Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-05-10
AT THE CANNON'S MOUTH.

ing cloud OF dust behind them, then
it was all quiet for an hour. | heard
a tramping, and looking up to the
crest of rising ground to the north,
saw the road packed with soldiers on
foot. They came quickly up, and l
scarcely had time to see what they
looked like before those in front had
passed They didn't march like sol
diers had seen in the city on a gala
day, when l was little girl; they
hurried along, each man walking as
he liked. wondered how they could
90 so fast, they were loaded down so.
They carried great heavy knapsacks
and blankets, and tin pains and can
teens, besides their muskets. They
looked more as if they were going to
set up housekeeping than to war;
While | was leaning on the window
sill, looking out and watching them,
saw a young officer ride into the
yard, just as if he belonged to the
place-or, rather, as if the place be-
1onged to him-and back toward the
barn. Two soldiers rode behind him,
and they got down off their horses and
went into the barn. thought at once
they were after our horses. My pony
was there, and made up my mind
they shouldn't take him without walk
ing over my dead body. ran down
stairs and out to the barn. If l had been
making a forced march myself l
couldn't have gone faster. Before |
got there they had two horses out, and
were Harvesting them to the farm
wagon. marched up to the officer
and asked him what he was doing.
He was a trife startled at seeing a
girl standing before him, looking as if
she intended to make a resistance.
Were pressing all the horses and
wagons we find along the road" he
said.
What do you meSn by pressing
theml'
Were pressing them into the SER
vice"
"What for2"
"To carry the mems knapsacks
They can march faster"
DO YOU think it makes it any more
respectable to call it 'pressingl"
The officers face was flushed. |
thought it was because he was ashamed
of his work but l soon noticed that
he was in a burning fever.
you sha'n't take my pony, any
way" cried going to a man who
was leading him out of the barn and
selling the latter.
"Never mind that horse" said the
officer; it's only pony. Take it back
into the stable"
The man obeyed at once. They har-
messed two horses to the wagon, and
led the team into the road. AS the
soldiers marched past it they threw
their knapsacks on the wagon, and it
al 6
groes drove it away.
Just then an officer came along with
a number of other officers and a train
of horsemen following him. noticed
that he had stars on his shoulders, and
wore a straight sword instead of a
crooked one like the rest.
Captain" he said, looking at the
officer who had taken our horses and
wagon, you'd better not try to go any
further"
Il can go on, general. It's only in
termittent"
The general cut him short with,
Stop where you are" He spoke SO
sharp that thought he was going to
bite the captains head off. l wished
the captain had the courage to answer
him, but he hadn't The general and
LuOSc WIZ WeTo Will It'll TOuc OIl,
leaving the sick man sitting on his
horse looking after them, to take care
of himself as best he could. l nouiced
he wore the same ornament on his cap
as those about the general wreath
and | concluded he was one of them.
There was an interval in the pass
ing regiments and no one was near
but the captain and me.
tsyNhot . a. ~ 7
ed him.
l was sitting on the fence with my
feet dangling. 1t wasn't very grace
full position, but was only country
girl then, and didn't know any better.
II don't know" he said YEARLY; Il
suppose | must ride back to N.
There's hospital there"
If he hadn't been Yankee and a
robber, ora 'presser, which is the same
thing, I'd have asked him to come in
to the house at once, he looked SO sick.
Aren't you ashamed of yourselfT
l said, Ito take horses that don't be-
long to youT
He did look ashamed 1T isn't
pleasant business" he said You'd
better get that pony of yours out of
the way; there'll be more troops along
here by and by"
When he said this his voice sounded
SO pleasant, and he looked SO sick,
that / made up mind to ask him in.
But couldn't bring myself to speak
kindly to him. couldn't forget that
he was Yankee soldier.
Come into the house." said, very
sharply.
He looked at me out of his melan-
choly, feverish eyes.
mo, thank you. I'll ride back to
N" and he turned his horses
head to ride away.
called to him to stop. He obeycd
me, and went out into the road and
took hold of his bride.
"What do you mean by thata" he
asked, surprised.
"I'm going to press your horse"
"What for2"