOptt. dil us u SlSut.
By this time Aunt Betsey had waddled
to the mound.
as de wor' comm to an end?" she
asked, putting between her words like
an engine.
mo nanny" said Tobey, ode worr
amt comm to an end; but de Feds 10
whipped out, sho's you bawn."
"Look at yo' daddy. Tobe." said Aunt
Betsey; what in dc Lam is he dom ?'
Sure enough, what was he doing? He
had stepped behind a magnolia tree
growing on top of the mound and had
turned his trousers wrong side out. See
ing this a ray of comprehension lighted
Aunt Betsey's face.
go long wild you. niger! No
body's gwine ter notice an ole ijiOt like
YOU" She said with such a laugh as
made her shake like bowl of calf-foot
jelly.
II must be explained that some days
back one of the soldiers had given Uncle
Jim pair of blue breeches, and he had
worn them proudly. But, like the Vicar
of Bray. Mr.. Kinkle had no particular
principles, and meant to keep on good
terms with both sides. To-day the boys
in gray had the victory, and should he
stand confessed a partisan of the Union
BETRAYED by his breeches? Perish the
thought! He could not change them
however. for in Aunt Betsey's creed nc
man needed more than one pair at 6
time, and no sooner had her husband
donned the blues than she cut down hi:
old ones and put them on the growing
TObey. Uncle Jim, however, was 9
man for emergencies. A born turn
coat, he readily understood how to turf
trousers as well, and when he stepped
from behind the tree it was with snowy
legs aud face bsaming with rebel en-
thusiasm.
"rm gwine to town." he remarked
Don't you go roun' whar de fightin
is" said Aunt Betsey. you'll git kill
ed fust thing you know"
81 reckon de fightin' is about over
'ooman. We have whipped out the in
truders on our sile befo' sun-up," sale
Uncle Jim with dignity.
"Well, you'll want some breakfas' be
TO- You git off"
''No," smiling mysteriously. II spec
I kin git better in town dan what you
could give me-"
kin 1 60 wild you, pappy?" asked
lobe.
Eyes, chile. ! reckon you won
never learn no younger.
Aunt Betsy, rs is the lot Of women
had to stay at home. She fried SOM
bacon and roasted an ash-cake. and at,
her breakfast placidly. Then she bea
up her feather bed and MIXED the Gov
and tied the calf; after which she wad
: died again to the mound. Seeing moth
ing, she leaned her broad back agains
the magnolia tree, shut her eyes, ant
placidly went to sleep.
Suddenly she walked with a start
The atmosphere was heavy. In the dis
lance flames were mounting to the sky
Then a terrible explosion that seemet
to make the very earth culver threw he
to the ground. Others followed; tn
glass in her cabin windows broke int,
bits; smell of sulphur tainted the air
Now, Aunt Betscy k,eD the worl,
was coming to an end! Falling on he
knees, she prayed fervently that lobe,
and Jim and herself, and ''ole Mars an
ole Mis- an dc chillen an Mars Abran
Lincoln an jeff Davis an all goo,
Christians and miserable sinners Nigh
be brought inter de fold" And sh
was still pouring forth this all-embrac
ing prayer, when night came bringing
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 name like that of novel hero
Earle Van Dorn-had galloped int
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 a
, the Federals were captured, disarme
and released on parole. Holly Spring
] <ha v,~a<tx, 1;ftla xuickod rahal town-