The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-09-13
.Uncle John.s- sermon.

Now straighten up i'll your pews, chill
dren, and we'll have another little talk.
Let's see, left off last week with the sol.
diers .iabbing their bayonets into bed and
bedticks in their search for the Colonel, &c.
Well, when they came down stairs they
had sort of disappointed look and grand
mother says they ordered her aunt and the
servants and all hands into the other and
smaller part of the house while the officers
took possession of the best rooms. 1t was
the custom in those days with large fami-
lies to do their big cooking once a fortnight
and Aunt had just baked a day or so be.
| fore, oh. ever so many loaves OF sweet rye
and indian bread, and some cakes and pies,
and these the soldiers at once appropriated
to their own use and left the family an al
| lowance of pork. bacon, meal and beans.
While the officers were thus taking care OF
themselves the soldiers were not slow in
looking about for their share of whatever
was at hand. They had already staked
out few little tents and improyised COM
Portable quarters in the barn and out
houses and were about ready for any plum
der that might be available. Just then the
hogs which uncle had sent to the swamp,
with the usual perversity of the species,
came struggling back and tell you it was
only q little while before the soldiers had
the N skinned, almost alive, and hung in
convenient chunks over the fire to cook.
When uncle had the stock, cattle, hogs,
sheep and horses driven to the swamp an
old family piece in the shape of worn
out carriage horse was left behind, par
TALLY for the reason that it was too old to
get away and partially because it wasn't
believed that any one would find use for
her and so she would not be disturbed.
But the poor beast was not to be let off
that way and in little time one and then
another of the soldiers, without bride or
anything of the kind, were riding her pell
nell up and down the lane. Aunt was
Quaker of the sturdiest kind and believed
in speaking right out in meeting when she
had anything to say and so the command
ing officer was not long in hearing ftom
her in protest against the cruel treatment
of her old favorte. The officer, who from
first to last was veiy much of a gentle
man, reprimanded the soldiers gently and
had the horse returned to the stable where
it was allowed to remain unmolested during
the remainder of their stay. 1ou may he
sure everything was confusion worse con-
founded" about the premises at about that
time. What with the squealing OF the
hogs, the quacking of ducks. and cackling
of hens and geese it was indeed bedlam
Of strange sounds. Then the soldiers were
noisy and boisterous, the servants half ter
rified and aunt in momentary fear of
something dreadful to happen. After they
had all squared away somewhat and had a
good cat, Il don't know whether they called
it lunch or dinner) small maurading parties
started out, few ON horses and some on
foot, to steal whatever they could find, and
bring it to uncle's, their headquarters.
We had as neighbors about then the Peaks.
Dickinsons, Pyles, Humphreys, Richmans
and others, each of whom felt the touch OF
the devastating soldiery and furnished
their involuntary share of whatever they
could lay hands on. Next issue will try
to close up this story. UNCLE JOIN.