The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-01-12
CHRISTMAS is OVER
And Arp Tells Bow the Children Spent 1t.

crackers. Those chaps would slip ont
in the fireplace or the CRATE every nov
and then just to see us jump and bsal
the maternal ancestor threaten and scold
No more crackers now for year. NJ
roman candles nor rockets nor fzgigs, nc
kerosene freballs to throw around. The
show is over. The Christmas tree was
soon unloaded of its pretty things and
has been removed. 1t vas pretty tree
with its lighted candles and its popcorn
festoons and its freight of dolls and toys
and pretty books. Everybody got some
thing nice and was happy. I.got nice
silk cap to cover my defenseless head
and I'm happy too-so it is all right and
no loss on our side. Itcost some money,
for Christmas in its last analysis is the
paternal pocketbook, bry it is no loss, the
happiness is worth the money.
1.-TWO tigers shot this morning." ]
was looking over the leaves Of an old
diary, one that kept duving the war, and
that was the memorandum made just 26
years ago. "Two tigers ahot this morn
ing" 1t was at Centerville not far from
Manassas, General Joe Johnston's army
was in winter quarters there, aud the
winter was cold and bitter one, and the
days we're long and weary. There was
company from Louisiana called the
Tigers, and the name fitted them we'll, fol
they were wild, untamed and untama'
BILE set of rough, restless and determined
men. They were brave and reckless.
The first battle of Manassas had given
them a taste for fighting and they wanted
more. This winter quarter business did
not agree with them at all, and their
officers found it impossible to restrain
them, or keep them in military disci.
pline. They ransacked the naborhood at
their pleasure and committed many out.
RACES upon the rights of person and
property. On one occasion two of them
resisted arrest and struck their officers
and a regular mutiny seemed impending.
This state of things had to be bold
dealt with, and SO they were overpowered
and courtmartial ordered at once by
General Johnston. Their crime was
committed one evening. They were
tried next day and convicted aud con.
demned, and the Lext morning were shot.
Blindfolded and kneeling, they faced the
minnie rifles and received the fatal bul.
lets without q murmur or prayer.
Twelve men fred at each, but only six OF
the guns were loaded, aud not man OF
the twelve knew whether there vas ball
in his gun or not. They are not allowed
to know, for the guns are loaded by
Others so that no one man could say that
he had killed his comrade.
Speedy justice that. How unlike our
civil tribunals, where weeks and months
and years elapse before even a murderer
is at the end of his rope. What a con-
trast. These men were shot, not formur-
der or any outrageous crime, but for
striking man. This was part of the
war-a very small part-and excited only
a passing notice. What blessing is
peace. What a slavery is war. How
many heartaches there were for home
aud kindred during that long winter
when snow and sleet was our daily visi-
tor. Shut in our little tents it was a
constant effort to keep warm-that is to
keep healthy equilibrium, for it was too
warm inside and too cold without. The
best we could do was to scorch one side
and then scorch the other, and ever and
anon go out and tramp around to stir up
the blood. But we had company, lots of
it, for the soldiers were sociable and let
iters from home we're common property,
aud the news went round the camp fires
as soon as it arrived. I never think of
that winter with its long lingering days
and its lack of comforts, but what am
grateful for present liberty and peace,
and the endearing joys Of home. We
had a little tent about twelve feet square,
with cots for four. A little chimney
built of turf that we spaded up in squares
and nicely laid in broken joints-one
upon another and little fire place racks
for andirons and piece of an old wagon
tire for an arch. With such chimney
we felt rich and consequential, for but
few of the terts had such stylish ones.
We had whe, straw or hay upon the
ground, and four camp stools to sit upon,
and camp table and candle stick and
candles, wash pan and bucket, and this
was all of our furniture. 1t was enough
for a soldier-enough for the horrld busl'
ness of war-enough for them who had
no abiding place aud we're liable at any
moment to have to "pick up their tents
like the Arabs
And silently stoal away"
The prophet Elisha had no more than
we had, for the Shunamite woman said
'9et us build 70: him little chamber
and set therein q bed, and stool, and q
table, and a candle stick" reckon
that was a very fine turnout in that day
for it pleased the prophet very much-so
much that he wanted to do some great
thing for the woman, and said, "Tbou
hast been very careful for me-what
shall I do for thee?" wonder how
many prophets would be content with
such furniture now.
Sometimes unwclcome visitors would
stay too long and keep us up when we
wanted to go to bed. On such occasions,
Tip-the faithful TiL-would put an old
sack on pole and lay it over the top Of
the chimney and smoke US out. The
tent would get full to suflocation, and