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

our host.
Why, said Charley, looked inquir-
ingy at VIII and me, we only tried 10
get out of our own camp. We must
have come farther than we thought.
The first berries we found weren't very
big, So"
So you went farther, err The big
gest berries are like the best fish-alwavs
little farther along, aren't theyP
Yes, sir, we replied, in chorus. Our
host was so pleasing of manner that 1
began to think that, after all, he would
not shoot US or drive US TO Richmond.
All, boys will be boys, said he, with
a sigh Excuse me a moment, he
continued, leaving the room, while his
wife pressed US to eat more.
We tried to be polite, but, as we con-
fessed to one another afterward, our
heart were in our mouths, and pre-
vented our putting anything else there.
In moment or two we heard horse
lramping outside, and, starting from
oar chairs, saw our host, mounted in
front of the house.
Boys said he, Pm going back to
camp, twenty miles away. | don't see
that you can prevent me, though you're
three to one. | won't try to prevent
you reaching your camp either. l don't
want my family annoyed, though, be-
cause you chanced to meet me to-day
You look as if your fathers were gentle
men do you know what word of honor
means?
Yes sir, SAID Charley, while Will
and l nodded.
Good; supposed SO. Well, l give
you my word of honor that there are
none of our soldiers within twenty
miles of here, and that I, like you, am
absent without leave for a few hours. |
came to see my family; you came to
look for blackberries. You won't tell
on me, will you and have a lot your
soldiers come out here to disturb my
family?
No sir, SAID Charley, and viii and
| repeated it after him.
Thank you, said he. | know |
can trust you. Now l must be off.
His wife, son and daughter ran down
the STEPS, and he leaned from his sad
die to kiss each OF them. Then he
touched spurs to his horse, waved his
nat, and was off. His family looked SO
unhappy that we thought it time to be
off, so Charley, shifting the pail of ber-
ries to his left hand, raised his hat, and
thanked the lady of the house for her
hospitality.
Drop in on US again. said the lady,
1
whenever you are out Of berries. You've
nothing to fear from US. Our side is
not fghin boys-I beg your pardon
not fighting young gentlemen who
haven't arms with them. Should you ever
BE- captured and taken to Richmond,
send word to my husband, MAJOR Mayne
of the -th Virginia. lie could prob
ably make Jour confinement less gal
ling.
There seemed nothing else TO say, SO
we raised our hats once more and
turned to depart.
Kate, exclaimed the lady bring out
the rest of that cake, and put in the
top Of this pail. Your father says mo-
lasses cake always reminds him OF
home. How charming and home-like
that young girl appeared as she came
down the veranda steps and piled wed,
ges of cake in Charley's pail Again
we raised our hats and started. The
young man OF the family accompanied
us to the road, so we could not ex'
change impressions. Suddenly, now
ever Will Prime remarked,
l suppose Mr.. Mayne, you have
real good pocket knife?
| haven't any, drawled the boy.
left my last one
Please take this, interrupted Will
taking darling knife from his pocket
+ to remember us by. You've been 81
toremember US by. You've been SO kline
to US.
am vely much obliged, said the
youth, looking at the gift with approx
ing eyes.
We parted at the fence, and three
boys went silently and rapidly dowr
the road. When we reached the fores
, through which we had come iron
camp we began to steal glances at one
another, Finally Charley stopped
. carefully placed the pail on the grounC
looked at Will and me savagely, ant
f exclaimed:
To come hundreds of miles from
home to save the Union and then b'
, taken for mere boys, and be fed OF
, milk and, is pretty seyere-eh?
, Twas our own fault, said VIII
Didn't we go blackberrying2
So did he, growled Charley or WI
wouldn't have met him, and seemed
, so like three nobodies.
At any rate,-the cake is good. said
: Will, following Charley's example, ant
f finishing what Charley began to say.
, We didn't go outside the lines aite
| blackberies again. In few months
] war began to be a serious business tc
all of US, though We got out OF 1t alive
| We managed TO keep together In tht
service, and a year or two after the
trouble ended we went together tt
Virginia in the blackberry season, anc
drove to Major Mayne's house. We
, were prepared to be disappointed, tol
t we had seen war work some changes II
Virginia. But the blackberry bushes
were still there, so was the pine grove
and moment later we recognized the