The examiner., 1886-03-20

the events of tho mig Int came back to mo and I was somewhat surprised. Child like, however, 1 was ca, ger 10 escape the disagreeable and hastencI to join the
 usual morning crowd of children on our front steps.
 "Isn't it funny" began, importantly,
 "we've got on two everythings, Sb but
 dresses?"
 ''We'vo got on two dresses, too !' cried chorus of opposite neighbors (our play mates) and so they had. Whercupon my
 vanity was quelled momentarily in deep | dejection at my mothers lack of original | ity. "But you haven't seen the f1re," l said, in 8 faint hope of getting ahead. Your windows are not the same way"
 Little I dreamed that there would be few
 windows in that doomed city which would
 not on that dreadful day look out upon l the fire-f1end.
 And so we children went to our morn | ing's play. Soon the bursting of the | bombs came to drown our childish cries. We were hurried into our homes, and to scene after scene of such terror as even now comes vividly before me.
 l THE BURNING CITY. One by ono the houses in our neighbor | hood took fire from the sparks which flew | thick and fast before strong wind. Ours alone was saved, and that by the bravery | ttIIu O1 ttuut3 HAO oP4SeSu with her own lovely hands blankets all over the flat roof and then saturated them
 with water, which was supplied to her by l my mother and such of the elder children
 as could be trusted to do such work A | little below us the house of dear old friend was seen blazing and we went down | to help remove such valuables as could be carried away. We children were allowed | to go, too, as the other alternative o1 ! yXrpS dxyQY f1Nnr nn great fun we thought it to trot back and | forth with our small burdens, until we | saw man killed by brick which fell on his head.
 Our little Kitty tainted at the sight and we were all hurried home by our half- distracted mother and it was many days before we were allowed to leave the house
 We boasted an underground kitchen to our house which, at such a time, was thought specially safe, and here we finally collected, being reinforced by terrified neighbors who were without any such stronghold, until we numbered forty. The terror-stricken servants went from room to room, seeking courage from the two brave mistresses. My aunt, until quite late in the day, kept her place on the roof. My mother in twenty places at once ordering, rebuking, comforting and now and then finding time to come to us in q crowded kitchen with words of cheer or smile of sympathy. The hours crept by, the minutes kept by the booming she1l-the dense gray smoke, as of fog, 1 over all but no enemy was seen; hardly creature upon the street.
 There was nothing in the house in the way of food, save a quart or two of meal. l With so many to feed it was q very serious l question, that of dinner, and auntie sent l for Joe, our trusted major domo, for a consultation. Judge of my dismay when | she learned that he had gone for hours.
 along with the faithlesS Tom, whom my father had distrusLed. This was blow.
 Auntie and mother looked at each other l with despair too deep for words. s.Jeanie," auntie said, after a pause,
 ssthere is nothing for it but for 3oas to go. l You see I could never leave the house
 Nanny says they are giving things away at the commissariat. am afraid to trust l the servants alone. Take Jane and Cora 1 and-God keep you r
 And God did keep her. Through those deserted streets, where the shells were
 bursting every minute and where death
 seemed inevitable, my mother went and came back laden with molasses and meal. But no meat. Nothing was to be scorned
 however, and these provisions were greeted with rapturous delight by our anxious
 and hungry household.
 It was by this time three o'clock We
 were all dazed by the long suspense, the l frightful bursting of shells at the armory, not five blocks away, followed by the death
 like silence. Every window in the house
 was broken. My mothers eyesight was
 permanently injured by the effects of the
 concussion. Suddenly the long-expected
 cry of ssThe Yankeesr' was brought to us
 by terror-stricken negro. No one
 quite knew what was to be feared, but the
 terror was none the less real beause so
 vague.
 THE YANKEES WERE COMING.
 Surely enough they were coming-a | gallant and gay company of cavalry, can- I tering up the street. Our house was large and conspicuous and by the time the cavalcade reached it my aunt was at the door. There she stood, calm and stately, her grand figure and dignified | gentleness 8 fit protection for the fright ened children hiding behind her skirts and l the bewildered negro faces in the back
 ground. What picture of quiet bravery
 she madei Child as I was, I looked up | at her with wondering awe and thought she must be like the great Joan of Arc,
 the heroine. of my small stock of learning. She stood on the portico, between two tall | pillars at the top of the high steps, and
 signed to the leader of the band to come | to her.
 He was a handsome, well-bred young | fellow q remember my astonishment that
 this should be the easel and came prompt ly and courteously.
 | Sir" my aunt said-with what win ming grace and dignity have no words to | describe-sI see that you are gentleman. 1 We are household of helpless women and children, and desire from you some l guard or protection from such as may 1 prove less courteous than yourself" | COMPARISONS ARE OFTEN ODIoUS.
 s'Madam," he answered, standing bare | headed before her, Il will gladly leave
 you one of my men until l can see the
 commandment and provide you with
 permanent guard. And permit me to
 say, madam, that if the women of Louisi-
 ana had shown your courtesy and con-
 slderation for our feelings skere would l have been fewer outrages."
 She thanked him graciously, and her
 hospitality getting the better of her fears,
 invited him in to have glass of whiskev
 and water, saying as she handed it to him,
 "I am sorry we have nothing better to of
 fer, but everything else has been taken from us."
 He left an orderly, who proved useful in
 helping us to patch windows and more
 useful still ill a1laying our fears. He l cheerfully slept in the cold front hall,
 there being no vacant room, and bore
 with admirable patience the airs and
 graces of nine impulsive, one-sided chil-
 dren. H actually made friends with the
 boys sufficiently to induce them to accept | o lnff roro hioblxy