Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-19
CAPTURED A YANKEE.

Night had settled down over the woods and
folds Of northwestern Louisiana, summer
night, with a murmuring wind abroad in the
pine tops and with multitudes of owls having
kind OF Wapurgis entertainment down in
the bottom There were no lights in the great
rambling log farm house The family sat in
the open gallery until what they called good
dark, and then went unostentatiousN to bed
Is became people who were astir before day
every morning
odd man Boone" the head of the house
hold, had been excused from service because
the Confederacy had no great need Of so
many pounds avoirdupois in any one indi-
vidual For the first time in his life this
worthy gentleman had cause to bless his pom
derosty which saved him from hariships
and dangers innutnerable Concluding like
FalstatY that the better part Of valor was
discretion. he remained valiantly at home,
sitting most Of the time in a capacious arm
chair and thus added more pounds to his
weight and more objections to his availability
as y soldier
Jim and John, the boys. were at home
one of them on furlough and the other on
sick leave They had been silent for a long
time, and the old man had begun to express
bis thoughts in various inarticulate sounds,
apparently proceeding from the remote
depths Of his head when suddenly he started
up exclaiming;
We'll. them owls does out boot creation to
night"
The three listened silently Wild boots, in
all degrees OF sarcastic emphasis, varied with
frequent bursts Of fiendish laughter, were
making night musical The woods seemed TO
be alive with their wicked mirth. and to re-
sound with screams, and shouts. and cries OF
rage and pain
"Worse'n camp meetin'," finally assented
Jim, whose religious education had been neg
lected
Ever hear owl with SIGH a voice as
thatT queried the old man. If that owl
could be ketched. it could be learned to talk"
One voice had separated itself from the
others. and was certainly giving vent to
some very unowlish shouts but they followed
30 rapidly on one another and were so CON
fused and intsrlnngled by the thousand
echoes sent back from the ad jarent hills that
for several minutes the listeners remained
under the impression that they we're listening
to the solo performance of some talented owl
At last. however the grand orchestra down
in the bottom was silent for moment. and
out from the woods away over the ridge
came wild, prolonged shout
"Hallo-o-oi"
Somebody. by Ned exclaimed the Old
man. growing pale in the dim light
Must lie somebody lost, said jun Make
torch, John. and less gon see.
Il say go'n see" circulated the old man.
nervously "Rushwhackers, | bet.
Come, father, said John the practical,
bringing out two bundles Of fat pine splinters.
You reckon bush hackers are a goin
through the country yelin' for all that's out,
like that feilowf They'd he pretty fools If
they did,
Nv ha-what you gnip' TO do. bovsf asked
the old man tremblngly. He was not afraid,
he was only nervous, and he always shook
when he was nervous
Coin up the road with the torches, father.
and shout to that feller TIL he'll know where
70 come, If he is lost"
The old man stood thinking, with his hands
IN his pockets II be remained there the
bush wharkers might surround the house and
kin him while jim and John were gone No
doubt this was a lure to draw ali the men
away from the house
Il guess | u go with You, boys be said In
asoni1sd tones, dragged hither and thither by
his sense Of duty and his fear Of consequences
They won't he 50 likely to attack Us if they
se me-
No" said Jim, sooeriy, they'll think its
. regiment o. infantry"
With which pleasantly the three set out,
Jim and JOAN carrying the great flaming
pine torches, and the old nan waddling
along Tn the rear with his usual eiephantine
mutton The torches cast weird shadows I'd
and down the road. dancing and dodging rs
the boys moved and tue wind famed the
fame Every moment the Old mans eyes
grew more prominent, and Ills breath came
more quickly He was certain that every
great tree by the roadside was an ambush
from which they would be fired on when they
came into Convenient range He mentally
pictured the surprise Of the neighbors wheu
somebody SHOULD come upon the three dead
bodies the NEXT day, and wondered giooniiy
what they would do for a suit in which to
bury hin, And under the influence Of these
pleasant relecrious his knees ssnote together
- be walked
Suddeniy new thought struck him with
the force OF a thunderbolt jim and John
were holtIns the torches high above their
heada, and were shouting With al ths arOgtA