The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-08-23

his utterance being somewhat husky on
account of the berries which were fol-
/ lowing one another down his throat.
| All of US moved TO bit of fence which
was easy to look across or through,
there being no bushes there. We saw
fine looking man in gray clothes with
brass buttons. He looked at each of
US pleasantly yet somewhat sharply, and
then said, GLOW did you boys get away
from town SO easly?"
There was silence for a moment or
two for one feared trouble, for some
of our own militia officers woe uni.
form, just like that which our ques
toner had or, and | feared trouble if
We were reported.
Its no trouble to run a guard"
Cnarley finally said.
The man looked as if he were proud
Of us. Then he suddenly asked our
names, which we gave in succession.
"Eumph J. he muttered 81 didn't
know there were any such names in the
town. Where did your families come
from?"
We looked at one another for mo-
ment or two, not knowing what to say
then Charley answered: "Where do all
good families come from2 England, of
course"
"Ah certainly !" muttered the gen.
tleman. He continued picking berries
and eating them, explaining as he
moved along the fence toward the pine
grove that for himself he had no time
to waste, but he could not resist the
temptation to eat few berries before
returning to duty. We kept pace with
hIm, exchanging occasional remarks,
until the berry bushes ended, and we
were separated from him only by a
three rail fence, across which helooked
keenly, apparently at our shoes-we all
wore army brogans. Then he said,
"You're all soldiers
"Certainly," stid Charley. Tnen
that gentleman looked at us SO sharply
that all of us felt uncomfortable we
were not accustomed 10 being looked
al in that way, even by policemen at
home.
"Won't you come up to the house
and have glass of mik2" asked our
ew acquaintance. Would We? Well,
wouldn't we2 Hadn't we been away
rom home a full fortnight, drinking
coffee and tea without milk? All of US
climbed the fence and started to follow
him, but soon, in some way, he was
following US. We wanted to talk about
him, but it would not be polite while
he was right behind and could hear US.
As we nelr,:I the house, which the pine
grove had hid len f ON us, a tail boy III
linen c'o.hes add very broad straw hat
dashed fron the tiolt door and ap
preached us al fail speed, but suddenly
stopped and seemed somewhat embar-
rsssed
"Rsndolph," said the gentleman in
gray, stepping 10 the front, "these gen.
tlemen were picking berries at the old
lane fences invited them up for a
glass of milk. Just tell Aunt Maria
won't you?'
"Certainly, father" said the boy. II
did not seem to me that he needed to
f look so piercingly at US, or that his
father should have assumed SO com.
; manding an air when he spoke to him
Besides, | wondered how an officer oi
Il New York militia regiment SHOULD
have charge of house SO near the
enemy.
As we reached the front door the
gentleman stopped and locked at u:
once more. For a moment it seemed
, 20 me that he suspected US of som:
J serious crime, and warted to explain
j to him that we had merely come ou
Tor bllcHberries, and would 90 righ
back to camp and report ourselves If ht
thought best. This time, however, he
S looked at us so kindly aud pltyingly
| almost contemptuouslY, that l felt at
/ | were in school again, and being In
e spected by the best hearted teacher
ever had.
e "Come in gentlemen" was the invi
o tation we finally heard.
S As we followed the host, Charlie
e whispered to me: "Dld you see hi
It buttonsP The Virginia coat of arms i
S on them. He's Confederate, as sur
s as you're born"
y wanted to go back to camp righ
t, away. Charley said afterward that n
# felt the same way, but he didn't know
e how fast he could run with a pail c
; blackberries IN his hand it never oc
1 cured TO HIM that he could abando
0 that pail. As we walked across tn
a veranda pleasant faced lady came It
e the door and eyed US, sharpy at frs
and then ki1dly.
- "Come into the dining-room, gentle
: men," said the host. We fJlowed hin
0 Charley depositing the berry pail IN th
E hall. \ colored woman brought in
tray containing pitcher of milk, som
y cold chicken, and molasses cake. All c
the family acted as wailers-all but one
e a girl, who came from somewhere ant
d stood in the doorway, looking at US il
|. as'oniShment.
a Boys, said the host, who had seatet
& himself opposite Us, after we had beer
e served, l don't suppose we would have
n met to-day could either of US prevented
e | see now that YOU are Union soldiers
l suppose you've already imagined MT
a Confederate officer. We sham igh
e here, though, shall we2"
4 No, SIT, said Charley, as dls.inctl
as he could through mouthful o