The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-09-06

Betty managed to get along somehow,
and the good old mother seemed to
be insensible to fatigue. So it came
about that when the broken fragments
of Lees brave legions came struggling
homeward. that Mack was able to
hobble out on his crutches, and lean
on the rickety gate and hear the news
from some tired veteran homeward
bound. 1.-The last I seed NV 'im," said
a great, bearded warrior, in reply to
Aunt 'Mimas question, "wus in one
O. them fights around Alanty. We
was whipped, as we GIN ly was long then,
an broke for fence. Little Dick got
to the fence an we hollered to i'm to
throw down his musket, but he helt
on to it. reckon he wus too skeered
to nn'stan. Any how he jes' KEEP holt
on to it, an wen he clumb up on the
fence, a rail give way, an so fell back
wards, and then the Yankees fired
so fast that there wern't no tellin'
nothing about 1t afterwards, an we
lost him."
The little crop was planted, the two
women worked faithfully, and Mack
hobbled about on his crutches and
helped them all he could. Spring waa
come when the war closed. Summer
days had waxed and waned before
many of those inmates of northern
prisons found their way back to the
old familiar haunts.
The harvest was not great, but
Aunt Nina and Betty felt that the
millennium had come when they were
able to sit down and eat reasonably
hearty meal of bread and bacon, after
the wintery sun had yelled himself be-
hind the riffs of watry clouds that
hung above the tree tops. TIE long,
long, war was over. The shrill cry OF
the famished dogs of war no longer
carried terror among the hearts OF
these simple, out of-the-world-folks,
hidden away among the barrens.
Many time and oft they conversed
together, and the grieving mother
mourne ed her dead boys.
II can bear the loss of Eben an Ri
ley an Hamp, because I've got use to
it" she would say. but my baby
boy. Poor little Dick! l know the
rest aire dead and gone, but I don't
know wher' Dick is"
Christmas came. never shall for
get that Christmas time. / shall ever
remember how the poor, fool negroes
strutted and paraded, and fired the
old muskets, and had a big time.
"Cause you see, sab, de bottom rails
got on de top O. de fence" they would
say. And the soldiers who had miss
ed three or four Chrlstmases entered
into the enjoyment ofthis with renew
ed energy.
Christmas eve 1 was at Aunt
Mima's house. I liked to be with
them, and here Mack tell about the
Shenandoah valley and Stonwall Jack
son, and all his fund of adventure and
perilous escape, and mighty victories
and chrushing defeats.
Aunt Nina sat in the corner busy
with her knitting. Betty was popping
some red popcorn over the fire, and
Mack sat half in the shadow, saving
away on his fathers old fiddle, the
only piece OF personal property the
old man left to his sons.
Aunt Nina had been buried in
thought, and was q little startled
when she spoke SO suddenly.
Children, wouldn't you all be glad
if Little Dick would come homer Hit
seems to me that I'd be riconciled to
all the rest ef he would ies' come home.
That's all 1 ask of the good Lord.
Jes' to see my baby boy again"
''Then your wish is granted" come
q voice from the door, ''for your
boys come home," and in another
breath Little Dick was clasped in the
arms of mother and sister.
shall not attempt to describe the
scene. l will leave all that to the
facile pen of the emotional novelist,
who has the trick OF portraying such
things. Icannot Tor the life OF me re-
member to this day who it was that
rescued the frying pan full of popcorn
from the fire. | do not know how
come the fiddle bridge down, and
several strands of hair broken in the
bow. l know that after all was over
we begun TO realize that Little Dick
had grown wonderfully tall. He had
added nearly half q foot to his stat
ure and his fuzzy beard had developed
into q nice brown beard. He had
been in q northern prison. and in q
federal hospital, and he had walked che
streets OF many a northern city. and
he had long, long story to telk But
he had come back. Aunt Nina SEEM
ed to have grown ten years young
er. Grass grew on the graves of
her other boys, and she cherished
their memory, but the living presence
of her baby boy strengthened and
comforted her.
And now, am going to tell YOU.
g. eentdentially, that this story is
svery word true. | could carry YOU
to big lumber mill on the line of a
southern railroad. and l could show
you the superintendent, who walks
with G. limp, that is Mack. / could
carry you to a quiet home where a
sweet-faced woman, an ancient dame
and maiden lady divide the honor of
ruling over the realm OF the house
hold. Children irolic about the
premises. One of these women Is Mrs.
Loring, junior, one is Aunt Nina,
and one is Betty. Down at the office
| could point out to you . thirsty,
active looking business man, the own
er OF the mill and that is Little Dick.