The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-11-26

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"Deadm
"Dead. Killed in the battle yester-
day when you led over that stone fence
by the farmhouse on the hill, sab.
The Confederate general bit his lips.
Then, muttering to himself as he rose up
and turned half away: "KilIed at the
farm house where led Some poor
farmer defending his home and little
ones. / can't stand thisl"
"Please, sir, Mister General, won't you
take my yed applet Papa growed it IN
his orchard. And he buyed me that,
too"
Here tho child reached its little flag,
trying hard to make friends with the
seemingly hard man, who was turning
away as if to avoid it.
sergeant Zeb, where did that flag
come from2"
"Had it in his hand when found it,
sab; it won't give it up, sab; says its
father gave it to it for the Fourth OF
July, sah."
Foff of July" piped the little waif,
waving the little stars and stripes over
head, there in the midst of the dark and
gathering circle of soldiers under the
OAKS. Inc RbUbThl obOOpO0 ohN
caught the child in his arms.
q Keep your pretty little flag, and
wave it when and where you like. Here,
Zcb, take care of this kid. Boys, we
killed its father by chance, yesterday.
Let us take care of it. We can't do less; {;
and, maybe, it will bring us luck. What
do you say, boysp'
The wild shout that shook the leaves
Of the oaks overhead startled the advo-
cate for discipline, and. turning TO Zeb,
as he strobe away into the night for an
other part of his camp, he shouted ::
Silence! and Zeb, discipline, discip-
line! Dash it, discipline or death, |
sayl and he was gone. They gathered
about the wild.eyed, rosy-faced orphan
with its little flag and red apple, and
many black and white and not over
clean hand reached out to tov with and
stroke the hair of gold that hung heavy
as corn silk in summer time over the
lads shoulders.
al found it in the fence corner" said
Zeb, "all q shiverin', and its daddy and
its nanny dead, shot down by stray
bullets when we stormed the place."
"Yes, and dar war rabbit right
aside ub him." said black face back il
the dark, over another mans shoulder.
"An' golly, we kotched and eat de-
; rabbit" chuckled another black man.
oval, we'll keep the kid; keep lin
till the cows come home" And with
| grunt of universal approval from all a
they gradually melted away, old Zet
hoisted the little one high up on his co
I lossal shoulders, and turned suddenly Il
4 look and to listen, for there was.a shou
9 down the hill ard a sudden sharp vol
l lev of shots above, beyond the ha
stacks 1t began to look as If this littl
l SQUAD of raiders had got into bite
G Shouts of the enemy down the hill; shot
Q of the enemy up the hill beyond the ha
stacks. Which way should the surprises
' and panic stricken soldiers fy2 The co
/ lossol old Virginia sergeant, with tn
child on his massive shoulders, was tn
t only officer in charge. The blacks wer
! hiding about behind trees, behihd eac
o other, under saddles, blankets, anywhere
a The shouts of the advancing enemy cam
v loud and clear from below and very neal
g The camp fire, the song of the soldiers
i had done the mischief. This little squa
d of ragged, panic stricken night raider
> was doomed The leaves began to ia
!, ike autumn time over old Zeb, the ia
and angular old sergeant.
k What plight for soldierl A battl
J. on hand and babe in his arms. Tn
}, old sergeant came near throwing 1t ava
o with the heap of negroes, hiding ava
/. under the saddles. Where was Stuart
W The sergeant put his hand to his ear an
d leaned to listen as best he could betwee
d the sharp volleys from below that wei
,r running tine prospects of the next year
n acorn crop in the trees overhead. II
could hear the clatter of iron hoofs o
a the high ridge to the west. The moo
was setting large and round and low
m Over the bare crest of this hill an
r against the moon he could see the Co
* federate cavalry pouring in impetuo'
* fight. Stuart, the cautious and wal
* leader, had escaped.
9. "Come menl We must follow our &c
Is eral on foot-any way to get out Of thi
of Comel Up by the haystacks and ov
rn the ridge"
G. The strong man started up the stol
in hill to pass the hay stacks. The chill
be as if it was afraid it might fall, wouI
ed its left arm affectionately about the gre
gray shock of hair. And that little q
eff saved it: that accidental show of aff'
ly ton won the old fellows heart entirel
nj Why, he would not now have pitched
tie aside with the terrified negroes for gol
%, Up the hill he led swiftly, the m
at following in groups, knots, 81
en- gly, armed, unarmed, limpin
, a leaning, erect in all manners of wa
ly, only so as to escape the Federals, cha
lie. ing up the hill from below. They COZ
ad see the points of shining bayonets ent
lie ing their camp, by the light of the bu
at ing fence rails, as they fed out of it, a
nd the black color had nearly all faded fir
ag the flying Confederates as they neal
er, the haystacks.
of Here the gray-headed old sergea
ks with the child on his shoulder, paui
his Tor moment right under the haysta'
to get his bearings The moon