The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-13
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
"OLD PONP."
The yankees were coming

The yankees were coming
1t was about daylight when the news reach-
ed F.. 1t had been expected and dreaded
for over week, and most of the stock had
been carried to the swamps, and most of the
gold and silver was buried; but there was lot
left undcnc that morning in June, and great
was the CONSERVATION int he sleepy little town.
But old Pomp? There was a sort of proverb
III F., that old Pomp couldn't be excited,
and iii support of that idea the younger people
told OF the time when the earthquake came,
and old Pomp was more immoyable that the
old red hills around him. while the Older pe0-
pie talked of the great nigger rising, y of 1920,
and remembered the fact that Pomp was the
only slave for miles around who had not gone
to the swamps.
1t had been proverb for forty years before
the yankees came. 1t had stood many tests,
and stood them we'll. But somehow or other
it was different when the yankees came.
don't suppose old Pomp himself could tell why
the yankees were more to be dreaded than the
earthquake or the niger rising. but as q 9mat-
ter of fact old Pomp was excited.
In spite of all that though. it was old Pomp
who gathered all the vauabes left in tho
house and buried them; it was Pomp who
gave orders about the hogs and tile grain and
the cattle, while every one else on the place
was too frightened TO think for themselves.
But before the horses could be driven off old
man Crafts Hezekiah came by at gallop on
the big gray mare that everybody in r.
know and had known for years.
lie didn't stop.
"For Gods sake, Miss Emily, you better be
quick. De yankees is at de bridget"
And then he was gone.
"Pomp, what can do?"
''Jes be easy Miss Emily Dey can't stay
always. III carry .le horses off and be back
i'll time dcy gets here"
"Pomp, cali Bull to help you, or you wons
have time"
Old Pomps face couded.
Don trlls' dat niger, please, Missis"
Nonsense, Pomp. He's been with us too
long for that
The faithful old darky moved off without
another word, and went TO the stables. Bull
was waiting.
Pomp glanced at the Bride in Bulls hand.
and then ut Bulls face.
"Dats lie black pony's bride, Bull"
81 Knows it, Uncle Pomp--'
81 takes dc black pony" interrupted Pomp.
sayagely. And as they were ready to start,
Pomp came back through tho house, and from
over tho door lie unslung the little black rifle
with the silver eagle on the stock.
Pomp kept his word, for as the yankees drove
up TO the gate from one side, he came up from
the other.
''Where' We You been, old man ?" said an of
ficer in blue. 4r
''Been to see ef could see You from de
yuther way, Marster,n said old Ponip, meeky.
''TalSe that gun, Hendrix" said the officer
to private who stood near him. And the
sIg s4Sy Gla sas .w.hlgA "a ss Il A haos
service against The bsitishers in two Was, WAS
thrown cpa care, into high wagon that was
The cerlaughed ~ Pomp indignant face,
and passed through the gate 1t wasn't long
before the yard was full of yankees. The
house, too, was full, and Pomp stood at the
front gate in o dazed helpless, bewildered
fashion and watched the sacrilege.
The bee hives overturned and the honey
traled over the yards and through tho house,
the smokehouse robbed, the beds ripped open
in search of treasure and the quilts and
blankets tossed whole into the big blue wagon,
or cut into saddle blankets.
And for two days it lasted The people
got used TO it, and after the wave Of
resentment passed off it didn't seem
quite so diabolical somehow or other Every
one had expected the negroes to 20, most OF
them, But nobody had expected enry Lowns
negro bull to go. That was day of surprises
though, and while it was occasionally men
toned, there were more important things to
talk about until it was remembered that Bull
knew where the horses we're hid.
A hundred horses is big loss even in war
times, and people in tho midst of their own
trouble would stop to wonder if Bull would
tell whore the horses were hid
Pomp said he would. And missis," con-
tinued the old darky "hit's mighty good
thing hid the little black pony all by myself.
They won't fin her."
"What makes you think Bull will tell
though, PompY"
'Well, Miss Emily / never did trus' dat
niger, an watts more'n that, when dey passed
by dc hill | was in do woods an seed ON
pass. Dat Niger Bull had Marse Henry's
black rifle and was riding biggoty ies like is
belonged to him. Yes, missy, he had Mars
Henrys long rifle, wa theIwas so proud Of, an
wat Use KEEP bright an tidy for nigh seventy
years"
And Pomp was troubled.
1t was nearly two weeks after that when the
battle was fought, and the yankees came back
They didn't pass through q, but 80 near
that the firing could DO plainly heard and
that night old Pomp was gone.
Even in those days Of treachery nobody sus.
pected that Pomp had joined the yankees.
But where was he?
The question was left unsettled that long
moonlight night, and just before day the
watchers at the big white house on the hill
fell asleep.
That morning old Pomp was at his little
cabin next to the big house. The troubled
look was gone, and old Pomp was himself
again.
over The door his cole missis" found Der hus-
bands rife, 1t was brighter than ever, as IL
old Ponp had made a special job Of 1t.
And at the shallow ford across Morning
creek, where the yankees had crossed the
night before, with the great staring eyes turned
upward, and look Of mortal terror pictured in
the drawn face and parted lips was found tho
body Of the runaway-Bull,
The blood had oozed and cotted from
ghaslly wound in tho breast, and had stained
the hOnespun shirt and ground where he fell.
Yon know how people talk. 1t was never
known really how Bull was killed, but two
years ago, whom old Pomp was laid 10 rest,
was told the story have given yon. IL Is only
known that POmp's lips were forever sealed
upon that subject, and that when he WAS
buried, as lie 50 often wished, at the feet OF
his 'ole missis," the long black rifle was
buried with him. q. W.
White House Incident.