Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-27

feld rheres . crowd Of prisoners to b
taken to Shreveport in day or two
A long and painful silence fell upon the
group This singular prisoner carried mus
ket Jim and John had no weapon more
formidable than their torches, and their
father was destitute OF even penknife.
Come On. boys said the Old man. turn
ing toward home The prisoner walked
along beside him, and the four took their
painful way along the road and up to the
farm hou-.
The prisoner leaned his musket up against
the wall and ate the corn bread and bacon
which were given him mis- captors standing
around helplsssIy Then be asked for blan
ket, and. having obtained it, wrapped him
self in 1t and lay down on the gallery door,
monarch Of all be surveyed There was no
limit TO the Calm self possession OF this pris-
oner. who had come ihrusting himself where
he wasn't wanted
IN set up and guard him. boys, said the
old man You all I'D be jes' as like as not
to go to sleep and let i'm git away
So he sat and nodded and Snorei, and
nearly fell forward on his nose hundred
times. and groanei disinally on every such
occasion TO tind that terrible Sankee sleep
ing serenely as though he were a child IN his
trundle bed back At home II ever there
Was veritable white elephant on the hands
of any unfortunate and misguided man this
prisoner was that quadruped
About daylight the watchers tired frame
gave way. and he sank bacs into his arm
chair and slept the sleep OF the just. out
snorin' a camp meetin," as Jim said irrever
entity, when he came out and witnessed the
performance. The sin was half way up the
eastern sky when the old man awoke- The
different members of the family were all at
their work Away down IN the farthest field
jim and John were pulling fodder, and the
iubiant strains of Dixie" came floating up
from that direction, softened by distance
Almost at his feet the stranger was sitting
on the top step, cheerfuily whiting out
piece of white pine.
You here YETI exclaimed the old man in
tone of unmitisated disgust
..Of course I'm here You don't expect me
to leave when lin under arrest, do youT
Il wisht I'd kilt ye when first found
vel" retorted the captor, grimly BLAMED
il | hadn't a done it, if Id a thought | was
. saddlin' myself with drafted Yankee that
couldn't lie got rid of.
IAN you have to do is to take me over to
Mansfield" said the unconcerned prisoner,
holding the point of the sword up to one eye
and looking down it to see If the blade was
straight.
I'm not a goin' to do it, by Ned" ex-
claimed the jailer savagely Il can't go no
where. and Jim and John has got to work in
that fodder while they are ut home We may
all have to eat fodder if this beastly war
goes on much longer
He was still growing and grumbling when
the tramp Of horses feet was heard, and di
rectly several young men and one old one
rode up to the gate The news had miracu
lousy reached the uelshbors how old man
Boone had captured the Ianhee
"Howdy MIR johnson howdy. Bob
Come in, sam he cried with great anl.!a
ton YES there he is | caught him la>;
night" and he placed Lls hand on the Van
KEGS collar. with the cir of one who holds
back with great difficulty wild and savage
dog The souns fellow laughed good uatur
edly and went on with his whiting
What you going to do with hlmf' in
quired Mr. johnson
Il dunno. said tue old man, dubioGs!y
He ought to he took to Mansfield, | recl.in
but ! can't take him. and my folders II
spilin 80 that Jun and John cant leave, az
it amt safe to keep him around here
i IN Goln out 10 AIanSIltIu tpidy - lost
take himf suggested MIR johnson.
IL hate to bother YOU sand this arch hypo
critic, but | reckn done my part ketchin
im an If you could taxi him out there, it
'ud be great favor to me And drawing
Mr. johnson aside, he whispered in his ear
BE shore and make him ride ahead of ye
an keep yer gun ready, or fust thing YOU
know he MAKE Il br,aa an cit apast ye into
the woods
A few minutes later two horses went down
the road in single file and the rider OF the
first horse whistled Yankee Doodle" 81
softly and sweetiy that his escort forgot to
keep his gun ready
Old man Boone and his young visitors Stood
in the gallery and watched the procession
out of sight As the last glimpse of them
died away. lie said with sigh;
well, pore Teller. | hated 10 capture him,
but it makes a pore ole man like NE, Tam
pered at home as | am, mighty proud to
think he can do even that much for his coun
try"
You betin said his admrng auditors -
Julia Truitt Bishop in The American
No profit There.