The Wahpeton times., 1888-12-06
Their Thanksgiving.

Their Thanksgiving.
4 True Story Of the War.
"Aunt Eva, do let's keep Thanks
giving!"
Aunt Eva dropped the lint she was
picking, and smiled ut the handsome,
boyish face that was turned to her.
"Keep Thanksgiving, Royl" she
said. "Where did you get that
Yankee idea?"
II don't care if it is a Yankee idea,
Aunt Eva. Why shouldn't Old Vir-
ginia have a Thanksgiving day as
well as any other state?"'
"Torn in two by this dreadful war,
old Virginia has little to give thanks
for, just now. dear; but if the blessed
day ever dawns that brings us peace,
Inkeep II as devoutly as the most
loyal: Yankee does Thanksgiving,
Roy"
:. "Aunt Eva coaxed the boy, "you
might let Daisy and me keep it, any
how. Ireckon we have the best and
dearest auntie in the world. Neither
the Yankees nor the Johnnies have
done us much harm, and NANNY
Minty hasn't run off as all the other
darkies have done. Now isn't all
that something to give thanks for?"
"Well, dear, I'll think of it'll" and
Aunt Eva took up her lint with q
sigh, while Roy sauntered down the
wide hall, and then stretched him
self lazily on the broad, porch steps.
1t was q lovely October day. Not
a sound broke the stiffness save oc-
casional buzz of a belated bee, or
whir of a birds wings as they bore it
southward. A hazy mist hung like
a golden veil edged with faint purple
over the landscape, almost hiding
from the boys eyes the old city of
Alexandria, which lay in the dis
tance.
Usually Alexandria was as sleepy
and quiet as the day itself, but OF
lateit was filed with the noise and
hustle of tramping host. Here were
now hospitals and rests for the
union soldiers; here the loyal COVER
nor of Virginia had his headqu arters,
and it's streets were constantly filed
with Union troops coming and go
ing to and from the field.
Turning his head another way,
from his quiet porch-observatory,
Roy could almost see the tenting
ground of Confederate company.
So closely did the two lines come
together here, it was only by main
tanning the strictest neutrality that
the inmates of the Willoughby farm
house had SO far dwelt in safety, al
though very harmless foes to either
side might have been considered Miss
Eva Sands, her little orphan neice
and nephew and Nanny Minty the
only remaining slave of the many
who three years ago had inhabited
the row of slaves quarters that
stood just back of the large. pleasant
farmhouse.
As Roy lay in the sunshine
dreamily watching his sister Daisy's
busy fingers also picking white linen
into shreds, he became conscious of
the distant tramp of swift-coming
horses.
Running down the walk he saw a
squad of blue-coated cavalry go
sweeping by. Hardly had they van
ished up the right branch of the road,
that forked just beyond the gate,
when the summer stiffness was again
broken by the quick heat of horses
feet and troop of Confederate SOL
diers, led by the dreaded Col. Mosby
himself, came swiftly in sight.
They galloped past the excited boy
to the forks of the road and then
paused irresolutely.
"Did they go up or down, won
der?" the leader said; then catching
sight of the boy leaning on the fence,
he cried:
(Which way?"
"Up!" Roy answered, startled at
the sudden question, and then his
heart gave q great throb, for he
knew he had given information to an
enemy, thing his aunt had so often
cautioned him never to do, and that
the consequence might be terrible for
him.
GLOW many men were there, boy?'
But Roy was on his guard now and
answered quickly:
81 cannot tell.:'
"You can give an idea reckon;
was there one company or two?"
81 must not tell, sir"
'Must not tell, you little Yank!"
exclaimed an officer. springing offhis
horse, II say you shall!''
"Come, come, captain: we have no
time to lose here. Forward men!"
exclaimed theleader, as putting spurs
to his horse he dashed forward, fol-
lowed by his men in hot pursuit.
Roy turned togo to the house, hap
py over his escape from the sold
ier's wrath, when distant cloud |
OF dust warned him that another