The National tribune., 1889-06-27

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clinging to the men, and frantically beseeching
them not to harm her boy.
Course We, We burned Niger" growled one of
the gserrillas; "leggo!"
Aud he savagoly brought down the butt-end
of pistol on the old woman's head.
The planter uttered loud cry, and hur-
riedly limped from the porch. The cowardly
assault committed upon his faithful old nurse
had given him new strength and as he stag
gered toward tho guerrillas they quailed be-
meath his burning glance.
"Ye cowards!" he cried, "by what right do
We come yere en- strike my defenseless slaves?"
"By tn rite of war, old man." growled one
of the rufans.
by tn right of warl" echoed the planter.
Confound ye. do We call murderin' old women
en- throtln' boys tn rights of war? Let go of
tibet niger, or by tn eternal I'll make vel"
Look yere, old man." said the hero who
had dealt Aun' Rosy the blow, 1--WE arn't
yere fer other than watts rite. This little mig
ger hes hid wounded Yankee off Ger, en- we
intend ter know whar tn Yank is"
"Umphl growled the planter, rs he turned
an inquiriug eye on Fred. Do ye hear tibet,
hoy2 Do We hear thet 'cusatiou 2 MOP Glad
ter know 20 haven't TUX ter hidin' wounded
men,"
Tibet won't do, old man." growled the heroic
guerrilla. Eff yer niger doan't know how ter
speak, / reckon this II start his tongue wag-
ginl"
Suting his words the ruffian placed his
pistol against the boys head.
With deep curse, the planter seized the guer-
rlla by the neck, and hurled him to ono side.
Keep off, durn ye! no shouted "This boys
niue, en- tn first one that lays finger on my
property, he does so at his risk"
"Confound vel" growled the ruflian, I" take
that!"
A puff of smoke q report and the old man
lay on the sward with the life-blood yelling
from ragged hole in his breast
MY God. Chapman, you've killed him."
cried the murderer's companion.
Entirely overlooking the object of their visit,
the guerrillas cast furtive Chances about them.
They then hurried toward their horses. which
had been tied to neighboring snake-fence,
and were soon lost In a cloud of dust.
The boy, assisted by poor, bewildered Aun'
Rosey, tenderly raised his masters gray head.
and called on him to speak.
"Air thet-y2g.. Fred" at last gasped the
planter, and heq fned his death-glazed eyes
upward.
"Yes, Nasal it's mo-it's mO-your boy
Fred'ric."
90 Those villains hev-fnished mel Never
never mind. Did yesee my sonny Henry? ?"
Here the dying man eagerly clutehed ut the
boy, and drew him down.
" Yes, Massa. Dose men want dat Yankee
officer, but he too good foah such bad comply.
Wen | leP ycre, got near dc place were dc
fightin' wuz berry libeiy. DE bullets wuz hissin'
bout jes like dose m0ccasin snakes in de swamp;
but doan mind em any / WIZ interested in
de fight, foab dere wuZ somebody dat ] wanted
ter see berry much. Way froo dc smoke, ]
bime-by see de Yanks break an run like n lot
o 'possums. 4 Yankee officer next ride long.
He sna'ched dc 'Merican flag from a solder dat
wuz scootin' way, an den waved it 'bove his
head. Dat officer den cheer do Yanks, an
Huh 20 rupa rnpir-- -al DaYa ut Ia fu0f
Sudden like, see him frow up his sword. Den
de flag an eberyting wuz coverd by do dust.
Dat Yank too brave to die thinks. So wen
dc Aghtin' he'd kinder seooted 'long-'way
down from dc place. crawled on an foun'
him an dc flag. Befoah dc soldiers shufled
back. / had carried him In dc woods, an den
got him at de en- oh de swamp"
En- who air tibet ofiicerP"
"Your son, Massal My brave Massa Henry.
hab de flag wat Msssa Henry fight so hard
foah. He put IL la his brest while wuz takin'
him TO de swamp. Wen ] got him dere he
wuz dyin'."
The old man groaned in agonizing tones :
Ny brave boy! my poor boy
Befoah he died." continued the slave.
Massa Henry sna'ched dc flag VIII dc Stars an
Stripes from his brest. Oh Massa, Massa
can't no how forgit de look he hsb on his face
lie kinder ding de flag 10 me, an say, sorry
like, Tell my fader dat my 'pin'on am printed
dere; dc answers on dc hag' Den, Massa--
minded /; him died in desc arms"
"Whar's tibet hag?" gasped the planter.
Give it ter mel"
From beneath his coarse shirt the boy drew
forth tattered and blood stained piece of silk,
which he tenderly placed in his masters trom-
| bling hands.
Shaking out tho folds Of the old flag with n
feeble motion, the planter cried:
boy. on these Stars en- Strips tn 'pin'on
of my son has been printed with his precus
blood. Nifty dear ink en- bigb-fggcr'd paper,
that air blood en- flag: but this air hag-with
| its mem'rics of old glory-hes kinder touched
my heart. jes' es my boy did wen--w'cn be
| first turned his baby eyes on mo. Yes. boy,
| that hag-hes always BENNY 'plu'onl"
The sun touched the planters TRANSPORTED
| face with beautiful light. In the poor. ignor-
GRANT slaves eyes il threw a seeming hao--thc
| sign Of divine presence-about his martyrcd
masters silverly hair.
The old man lay In the sobbing boys arms
and life seemed 10 have left his broken frame
| Suddenly the eyelids futtered. An upward
| glance la which was shown shade Of the old
time magisterial air. aud then the gref.ttrcken
slave caught these words, faint. expiring. the
! echo Of whisper;
Wha'-sniyelin' again Eow--look yore
boy; If ye doan't stop thet-il whip ye--
! T."