The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-02

degenerated time no such thing occurred
Day by day the supply diminished an
the cakes grew thinner, till at length on
morning the mother announced wit
fearful eyes that the last of them appear
ed on the table before them. An om
nous silence ensued, broken by the en-
trance of Job, who walked around t
where his mistress sat and waited for hi
accustomed food. A sudden look {
intelligence flashed into the faces of tn
older members of the family, and tn
mother reading their thoughts, said:
"Nellie, I'm afraid it has become
question of Jobs life or OUTS; he is yer
fat and would last us good while, Q
else we could exchange the meat wit
Bob Crow for some corn, and hold ou
till the Southern army comes and leave
us something. 1t can't be long befor
they come to help US now"
"Kill Job |" cried the child, "I'd jus
as soon eat piece of Emma as to ca
him. Oh i! mother, just wait, anyhow
until tomorrow. I heard Uncle Jak
tell Bob Grow this morning that th
Yankee General had brought whole 10
of things over to Middletown and tina
the Rebels could get plenty to eat j
they would only go for it there. Onl!
Just wait aud let US see if it is so."
ANYTHING TO SAVE JOB.
The child's pleadings prevailed, anc
during the day there was confirmation
of the morning report. An old, gray
haired neighbor stopped at the we'll for
drink. He had meal sack on his arm
and told them he was on his way to NJ.
six miles distant, to draw rations for hi
family of orphan grand children, ane
advised them to lose no time in following
his example.
The Federal authorities, smitten with
late regret for the vigorous measures thai
had reduced the Valley to its present con
dition, had really sent store of army
supplies to the neighboring village, from
whence each family could draw rations
enough to at least sustain life. But this
clemency wss accompanied by such con.
ditions as to render it a great trial to any
Southerner who availed herself of it.
Besides, it was difficult matter for wo.
men and children to walk so far and car
~ away sufficient supply for even a very
small family, and there were no other
means of transportation. The matter
was discussed pro and con in the widows
household, and the motion 'slaid upon the
table" over night.
Next morning, while breakfasting on
few small potatoes, minus salt, there ap-
peared at the door Mrs. S., the wife of 8
neighboring farmer. She was mounted
on queer specimen of steed, the re-
mains of what had once been stout
plough horse, but now sad wreck of its
former self. Having been for weeks
hidden in the swamp it was gaunt and
fly. bitten, and one of its feet, which had
been stung by snake, was swollen to
the size of mans head. Still even such
q "mount" as this was considered rather
q "swel" affair in those days, and they
all focked to the porch to welcome their
visitor.
She, too, was full of the tidiDgs that
"there was corn in Egypt" was on her
way now to NJ, and wanted Mrs. B. to
accompany her.
"But, how can go?" quoth the latter.
~ can't walk so far with such load, and
your horse can only carry you"
"Saddle Old Bet there and try her.
She ought to last you there, and, maybe,
live to bring you back. Anyhow, it's
worth the trial"
All eyes turned upon Old Bet, who
was at that moment calmly munching
the contents of straw bed which had
been emptied upon the ground the even.
ing before for her benefit. And all saw
that though the spirit was there, the flesh
was ominously weak.
"Besides," added Mrs. B., give never
asked favor of the Yankees, or placed
myself in position to be humiliated by
them. don't believe I could do it."
Eyes you can" was the reply. ANY
thing rather than see the children suffer.
And as for favors, I don't consider that
we're asking any favor of them. It's
only getting back little of all they've
stolen from US, and I believe in doing
that whenever we can. Come, get ready,
and let us be off,"
eyes, mother, anything to save Job,"
up Nellie. And before she
knew what she was about, Mrs. B. found
herself perched upon dilapidated saddle
on old Bets back, hobbliDg down the
lane in the wake of her enterprising
neighbor, bearing on her arm the empty
sack that was to bring back food to the
waiting household.
They might almost as well have been
on snails for the iprogress they
made, and when they came to the river,
which had to be forded, it proved very
Rubicon 10 them. 1t was crossed though,
as all Rubicons are, in the course of time,
and noon found them at their destination,
where
A STRANGE SCENE MET THEIR SIGHT.
From all quarters were coming the
wretched inhabitants, intent, like them
selves, upon securing food for the hungry
mouths at home. Here q tired woman,
with babe on one arm and little tod
dler clinging to her skirts, appeared with
a home. made basket to carry away her
treasures of -four and meal. There q
twelve year old boy, dragging a little
wooden cart of his own construction, and
very proud of overcoming the difficulties
of transportation. Old men, bent and
gray, leaning on their stout canes, and
having slung over their shoulders the
cast.otf haversack picked up from the
deserted battlefield. Aged women, hob.
bling along, accompanied by tow. headed
grandchildren, and bringing neatly fold.
ed in hand their calico 'bundle"-hand-
kerchiefs. Shy young girls, with basket
and bag, blushing under the impudent
leers and coarse jests of the loa6ng soldi.
cry. All were there, but never man
appeared among them capable of bearing
arms. These were all with Lee and
Rosser at their posts of duty. Two or
three sorry wrecks of horsefesh, similar
to those we've described, were fastened
near the commissary quarters, with these
exceptions, the applicants we're all afoot.
AS our two friends rode into view they
were greeted with laughter and jeers by