Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-11
LITTLE DAVE.
PLUNKETT RELATES AN INCIDENT
OF The WAR TIMES.
rw.,,,an fnr thn pIspetch.l

Crazy grown folks are common. put
it's mighty seldom you hear ~ crazy cnl inn
dren," said Plunkett, as he turned 10 iAce
Brown, and continued:
"Idttle Dave was or crazy child, and the
way he got TO be crazy IL one OF Inc un-
written stories of the war. a..
lie lived over the creek-beyond the
mill, there-and he had got useneu 10 so,ne
mighty hard times and lonesome times, LOT
the men folks we're ell in the army. ana iit-
tie Dawes mamma had TO leave him All alone
many or time 10 90 off 10 mill and 20 scrfie
Ground In many ways that these since-tne-
war women know nothing OF.
He had learned 10 set Ground on the
grass in the ward and on the Old gate-posts
aud watch and wait fox his mamma,'sretnrn'
Patience had got TO be one of his character
istics, for many had been the time ina, ms
mother was belated end he had cried MINI
self TO sleep on the grass IN the y2ru.
little Dawes Writings got TO be. for at hrst
chickens crowed and cackled, and the pigs
grunted GROUND, and er yearling cali play
Ell horse with the little fellow and Ponto,
his little dog. was always ready 70 cheer
him as best he could, but one by one, and
one way and another. the war bad stripped
tine place OF every living thing but the boy
and his mother. and when she was away
there was not a sound save the signing OF
the wind and the rustling Of the leaves 10
keep him company-it was lonesome lone
some times. -
ION the day I'm telling you of the
mother left home early to procure some
meal. Kissing her little boy good-by. she
promised him TO be back by the dinner
hour. and she brushed tear from her eve
as she turned ri the bend of the road and
seed how lonesome he looked as he set
straddle Of the big gate-post watching her
departure ,, -. G.. o,o
post and then on the other, watching tho
bend of tho road for his mothers return.
At last the sun turned over toward the
west and Dave knew that his mother
should have been at home-it was past the
dinner-hour. With pationt-set face the
little fellow still held up. but the tears
were running down his cheeks and dirt had
striped his face from the hands that had
wiped ZEN away. Little Dave was restless
now. IL was o'clock and his mamma
was still away. He was hungry and scared
now and his eyes. were hurting Ir0In us
watching. Everything leaves the old place,
he thought. little Dave and mamma was all
that was left. and now mamma IS gone ana
there is nothing left but poor little Dave.
Thus he waited and watched, till at last
exhausted. he threw himself upon the
grass and cried himself 10 sleep.
Little Dave didn't know that the mo-
Their was crying and struggling, and was
frantic because she could not get to him.
But 80 it was the Yankees mad come, she
was cut of from nome and from little
Dave, and the battle would soon ,oegln.
Confederate troops we're dOublc-Qulck-
inc over the fields and the Yankees were
anxious 10 do any kind Of devilment. but
little Dave slept on and knew nothing OF
what was going on.
AT last the guns opened-the cannon
and the muskets- and he was awakened oy
the din. Think Of little six-year-old boy
being awakened in the midst OF q great
battle. SO it was. He awoke dazed. He,
run here and there crying. Mamma
Mamma. Mammal The cavalry rushed
past him, the artillery numbered by, ne
yell Of the troops, mingled with the rattle
Of the guns and little Dave lost his mind
he was crazy-a crazy child. hope there
will never be another.
THE battle was over, the armies were
gone. death and desOlati0n were every
where. Like er skcercd rabbit, little Dave
hid in the sedge. while the mother moved
along the battle line, calling:
Dave! Dave! Oh, my little Dave"
"The smoke Of the battle had settled IN
the low places, and the mothers eye could
not see her little Dave ~ he darted from
stump 10 stump and from log to log III
hiding from his best friend.
80 Dave. Dave. oh, my little Dave! the
mother cried. as she wrung her hands and
moved amongst the ruin of the battlefield.
80 A crazy wOman!' said some soldiers
who were on the hill burying the dead.
And go it was. A crazy mother aud
crazy child was one of the cruelties OF the