Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-03-04
"HER YANKEE"
AN DENT OF THE WAR.

There Is long lapse ol years De-
tween that time and tins, but the Incl
dent has lost none OF Its pathOs or
beauty, because of that.
can see her now as she trips along
to school, Il sweet little girl of years,
her sunny curls blown back from fair
forehead, her bright blue eyes glad in
the innocent happiness of childhood.
1t was in 1864 that there were IA few
prisoners of war brought to c. fol
incarceration and kept here several
months, well guarded. Little Sallie
passed the prison every morning on her
way to school, and, with childish cnri'
osity, though not eyincing any fear, she
would look at the gloomy place of con-
inememt giving glance of commingled
pity and awe a; the prisoners, peering
hopeessly frcm the small windows of
the forbidding house. The mea, weary
of the monotony of captivity, were
glad to see the little sunbeam as it fit
ted by, morning and evening, though
it left them l. shadow.
There was one. however, pale and
sick, whom the child GaZed at in mute
sympathy, and he in return would smile
at her until once he called her, saying ::
Come and bid me good morning, and
tell me your name"
Attracted by his gentle manner and
refined appearance, she approached and
said My name is Sallie, and what
is your name ?''
"Charle, "he answered; then he said,
MY dear little girl, If you have any
thing in your bucket please give me
something to eat, Tor am sick and
cannot eat prison fare"
II will give it all to you, but don't
know how to get it way up there"
ASK the guards to let you pass"
With childish confidence she went TO
the nearest guard, but was courteously
refused, aud going back, told tie
Yankee. lie then bade her ask the
guards TO pass the bucket TO him.
! Returning to the sentinel, she said 50
earnestly, please carry this to that
! poor man, who is 50 sick" that the
! Confederate soldier could not resist the
pleading eyes and manner, or the COM
passionate feelings of his own heart,
and taking the lunch passed it as re-
qutsted SO it continued for "A week.
| until the child was seen comiI 9 with
two buckets, one for herself, the other
for ''her Yankee"
She was afraid to reveal her secret at
home, fearing she might he denied the
privilege # feeding her Van ca, aud
when her mother asked her why she
carried two buckets and why she chose
the daintiest and best Of all on the Ia.
bic, she replied "Oh, mamma, it is
for poor person not able to buy nice
things to eat -" The evasion was par
uonable under the circumstaLc Of
ten did she deprive herself Of delicacies
to be put into the "othern bucket; and
so it went on for four months, the
guards allowing her to pass freely, and
her mother encouraged her in her char
liable deed, but never dreaming who
was the recipient.
At last Sallie passed one evening ano
the prison was empty. Her Yankee
and his companions had been eXchaLg-
ed and had gone to join their resp ctivt
commands. Sallie quietly stopped tax
ing his lunches and her mother snppos-
ed she had simply become tired of it.
Four months passed in comparative
peace, when the dread cry was heard
"The Yankees are coming - Every
body tried to be calm and collected, bu
very few succeeded. Soon the towr
was "blue," and Salie's mother had
her front yard and porch full of the
blue-coated strangers and among then
two Lieutenants and one Captain. The
lady had shut all her little children intt
the bedroom with the injunction, ''Bt
perfectly quiet
The Captain announced that he
would like To- have dinner for himself
and men. Pale and solemn, not afraid
but feeling that her inCruders were hel
enemies, sic left them, and going tt
her room to see after the children found
them "mute as mice" with the eXcep
ton of Salie. who would run to tht
window and turn the blinds. He
mother begged and scolded in an awfu
whisper-"Dcn't do that, Sallie !!
Just little bit, mamma. | won't lei
them see me,n an1 suiting the actor
to the wOld, she turned the blind very
carefully md caught glimpse Of fact
that she and she alone of all the family
had ever seen before.
"Oh mamma, there's my Yankee!'
she exclaimed, forgetting all precau
tiOns and instructions. LET me q
and see him I'n not bit afraid y
The poor mother, already in state o
bswilderment, thought that her brigh
and beautiful child had suddenly be