Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-05
CHLOE'S JUG.

NV mother did not want me to go to tn
war. was her only son, and but sixteel
years old. She said she would freely Civ
me up if she could think it had come +
the point where lonely women's only son
were needed to save the country, but it ha.
not come to that point yet.
was wild to go. : / would stand ant
plead and argue by the hour, but when sh'
began to cry had to give it up. And sh'
always began to cry as began to get the
better of the argument.
Just after painful scene Of this kinc
came the news of the battle of Fredericks
burg. 1t was terrible Ten thousand o.
our brave boys fallen and the army driver
back. ! read all about it aloud to her and
it made us both very solemn. Presently
the tears came into my eyes and then into
hers.
She laid her hand on my knee and
said "The time has come for you to GO
my boy. | give you to my country p
1t may sound stilted to repeat these words
now, especially in the ears of younger
generation, but to the memories of tens
of thousands of gray-haired men they will
bring back scene of sacrifice and part
ing-oh, SO riel,
enlisted the very next day. Before l
left nay mother she asked me to pledge her
drop of intoxicating liquor. | gave the
promise In two days more was dressed
in blue and belonged to Uncle Sam.
LII L.. H.
before had trouble about my promise not
to drink. We were in highly malarial
country in North Carolina, and our force
was about equally divided between those
whose blood seemed to be turning to ice
those who were shaking with the chills-
and those who were burning with fever.
Our regiment, though in this condition,
was performing the arduous and important
work OF picket duty, and every man of us
had to be kept "braced" artifcially. A
tonic, heavy with the fumes of alcohol, was
served one morning, each man being ordered
to drink it. When the sergeant poked it
at me refused to drink it and began to
tell him about my temperance principles.
'Silenoe" he beloved. ''Swallow this
at once, or I'll have you tied up by the
thumbs till you beg for it r'
/ told him he might do as he pleased
about that, but | had given my word of
honor and | couldn't break it. He flashed
out an order to have me tied up and strobe
on with vast contempt.
The corporal with whom had been left
was one of the most brutal human beings l
ever met. He was an Englishman and had
seen service in India, where, it appears, the
officers amused themselves fogging the
men, Reynolds had scars all over his
body where he had been fogged and
stabbed and shot, and there was nothing
he enjoyed so much as to furnish scars to
other people. He and l were about as
opposite as two creatures with similar at
tributes and organs could be. We in
stinctively hated each other. When the
sergeant left me, a grin spread over Rey-
nolds face. "Well," he.exclaimed, 'this
ERE wot beats me! Last night ties a
man up for bein' drunk, an this mornin'
ties one up for being sober. This 'ere is
what | calls discipline Now, then, you
tow-headed little brat wot thinks you's so
much better than the rest of US. come
along"
He then tied my hands behind my back
and passing cord around my thumbs, he
put it through ring in post and drew
me up until my toes just touched the
ground, and fastened it there.
"Now my little saint" he said, "Fll be
around in half an hour and we'll see how
you feel then"
Ii any old soldier who reads this was
ever punished in this way, he knows what
l suffered in that half hour, but no one
else ever will. / can quote in words no
idea of the agony of hanging there. 1t
seemed a week, and | believe | was nearly
unconscious, when the corporal came with
a cup of water and threw it in my face.
20 ho, my petw he cried, grinning hor-
ribly. "How do you like it as far as you've
got?"
For Gods sake, corporal, let me down"
! gasped.
"Nary let down till you ask for the
rum. Perhaps in another half hour you'll
want it more'n you do now," and he turned
to walk away.
l could endure no more. Perhaps l
wasn't heroic enough for a irst-class mar
tyr, but had to give in. feebly called
him back.
"Please let me have it, corporal, and let
me down.
He stood off and leered at me and said,
How should have liked to kill him !
But could only wish He gave the rope
twist, and | fell in a heap on the
ground. Then he fetched a glass of
whisky and poured it down my throat.
About halt mile from camp there lived
an old couple who had been free before
the war They had comfortable cabin
and few acres of land that they culti-
waited, and seemed to be living well on
their little farm.
They went by the names of simon
and Chloe" and were well known to all
of us, as we often employed them to do
our washing. The old man would come
and collect the clothing from those who
were unable or indisposed TO do their own
washing, and old Chloe would send them
back sweet and clean and neatly mended
Shortly after my experience with Reyn-
olds and the rope / had occasion to visit
old Chloe. As entered the cabin | saw
the old woman sitting with her bare feet
in little tub. Close by her side was an
old jug, and noticed in the room pecul-
lar odor. Ii was that of some kind Of
alcoholic mixture, but its nature was new
TO me- She did not attempt to rise as
went into the room, but began to rub hei
feet and groan.
What's the trouble, Chloe?' l in.
quired.
"De good Lawd bress yo', young
marser," she exclaimed, .Dey's trouble
'nuf now, sho' Use turr'ble bad off di.
mawhin' wiv de rheumatic. My po' feet.
dat bad can't do no waikiki, and Use got
EN- in dis yer likker. Dat mos aller.
does 'em heaps o good"
What sort of liquor is it, Chloe? AnG
how did you come by t?' The rules for
bidding anyone TO supply the darkie:
with intoxicating liquors were very strict
''I's had dis jug o hkker mos twen'y
year, young marser,h she replied. %
keeps it TO put my po' old feet in wheI
dey gets bad. And Marser TAYLOR, hin