River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-01-10
A TALE OLE TILE LATE WAR.
From our Continent.

between the Blue Ridge ana the Allie
chany Mountains, was asiir early on one
June day of 1864, for the soldier boys
were coming-the ones in gray-anC
they would Of course be very hungry, {
condition that had become chronic with
confederate soldiers by that time. They
we're to march rapidly through the town
and whatever hospitality was to be SHOVE
them must be in a sort Of passover form
Sothe town-folk were making busy prep
arations to waylay the regiments on the
street with bread and meat and coffee
rye conee,-and b Ittermilk, and black
berry wine, and home-brewed ale.
You would have taken it for market
day in some Old-World village so ANNA
ted was the thronged street and with peo-
pie in such queer costumes. The digni-
fed matron and the doucest maid wore
eomplaccntiy furniture calico of the
most startling patterns; gray and blue
domestic" vas made to- fit slender
waists, whose ante belum silk and vel
vet had given out; hats and bonnets
were az all shapes and no shapes, all
home-plaited of wheat straw; old silk
stocking legs figured as well as fitting
gauntlets, and the more stylish, wore
shapclY gloves of cham0iS skin, which
had known the good effects Of soap and
water, since il used to rub the family
silver Trim feet were covered with hand
knit stockings, the cotton having been
spun in the winter evenings, when read
ing was scarce for want of new books,
and letteT-writing scanty be-
cause of 10 cent stamps, and sociables
few because here were no beaux and
no refreshments TO be had; stout leather
shoes, of village manufacture, were
laced over those primitive hose, with
heels the iarthest possible remove from
French Men were c0nspicuousfy alb
sent, only old men and boys representing
the sex, except where some sleek publ
can managed to put government office
between himself and hot bullets
This was the picture presented by the
long. S raggling main street, as Lauder
dale awaited she soldiers, that bright
summer day.
Cary Brook, however, was not lend
ing herself to this good work of cater
ing: she seemed 10 he devoting herself
to the esthetic instinct Of the soldiers,
for the adornment Of her dainty self oc.
cupied an unusu d time. And yet Col
onel Bird, oil the One Hundred and First
Mississippi, was not III the diyis-
ion which. was to pass through lauder
dale that day, bat when does not a pref
Is girl think that her lover may HAP
pen along" Oh, il YOU knew what fun
nv clothes we wore in these days. And
if Won could believe how serenely fine
We ielt in the queer dudsi Cary's dress
on that morning was OF bomespun cot
ton-that is, woven in the country SO a
ward, ten Yards to dress; total $l5U.
1t was new and fresh; fit no her ''slim
elegance" as Iiowells says Gas the
sheath Of the flowers fits the flower"
Brown lengths of hair ornamented her
shapelv head with lavish beauty, but no
girl is satisfied with rature's adjoining,
and the long blockade had brought
Cary S stock of pretty things to the low
est ebb The " ito frills We're freshly
crimped, and throat and wrists res oond-
ed to their becoming effect bu. oh, for
q touch of c0iorw 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 Greyllle roses in her
hair and at her throat, as intent upon
rationing those dear, dirty fellows as a
chef Of commiSsary, But they were
tremendously hungry, and after the last
bite that could be found in the house
had been given out, 81 stTdggler came up
and asked for breakfast.
ION, I'm so sorry" said the girl.
ave shall have 10 keep a fast day as il
is, but would keep two at time if
only had nice breakfast for you.'
The soldier took off his old SiOuch hat,
and made such low how that Cary
turned again to look at him.
TO what regiment do you bel0ng"
she asked.
II am just from the Lynchbrrg hos
piial, he replied, can on my wav to
Join the One Hundred and First Mis-
sisSippi."
The roses suddenly bioomed in Cary
Brooks cheek, and she came out into
tho road.
Chen must shake hands with you"
she said. ~ love every man in the One
Hundred and First Mississippi"
"And Pm sorrier than ever not to
have breakfast for you" cried the girl.
"If you would give me your roses"
he said. with q gallant grace, 81 should
not miss the break fast"
She unfa-tened them quickly, both
clusters, saying aTcldy. with one con-
dition-that when you reach the regi-
ment. you will take them to Colonel
Bird with my compliments"
"Oh my honor as a rebel, replied the
soldier, again bowling low, and carrying
oil Cary's bright flowers.
Al, \ l. L.
chuckled as he fastened after the troops
at VIII not be perjury to break an oath
sworn non est, and having no honor
as q rebel; so l may keep the roses and
a clean conscience. NJ the kind fat es
give me a chance to tel that pretty re-
bel some day that she gave the roses TO s
Yankee spy"
The next two weeks witnessed MANY
rapid march and Countermarch, and
Lauderdale held its breath while the
dust Of its streets blew first upon gray
coats and then upon blue. Mean
hid gotten safely buck To his
own place anS his own coat, and early in
July entered the little mountain town
With Hunters army. The gala look it
had worn two weeks before was gone,
and sullen expression marked its coun-
tenance. No women were to be seen,
BOYS ". re kept carefully indoors by anx-
IOus mothers, and men had sudden ac-
cess Of fcebleness, leaning on canes and
halting in their gait IN 4 way that was
very comical to one who remembered
their aiertness two weeks before.
Two hours after his arrival our quon-
dom Mississippi man rang Mrs. Brooks
door bell, and was answered by that
mdtron herself, with an air Of dignified
defiance After q great deal of trouble
in persnading her TO allow HIM to see
her daughter for moment only, and in
her presence, Cary was summoned.
Again the soldier bowel low before her
this time rem owing blue cap instead Of
the old SLOUGH, and returned her with
cred but carefully prese rved roses.
"Tbcg leave to restore unlawful gains"
lie SAID II did not reach the One Hum
dred and First Mississippi, but have
never doubted that it has the abiest
commander in the confederate army
and the most fortunate@ Whereupon
the soldier showed that he had prac-
ticed retreating.
There came Il time when 1t was Colon
Ell Birds lack TO reach Lauderdale with
his Mississippi regiment The Greyville
roses had faded ,audC rey ould onl lind
October leaves With which to crown her
radian.e. Colonel Bird was more than
satisfied with the result; he elaine a
kiss for every smile or favor given to
others during his long absence, and they
brought out the story of the Gre Vile
roses and the so-called Mississippi
soldier.
"But there is one comfort, Edmund"