News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-03-01
ROSES DE GUERRE.
BY ELIZABETH P. ALLAN.

Lauderdale, a little Virginia town, ~
ing between the Blue Ridge and the
Allegheny Mountains, was astir early one
June day of 1864, for the soldier boys
were coming-the ones in gray-and
they would of course be very hungry, a
condition that had become chronic with
Confederate soldiers by that time They
were to march rapidly through the town,
and whatever hospitality 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 cot
fee-rye coffee and buttermilk, and
sorghum molasses 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 dig
complacently furniture calico of the most
startling patterns; gray and blue edo
nestle was made to fit slender waists,
whose ante-bellum silk and velvet 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 cool
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
evenings, 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 refreshments TO be had
stout leather shoes, of village manufac-
ture, were laced over these primitive
hose, with heels the farthest possible re-
move from French. Men were conspicu-
Ously absent, only old men and boys
representing the sex, except where some
sleek publican managed to put a govern
ment office between himself and hot bull
lets.
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 lending
herself to this good work of catering;
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 1O1st Mississippi, was not in the
division which was to pass through Lau-
derdale that day ; but when does not a
pretty girl think that her lover may
''happen along" Oh, if you knew what
funny clothes we wore in those days
And if you could believe how serencly
fine We felt in the queer buds Cary's
dress on that particular morning was of
hOmespun cotton-that Is, woven in the
county. fifteen dollars a yard, ten yards
to dress total, one hundred and fifty
dollars. 1t was new and fresh, fitting
her "slim elegance" as Howells says,
cas- the sheath of the flower fits the
flower" Brown lengths of hair Orna-
mented her shapely head with lavish
beauty, but no girl is satisfied with
Natures adjoining, and the long block
ade had brought Cary's stock of pretty
things to the lowest ebb. The white
frills were freshly crimped, and throat
and wrists responded to the 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, We're 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 i'll her
hair and at her throat, as intent upon IA
tioning those dear, dirty fellows as a
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 so sorry, said the girl. eve
shall have to keep a fast day as it is, but
l would keep two at time if [ only had
nice breakfast for you.
The soldier took off his old SLOUGH hat,
and made such a low bow that Cary
turned again to look at him.
'"TO what regiment do You belong %
she asked.
81 am just from the Lynchburg Hospi-
tai, he replied, land am on my way to
join the 1O1st Mississippi"
The roses suddenly bloomed in Gary
Brooks cheeks, and she came out into
the road.
''Then L must shake hands with you, -
she said. 81 love every man in the
1O1st Mississippi p
"Ah p said the soldier with a quick
perception of the facts Of the case, $50
much the better for the 1Olst Missis-
sippi p
''And I'm sorrier than ever not to have
breakfast for You, cried the girl.
'If you would give me your roses, -