Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-14
4 Tale Of the Late War.
From Our Continent.

hduNSl OdIes q IlIIlS virginia town,
lying between the Blue Ridge and the
Allegheny Mountains. was astir early
on one June day of 1864, for the soldier
boys were cOming-the ones in gray
and they would of course be very hun.
cry, 81 condition that had become
chronic with Confederate soldiers by
that time. They were to march rap
idly through the town, and whatever
hospitality was to be shown them must
be IN sort Of passover form. So the
town folk were making busy prepare
tons to waylay the regiments on the
street With bread and meat and coffee.
rye cofee!-and buttermilk and sor-
ghum mOlas ses ginger cakes and black
berry brandy 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 digniGed matron and the doucest
maid wore complacently furniture cal
leo of the most startling patterns; gray
and blue domestic was made to fit
slender waists, whose ante-be'ium 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 fy-
ured as well fitting gaunt-
let's, and the more STYLISH
wore shapely gloves of channels skin,
which had known the good effects of
soap and water, since it used to rub
the family silver. Trim feet were COW
cred with hand-knit stockings, the cot
ton having been spun in the Winter
evenings, when reading was scarce for
want OF new books, and letter writing
scanty because of 10 cent stamps, and
sOci&bles few because there were no
beauX and no refreshments to be ha!:
stout leather shoes, of village manufac
ture, were laced over those primitive
hose, with heels the farthest possible
removed from French. Men were
conspicuously absent, only old men
and boys representing the sex, except
where some sleek publican managed
to put O. government ofic . between
himself and hot bullets.
This was the picture presented by
the long, struggling main street, as
LanderdGle awaited the soldiers, that
bright Summer day.
Gary Brook, however, was not lend
ing herself to this good work Of cater
ing, sac seemed to be dev0tipg herself
to the esthetic instinct of the soldiers,
for the adOrnment of her dainty self
occupied an unusual time. And vet
Colonel Bird, ofthe One Hundred and
First Mississippi, was not in the divis-
ion which was to pass through Lauder
dale that day; but when does not
pretty girl think that her lover may
''happen alone" Oh, if you knew
what funny clothes we wore in those
days! And if you could believe what
queer duds! Cary's dress on that par
ucular morning was of homespun cot
ten-that is, woven in the country, SIS
q yard, ten yards to dress; total $3.50
It was new and fresh, fitting her ''slim
elegance" as Howells says, GAS the
sheath of the flowers fits the flowers"
Brown lengths of hair ornam ented Der
shapely head with lavish beauty, but
no girl is satisfied with natures adorn-
ing, 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 a touch of color!" sighed
the girl with true instinct, for the SOM
berish dress needed it.
Why there, to be sure, were the
6reville roses, climbing right against
her window. Lorg clusters of small
flowers, white, shaded with many va
rieties of pink, all in one bunch, and
go sweet.
Half an hour later Cary stood at the
front gate, with the GreviIle roses in her
hair and at her throat, as intent upon
rationing those dear, dirty fellows as q
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, Pm SO sorry" said the girl.
eve shall have to keep fast day as
it is, but would keep two at a time
if only had nice breakfast for YOU"
The soldier took off his old SLOUGH
hat, and made such 3, low bow that
Cary turned again to look at him.
"To what regiment dc you belong?"
she asked.
81 am just from the Lynchburg hes
pital," hereplied, "and on my way to
join the One Hundred and First Miss
issippi."
The rose suddenly bloomed in Cary