The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-05-15
ANECDOTE OF THE WAR OF 1872.

VIM. Mason, Sr., who was Il soldier in
the war Of 1872, and died ut Window,
Minn., one year ago last August, aged
93 years and months. The story is
given us have heard him tell it many
times, almost word for word.
". n. PETERSON.
During the fall Of 1913, Gen. - left
Sackett' = I1arbOr for Montreal with an
army of about l., 600 men. Being then
in i'll health, l obtained permission
from the captain of company to fall
behind and get along as best l could,
only taking care not to be caught up
ly the rear guard. The day that we
marched into the little village of
French Mills. on the st. Lawrence
river, WAS cold, dark ami very stormy,
one OF those extremely heavy snow
falls, for which that country is famous.
commenced to look around for some
place t" spend the night III a sheltered
place out of the storm. and seeing Il
small frame house by the roadside, l
knocked ut the door. and on being in
vited to 'come in'' entered and found
the only occupant Il woman, who was
OPiIullS llnA VII ttll Vlu-lhHlIlphCu iliItII
wheel asked her politely if she
would allow sick soldier to remain in
the house over nis sht and sleep on the
floor before the. fireplace. No" she
snarlingly replied, my husband is not
At home and don't propose to have
my house filled up with soldiers to-
night" With IL sad and despondent
heart l turned and went out, feeling rs
7 n II koG, oft fl,,
inhabitants Of Il country to its defend
ers. On turning around the corner to
leave ihe house espied rickety flight
of stairs leading up into the gable end
Of the house. paused and looked at
them for some minutes. the thought
occurring to me that | might yet get
out of the storm. Accordingly, with il
true soldier instinct, / cautiously as
cended the stairs. opened the door. and
stepped in. The floor consisted Of loose
boards. laid ac,oss the joists, aud
abounded in large cracks. through
which the fire from :he slr,cions old
fashioned fire place shone, making the
room quite comfortable aud warm. !
unslung my knapsAck. took out my
blankets, and stretched my weary limbs
to rest, doing all this with the utmost
caution, lest some noise should attract
the attention of lie woman below. but
the hCwling wind and driving storm
being in my favor, l succeeded admir-
ably. | had not lain there long ere
steps were heard outside the door, and
the woman, setting aSi1" lie: wheel.
FASTENED to open the door and welcome
Il clericall''oking gent ieman, wearing
Il long cloak. and w!:om she appeared
very glad to see. On entering he laid
off the cloak. and disclosed in one hand
4 dressed duck, and in the other a large
black bottle. The woman moved Il
table in front nf the fireplace, SGT Il
chair OH opposite sides, procured Il
string and hung the duck before the
fire to roast, brought out some glasses
which they filled and emrtird, and
then sat down to chat and watch the
duck as it roasted. Their conversation,
which, plainly overheard, would not
interest any one. Perhaps an hour
passed, when suddenly steps We're again
heard outside, appi oaching the door.
The woman arose, greatly a2lfAt"d,
and snatcl,inG the duck from the fire
and the bottle and gla*ses from tie
table. hid the former under the foot OF
the ted and tie latter in the till Of Il
large chest under the head Of the same
bed. The man seiZ'l his cloak. threw
it around him, and ran and hid behind
the chimney. al this passed much
quicker than | can tell it.. The door
then opened ard u man entered, com
pletely covered with SNOW, who. as it
afterwards appeared, was the Wumai! $
husband.
Il thought you was not coming
home Tonight said she.
Il did not intend to,' lie replied,
but it stormetl So that the man whom
went to work for did not want me. 50
returned. This is Il terrible storm. l
see the village is full of soldiers, and
fear they must suffer before morling."
''Yes,' suarled she. ''there has been
one here tonight and wanted to sleep
in the house, but would not let him. :"
Good God, wom;lI.' said lie, Il
wonld not turn u dog out of doors to-
night. It's terrible stor,n.o
Feeling a little encouraged by these
remarks. and perhaps. too, u little Ven
Omous toward the woman, l carefully
repacked my knHpsack, and restrapping
it onto my shoulders, went cautiously
down the stairs and again raped at
the door. The man answered the knock
and made the same inquiry Of him
that l had an hour or two before Of his
wife. Yes SIR said he heartily,
''come III, and welcome; my house is
always open to our brave soldiers, and
especially on such a night as this" l
accordingly went in, unslung my knap.
sack and accOutrementS and sat down
before the fire, when the man opened
conversation by reference to the storm.
After chatting awhile, l began to feel
a desire to taste the contents of that
bottle which l had seen so carefully
hidden, so [ said to the man: II have
a terrible pain in my stomach. Could
you give me little liquor of some
kiud?'' Il don't know,' SAID he;
wife have we any liquor in the housc?"
NO; you know there ain't. Why do
you :sk?" said she. No: to be foiled
in my intent to have that bottle, said,
''yes there is. am Il conjnrer, and if
you will give me Il piece Of chalk and
something to figure on l will presently
tell you where it isl ''All right, :"
said the man, and after Il few minutes
search he produced the chalk and Il
peck measure. l figured awhile very
carefully. and then turning to the man,
said: Under the head of that bed is Il
chest; in that chest there is Il large till;
in that till is bottle of liquor and two
glasses." The man went to the bed,
pulled out the chest, opened it, took
out the bottle, tasted the contents and
said: "Why, good Lord, this is first
rate brandy. Wife, where did this
come from?" II don't know. Suppose
you put it there YOURSELF" said she.
well, 10 matter, we will try little
of it anyhow" Saying this lie poured
out some of the liquor and we drank it..
Presently said: This brandy makes
me hungry. Have you anything to
eat?" How is it, wife?" mo: moth
ing cooked in the house," replied that
worthy.
Hand me that chalk and peck mea s.
ure again." said l. After making sew
eral abstruse calculations, turned to
the man again and said: Under the
foot of that bed you will find !. roast
duck.'
! If there is we will eat him." said
he. going to the bed and lifting the