The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-28
"Them Brooches is Nightly Agin YER"

The war was just over, and Major
B., of the confederate army, having
gone back to New Orleans and exchanged
his tattered gray uniform for a new civil
outfit, started out to the extreme frontier
of Texas on business. After long days
ride across the prairies he was not sorry
after night-fall to come upon cabin in
whose window a friendly light was gleam-
ing, the only habitation he had seen for
hours. Counting confidently upon the
well-known hospitality of the people, he
rode up to the fence and called loudly
several times before he could make him
self heard. At last the door was thrown
open, and gaunt, gigantic figure, hold
ing pine torch flaming above his head,
came down the path and out of the gate
to see who it was and what was wanted.
He inspected the well-dressed, we'll
mounted stranger, who returned the COM
pliment as we'll as he could by light that
fell fitfully upon a stern face surrounded
by shock of coarse red hair and beard,
suit of butternut clothing, and pair
of enormous rawhide boots in which the
trousers we're carelessly stuffed.
"Good-evening," said the major, with
suavity. "Can l get a nights lodging
here have been riding all day in the
hot sun, and am not long out of sick
bed, so am pretty we'll used up"
The giant advanced, and thrusting his
torch near, took another long look, and then
said: "No, stree You KANT stop at no
house of mine."
"Well, how far is it to the next place p
"Nigh on seventeen mile"
| Seventeen miles l can't make that
tonight"
"P'r'aps you kin; p'r'aps you KANT"
said the giant, philosophically.
The major was very tired and very hun
cry, and condescended to expostulate,
"Well, must say / never heard Of a
Texan turning any man away from his
door at this time of night"
The giant shuffied uneasily on his feet,
and this appeal to his hospitality might
have been successful, but the major went
on:
81 am willing to pay you we'll, and I
wish you would let me have little corn
for my horse"
"You'd pay? You be derned swore
the giant, greatly incensed. 81 amt
keepin' hotel no. nor runnin' livery.
stable neither; and l amt got nothin' to
give yer, nor any of your sort"
Cali right. Then I'll go into camp.
Pm used to that. Any water about here?"
asked the major.
"Been a soldier ?" inquired the giant,
in Modified voice.
eyes"
(which side %
Confederate"
"You don't say so Where did you
serve and what's the name of your colo
mel and brigade commander ?"
Satisfactory answers were given to these
questions, and the giant, laying aside his
suspicious, unfriendly manner, said, heart
lily:
"That's all right. You kin stay year,
eff you want to. Git down. What mought
your name be? ,"
"Major B."
"Auy relation to General John B
and Colonel George B--2"
"Yes nephew"
"Nephew Git right down off that
horse. Git down, tell you git down
Come right in. Nephew Well, eff that
don't beat the Jews l fit the Indians
fur ten years with old Jack, and his
brother was colonel of my regiment" burst
out the giant and throwing away his
! torch, he almost seized the major bodily,
. and having helped him to alight, caught
up his saddle-bags and pistols, and led the
. way into the cabin, shouting to an invisi-
! BILE wife
"Looisy Looisy come here Here's a
: nephew of my old colonel. Git some sup
per. Kill chicken and make some bis.
cults right away, and be sure the coffee
is good. Be quick about it, now"
Q "Looisy" was not prepared to meet the
public gaze, and remained invisible some
time-indeed, until she had cooked the
meal her husband had ordered-when she
came in to make acquaintance-a pale
: delicate-looking woman, in perfectly
: new calico dress. Never was more cor
a dial welcome given visitor. Supper
) over, the two soldiers sat talking on the
g little porch until very late.
. SCOT any terbacker about yer close
: inquired mine host.
: Pipes were lit, and it was under thai
Z confding influence that he said, in {
J, shametaced, awkward way between the
4 putfs of smoke:
y "You must have thought me low
y lived cuss and no gentleman to turn vol
Il off like that, but dern me if didn't thinl
you was one of them Yankee bummers o.
: a Freedman's Bureau ak your pardon
for it freely. But you are the first of the
\ boys I've seed dressed up like a wax fig
gerl l ak your pardon again. A soldier
even if he fit agin me, would or been wei
come, but do hate buzzard bummel
{ worse than rattlesnake."
S Next morning there was a smoking
4 good breakfast ready for the major. Hi
/. horse, already bridled and saddled, wa
waiting at the gate, to which his host &C
companied him. As he mounted, tn,
giant, as if in justification of his want o.
penetration, waved his hand toward him
; and said:
"You see, major, them brooches wa
nightly agin YER" And as he rode off
: after hearty shake of the hand, ane
charged with innumerable messages t.
General John and Colonel George,
4 called out, " Better not be wanderin' round
: Texas in 'em, major; them breeches il
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