The National tribune., 1883-12-20
\ QUEER CHRISTMAS,
And How Little Alice Came to See a
Battle Fought.

than an hour the pace of the soldiers had lag
ged, and many a wistful look had been cast at
the smooth lawns ON the right of the road, and
even at the ploughed land on the left; for the
march was on dusty road in Louisiana and
the road followed the windings Of bayou on
the hank of which the planters had built their
mansion houses. Adjoining each house was
the congregation of negro cabins and slightly
built sheds that die duty IN that climate for
stables; and there were sugar-bouses-g great
brick bUildngs-where about Christmas time
flowed the sweet sap of the cane. All these
buildings stretched along the bank OF the
stream and faced the road, and between the
road and the stream, surrounding the build
ings the grass was green and beautiful 10 the
eye aud still more beautiful and soft and CON-
foriine and altogether s2ti sfactoTy to The tired
limbs OF tac soldiers tls2n tae rich arabic land
on the other side OF Tie way, which stretched
AWAY mile or more, Level as table to the
dense swamp beyond.
For two or three days the troops had been on
the march through tLss country. and as fortune
would have II ihe saine soldiers had every
night SEPT Ga the dirt, while others Of the
same co Gna had been tod of to the right of
the way ca 10 The ereensw&rd. Hence there
was grambiiilg or. soldiers say, growing,
without which grulnhlinc or growing no army
was ever worth its bars tack. 1t is said, or in
the good old days OF wooden ships 1t used TO
be sad. While sac creeks she holds and
50 of soldiers, while they erowl they alive
and rcsolate and reliable, and will hold fast.
) cessation OF growing indicates the apathy OF
despair.
The column moved slowly along amidst
great cloud o. dust Of its own raising. IL yea
had stood as little Alice Hclisaw stood, ly
the wayside ana seen its approach, yen would
have seen, as SIC. poor child. saw, how az army
moves in an enemy country.
She was filing tiny water pail on the bank
OF the bayou at the rear OF her fathers house,
when she heard the tramp Of horses feet,
and, looking up, saw close 10 her mounted
man IN a blue uniform The man had fall
beard and sharp features; his right hand sup
ported a carbine the breach of which rested on
the pomlnel Of his saddle; a saber dangled at
his SIDE revolver was stuck in his belt
haversack was slGng oyer his shoulders, and
he and everything on him, and his horse and
everything on him, was powdered with dust
Alice knew him for Yankee, and her heart
stood still with fear, but the soldier hardly
noticed her and she ran TO the house and
looked over 20 the road. But between the
house and the road was another soldier, who
might have been twin brother of the first; and
IN the read was another, and IN the ploughed
fields beyond was line of them, and the whole
line was moving slowly along. This was the
advance guard. Just in the rear of this line
was mounted man who seemed TO Alice TO
look more trim than the rest of them. as, in
decd. he might being the captain Of the com
pany. As the rider reached Alice, he gently
drew his Eeins and mis- horse stopped.
Who are your" he said, looking down on
the child.
Alice Hcnshaw," was the reply, and she
was about TO add please don't kill me-" but
the officer gave her no time for he said very
gently: What are you doing here alone? +"
was getting water for JEFF and Dot" said
lint
she's sick.p
Where's your f;1ther2v
Fathers gone with the soldiers
"What soldiersg"
"why, the horseback soldiers. the spe-
enough soldiers"
The officer smiled.
Where are the negroes?"
All gone with father"
Are there any horses on your placer"
!" Yes, sir: two"
Show them TO me" said the officer.
The child ran along 10 one Of the sheds and
threw open the door, and, peering into a very
lli-ighted Enclosure, the officer saw two horses
indeed. One Of the horses was a large, black
animal, the picture Of a cavalry stee5, and the
soldier thought he had prize ia him. The
other was Shetland pony, so small that even
little Alice might have put the bits in his
teeth On the floor stood half sugar hogs
head, which Alice had been trying 10 fill with
water when she was interrupted. The little toy
bucket that she had been using held about half
a pint; the half hogshead held-well, half a
hogsheaG; so any child can calculate how much
Of a task Alice had set for herself The officer
turned his horse from the child and rode
bTlsklT towards the moving line OF cavalry.
Corporal Cavan !" he cried to one Of the
men. The man indicated wheeled his steed
and rode up 70 his officer. IN hold your
horse while you bring out the black horse from
the shed yonder." The corporal dismounted
handed the slack Of the rein to the captain, de-
lbeTately uDbuckicd halter from the head Of
his own animal and advanced to the shed
where still stood Alice. The child burst into
8 great lit Of crying, at which both captain and
corporal were greatly dismayed, this being q
mode Of resistance with which they were least
prepared 10 deal
he wont touch your pony, child" said the
captain. " Sure enough, what would do with
the rat2" added the corporal
know that so5bed the injured one. Oh
course you don't want Dot, but Jefs shot
through tine Leg and lie can't even walk"
What does she mean I" said the captain To
the corporal. q BE CORA, don't know meself,'
was the reply; but it's something about the
black" Saying this, he entered the shelter
and in spite Of the demonstrations Of the child
he adjusted the halter On the head Of the black
horse and turned him 10 the door. Then the
explanation was plain enough. Really the
black charger had bat three legs: that Is three
lie certainly had the outward show OF four
legs, but a cruel wound, evidently from gun
shot, had completely disabled his right fore
leg, and the noble animal was ruined Cor life.
How was this d0ne?" asked the captain.
Then the child said that il was her fathers
horse; that he had ridden it away the
day before, and had come back on foot a few
hours afterwards; that he had told her and hel
mother that JEFF was killed by a Yankee bullet
Her father had then babe them goodbye and
had hurried OF, and AZ about dark that even
ing Je1 was seen limping mp the road 10 his old
home DC had on no saddle OF bride, said the
child, and some one must have stolen them, but
that was 10 matter. JEFF had walked into hi.
quarters as best he could, and she had fed him
and would feed him, for he was her fathers
Faith, sir" said the corporal, hes an
ould enemy, this haste il must have been in
yesterdays slrirrnish al the bridge be got this
hit, and his master had the luck to get away
"Mill / XIII hilng' be added, putting his hand
% his revolver.
= no, no" replied the captain, leave him as
he is, and, as it appears that there's only
women here, do you remain here as a guard
Look out that none Of the soldiers NEEDLE
with anything, and report TO the company al
might. after we have camped."
"All right sir" said the corporal and the
captain cantered out 10 the road and in mo
IneDt was close in the rear Of the advancing
skirmisb line.
II was then closer TO night than he had sup,