Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-11-29
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
FEEDING The ENEMY.
horgan's Raiders Enjoy Mcnl Prepare
far I,a.u l.,

were raided by John Morgan's cuerril.
ias, who gathered as they won't good
horses and mules for army use. Nearly
every able-bodied young man was at the
front in the Union army; consequently
those left at home, unused to war OF
raids, were wildly excited when Nor.
gan's raid was begun.
On a public road very much travelled,
in an old weather-beaten house which
had since the year 1900 stood tho wear
of time, three members of patriotic
family bravely "kopt things moving
on" though the "mainstays" had gone
into the Union army at tho first call.
'Grandpa" Drummond, though eighty
years old, ;nanaged the farm and di-
rected the hired men, while Aunt Piety
cooked and served to the passing travel
ers such good meals that they made it q
point to try to reach tho Drummond
house to spend the night when on their
way to or from the city. Rob Drummond,
n ten-year-old lad, was hands and feet
for the household.
The horses were Rob's especial pride,
and he had no idea of allowing Dolly
Warden, Snip and Scrib to join tho Nor
gan g,lerrillas. "Mothor," he cried upon
the day the guerrillas were expected,
''do you think the raiders will want old
Dolly and dear, good Snip?"
"of Course they'll take 'em, an likely
leave their worn-out scrubs here" re-
turned Aunt Picty, wishing in her heart
that Joshua were home.
Rob, said the help, bouncing girl,
'don't you fret, Morgan won't want a
horse that's on this place"
"Why don't he, orvilly?' inquired
Rob.
BECAUSE raiders don't want fat,
lazy critters sech as Dolly Warden; they
need fast travelin' beasts" replied Or
Willy.
"orvilly, you don't know a good hoss
when you see one. I'm goin' to hide 'em
in the woods" retorted Rob.
''Yes, hide 'em, then hurry back and
help me wait on the home guards.
They'll be here soon. We must give
them the very best dinner we can get
for them" said Aunt Piety.
BY ten o'clock long table was we'll
ladenq with bountiful dinner, and
grandpa stood at the front gate pecring
up and down the road for a glimpse
of the homo guards, who were latter
Morgan
Rob had his four horses pretty well on
the way to the woods pasture, when
three horsemcn in plain clothes rode up
behind him, asking ''if there had been
any soldiers about that morning"
mo, not yet, but they'll be here soon,
Our folks are gettin' dinner for the home
guards. They'll settle the guerrillas. I'm
taking the hosses to the woods TO hide
'em. couldn't bear to have poor old
Dolly Warden have hard time. Idon't
think Dolly would like to be an army
horse, "said Rob, confdingly.
''No, don't think she would like to
join the army. Why do you think Nor
gan thief?" inquired one of the
men.
"Why-he-he-last night he burned
depot an railroad bridge. We saw
the light from the high hill yonder.
I'm not afraid now that you've come.
just go to the house. Grandpa has feed
for your. horses, an mother is getting
dinner. She says nothin' is too nice for
our home guards" /" said Bob.
Had he seen them Rob would not
have understood the sly winks or the
expressive Good enough" uttered by
the men, who did ride on to the Drum
mond house, where silvery-haired old
grandpa in his homespun suit of blue
jeans stood at the gate with friendly
hand-grasp for each man. Soon new
comers dropped in, and by noon there
were fifty men lying upon the green
grass, under the big trees, eating the
good things so freely served to them by
Grandpa, Aunt Piety and orvilly. Bas-
kets of grapes, plums and peaches were
handed around" and in the pasture
the tired and hungry horses rested and
feasted.
Rob, after his return, was industri-
ously making the acquaintance of the
men, telling them all he knew of the
"raid.n -
''I3ub, how do you think Morgan and
his men win come? With brass band
and waving banner?" inquired plain,
middle-aged man.
"Ahr-mcn-wed better be moving"
said another. A shrill whistle sounded,
there was rush for the horses, and
without any adieu to their entertainers
the guests were galloping west
ward.
"Why-why-! stammered grandpa.
'"rhe guerrillas are coming an the
home guards have gone. Oh come! let's
rum" screamed Rob.
run? Never! III leave that for the
cowardly guardsr' Numbered grandpa,
grasping tightly his cane and going to
the gate. We'll not run. Who'd ha'
thought those guards would have showed
such eowardice!"
Rob hid his face in the ample checl,
apron Aunt Piety wore, while Grandpa
Drummond received coldly the supposed
leader of the guerrillas.
Look up, Rob!' called orvilly; cant
you see that they are the blue-coats?'
'Blue-coats? Who-who-who were
the men we have just fed?" inquired be-
wildered grandpa, scarcely able TO be-
lieve that he had warmly welcomed the
guerrillas and feasted them royalty.
"We have no dinner to offer you, lads,
as we've given il all to the raiders. I'm
angry with myself for making such
mistake. Like Rob, expected to see
the banners and plumes, All, the rogues!
They Wero civil, and no doubt laughed
in their sleeve when we tried to make
their short stay an agreeable one. Rob,
what will our soldier boys think when
they learn that we have feasted the
enemyP said grandpa, sadly.
"Grandpa,' returned Rob, ''you read
to me from the big Bible that it isn't
right to turn the hungry away empty
Does war time mean that we needn't
mind what the Bible says?"
''Sech boy to ask questions. don'no
as they do, but it's mortal tryin' to know
that you've fed raiders the last morsel
in the house, while our homo guards
must give chase, tired an hungry" said
Grandpa Drummond.
A few months after that memorable
dinner Robs father wrote Aunt Piety
that he liad7metin Southern hospital
one of Morgan's men, and that they had
each laughed heartily as they thought