The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-03-23
ROSES DE GUERRE.

one june day of 1864, for the soldier
boys were coming-the ones in gray
and they would of course be very
hungry, condition that had become
chronic with Confederate soldiers by
that time! They were to march rapidly
through the town, and whatever hospi-
tally was to be shown them must be in
a sort OF passover form. So the town
folk were making busy preparation to
waylay the regiments on the street with
bread, and meat, and coffee-rye coffee!
and buttermilk, and sorghum molass-
es ginger cakes, and blackberry wine,
and hOme-brewed ale.
You would have taken it for market
day in some Old World village, so ami
mated was the thronged street, and with
people in such queer costumes. The
dignitied matron and the doucest maid
wore complacently furniture calico of
the most startling patterns; gray and
blue domestic" was made to fit slender
waists, whose ante-bellum silk and vel
vet had given out; hats and bonnets
were of all shapes and no shapes, all
home-plaited Of wheat straw; old silk
stocking legs figured as well-fitting
gauntlets, and the more stylish wore
shapely gloves of chamois skin, which
had known the good effects of soap and
water, since it used to rub the family
silver. Trim feet were covered with
hand-knit stockings, the cotton having
been spun in the winter evening, when
reading was scarce for want of new
books, and letter-writing scanty because
of ten-cent stamps, and sociabilities few
because there were no beaux and no re-
freshments to be had; stout leather
shoes, of village manufacture, were
laced over these primitive hose, with
heels the farthest possible remove from
French. Men were conspicuously alb
sent, only old men and boys represent
ing the sex, except where some sleek
publican managed to put government
Office between himself and hot bullets.
This was the picture presented by the
long struggling main street, as Lauder
dale awaited the soldiers, that bright
summer day.
Cary Brook, however, was not lend
ing herself to this good work of cater
ing; she seemed to be devoting herself
to the esthetic instincts of the soldiers,
for the adornment of her dainty self
occupied an unusual time. And yet
Colonel Bird, of the 101st Mississippi.
was not in the division which was to
pass through Lauderdale that day; but
when does not pretty girl think that
ner lover may "happcn along" Oh, if
you knew what funny clothes were
wore in those days! And if you could
believe how serenely fine we felt in the
queer buds! Cary's dress on that par
ticular morning was of homespun cotton
that is, woven in the county, fifteen
dollars yard, ten yards to a dress;
sotal, one hundred and fifty dollars. 1t
was new and fresh, fitting her "slim
elegance" as Howells says, "as the
sheath of the flower fits the flower"
Brown lengths of hair ornamented her
shapely head with lavish beauty, but no
girl is satisfied with Natures adjoining,
and the long blockade had brought
Cary's stock Of pretty things to the
lowest ebb. The white frills were
freshly crimped, and throat and wrists
responded to their becoming effect; "but
oh for touch of color!' sighed the girl
with true instinct, for the somberish
dress needed it.
Why there, to be sure, were the Gre
vile roses, climbing right against her
window. Long clusters of small flowers,
white, shaded with many varieties of
pink, all in one bunch, and so sweet.
Half an hour later Cary stood at the
front gate, with the Greville roses inner
hair and at her throat, as intent upon
rationing those dear, dirty fellows as
chief of commissary. But they were
tremendously hungry, and after the last
bite that could be found in the house
had been given out, a straggler came up
and asked for breakfast.
"Oh, I'm sorry" said the girl. "We
shall have to keep fast-day as it is,
but would keep two at time if only
had nice breakfast for YOU"
The soldier took off his old SLOUGH
hat, and made such low bow that Cary
turned again to look at him.
ITO what regiment do you belongp"
she asked.
81 am just from the Lynchburg Hos
pital," he replied, "and am on my way
to join the 101st Mississippi"
The roses suddenly bloomed in Cary
Brooks cheeks, and she came out into
the road.
''Then must shake hands with you,"
she said. 81 love every man in the 101st
Mississippi
"Ah!" said the soldier, with a quick
perception of the facts in the case, $50
much the better for the 10lst Mis-
sissippi!'
"And I'm sorrier than ever not to
have breakfast for you" cried the girl.
"If you would give me your roses"
he said, with gallant grace, 81 should
not miss the breakfast"
She unfastened them quickly, both
clusters, saying archly, with one con-
dition-that when you reach the regi-
ment, you will take them to Colonel
Bird with my compliments.
ION my honor as REBEL" replied
the soldier, again bowling low, and car
rying off Cary's bright flowers.
"Now, call that a skillful dodge"
he chuckled, as he fastened after the
troops. at will not be perjury to break
an oath sworn on NON est, and having
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