Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-09-08
A Crumb that Floated Back Pleas
antly.

lllt OulOl llOOpo W SlODo lliO Aih0"h0
sipi below, from Hard Times to Grand
Gulf, Blaii's second division of the
Fifteenth Corps found itself, after a
forced march for water, shaking its
parched thirst at the Black.
On the further slope was what had
been a handsome farm residence, with
its steep-pitched Southern roof, wide
galleries and background of sweet
scented magnolia grove. There was
no sound or sign of life about the
house, not even the bark of dog,
friendly or otherwise, and every shut
ter was closed. The house, like hun
dreds of others, seemed to be deserted,
and so it came that Blair and his
staff took their well-won dinner on
the gallery of the house, well out of
the sun.
An officer who had gone round to
the rear to find well became aware
of a woman looking at him from be-
hind a quietly-opened door-a wo-
man of forty, dignifed, ladylike, but
haggard and pallid with a heavy
woe. The officer touched his cap re-
specially, as he told her of his pur-
pose there.
"From what State are those
troops?" she asked.
"Mostly from Missouri and Hi
nois."
"From Missouri! My God! Broth
err fighting brother. Will you come
in?" When the officer had entered
she closed the door, and in the semi
darkness asked in tones half-choked
with sobs, go sir, can 1 trust you?
My boy is dying. All! to lose him,
to lose him! Can you do anything
for him? You are a Southern man
by blood; do this for a poor Southern
mother"
81 will bring Gen. Blair to you,
Madam"
Not two minutes later Blair and his
surgeon were by The beusIdc vi III,
Widows son. He was but a lad O
sixteen, in the Confederate artillery
and had been desperately shot at Por
Gibson. What could be done was
done, and when the men marched
, there was not wanting in that wretch
ed Southern home such nutritious
delicacies and nourishing wines a
Blair's mess and the commissary'
wagons could furnish. The one toucl
of nature that makes the whole worlC
kin had met its response, and Blai
left with blessings. But three eve
knew of the circumstance-Blair, tn
surgeon and the staff officer.
: Whether the boy so desperatel.
wounded lived or died was though
of many times in the years since the
by the officer, as events Of the wa
. passed panoramically before him
but the answer never came until thre
weeks since. OF all places in tn
world,i came to him at Coney Islant
as he sat lazily smoking, looking 6
the curling white caps out at sea an
listening to Gilmore's Band in tn
), shell.
A stately-looking man, under fort.
came to where he was, and sat b
him.
"Will you pardon Inc making a
" inquiry ?" the stranger said. "Wel
you in the Union army, on Gel
Blair's staff at Vicksburg?"
The old officer answered Eyes"
these.
"WiIl you do me the favor to
with me? A lady wishes to see you
: By the promenade wall the old sc
der was led to where woman
sixty stood with a younger woms
and a boy Of twelve. The elder lac
- extended her hand, and as he place
his own within it, understanding tn
it was expected of him, he found
grasped convulsively. Looking I
% surprised, he saw that the lady's ey
were filled with tears. They we
not sad tpcrs.
~ "You do not remember me, sir
fo 81 do not Madam-yet the voice
He paused.
"Nor him." pointing to the sta
Unlocking man who had just accost
70 him. / do not wonder at that. Car
your memory back twenty-one we;
nv to where you crossed the Black RiN
on your march to the Walnut Hi
fe. and stopped to"
He remembered her then.
"This is my son, the boy
thought was dying. This is his wi
life. and this"-placing the boys hand
his-"is his son. Let us 60 where