The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-04-24

( ia country Wnclc lnefc was TtDG.-
Ion and a government officer sided
with the rebels he was held guilty OF
, treason. Now, it struck me that our
secession was iii fact rebellion, and il
we were whipped, as / feared we would
, be, ! would be in bad box. | told
! my wife about it, and she reminded me
| had copy Of Blackstone, and ad-
vised me to read up on the punishment
of treason.
button paused 4 moment, and then
said
you see | was SO badly scared that
was afraid to consult anybody, and
beside there was no lawer at Blue Rock.
| had heard heap about Blackstone,
and supposed everything in it was the
law OF the land. So that night | got
the book and my wife and l looked
through it. | give you my word that
what we read made our hair stand on
end. Why, sir, we learned from that
book that was liable to be convicted Of
treason, drawn to the place of execution
on hurdle, hanged, divided into four
quarters, beside FORGETTING my property
and having my blood corrupted. My
wife burst into a fit of tears and threw
her arms around my neck. l blub-
bered little, too.
"'sJust to think said my wife, ''that
my Jimmie must be cut into four quar-
tiers like beet, and be hanged, and all
sorts of hornd things
''It is bad l said, and then | see
my blood is to be corrupted
GLOW can that hurt you? asked my
wife, after you are dead?'
"'Dunno,' | said, but / don't like
the idea
We'll, the long and short of it was,
we decided to skip. | made my ar
engagements about the property, as YOU
know, and we slid out one Saturday
night. We never stopped till we got
away out here. 1t was on the frontier
then, and bless your soul, the war never
bothered us. We never saw a soldier"
"But," said l, "didn't you find out
very soon that your fears were without
foundation ,"
"No, sir; it was years and years be
fore | felt safe. In fact, it was some
time after the war was ended. | had
begun to accumulate property. My
ranch was turning out well, and | had
leizure to read books and newspapers.
You bet l looked up that treason bus;-
ness, and found what monumental
fool had made Of myself
leaned back and laughed heartily
ooh, you may laugh" said Dutton,
''but my folly and ignorance were the
making Of me-"
'Nou would have done well if you
had remained in Georgia, / replied.
"No, | wouldn't I'd stuck to Blue
Rock, ana perhaps been postmaster
there yet, on a salary of S74 year.
Now l have ranch worth $4,000.
| have knocked about in the world.
s. every year to St Louis and New
Orleans, and | am beginning to enjoy
life. Come home with me and see. /
i've only twenty miles from here
| had to decline the invitation, as
was going to leave the next day.
"You can tell the boys, if you like, "
said Jim, at parting. Some of those
Blue Rock fellows are as green as
used to be, and | don't care what they
think about it. And, Colonel, tell them
that me and the old woman are getting
along just splendid, and that my two
sons and two daughters are the finest
lads and lasses in Texas"
As | rode off | turned when came
to the first hill top, and haIf-mile be-
low in the village street l could see the
eX-postmaster Of Blue Rock waving his
sombrcro after me.-.INaNta (Ga.)