Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-09-26
A BAG OF COFFEE.

months, an l didn't have tho least idea
whether there was soul left alive on
the place, nor whether Sherman's army
had left anything Of tho old place more
than just the naked dirt
"Well, | started OF for home, or 10
wards where thought home ought'r be,
with my parole In my pocket. and riding
the poorest, orneriest mule it was ever
my misfortune to become acquainted
with; and do assure you, gentlemen. |
have had large. variegated and pio-
turesque experience In that particular
line.
1--WE moseyed along, tho mule ana !
and ono or two Of the other boys, until
we got down 30 Charlotte, and there the
officer IN command pressed me into serv-
ice to help him parole a big lot of the
prisoners.
1T took us couple Of weeks 10 get
through the Job, and when Twas getting
ready TO start the colonel In command
said:
"'I can't pay you anything for your
services, but think II you We're to take
that beast down to the corral and swap
him off for better one II would be q
good thing for youi and I guess the gov
ernment VIII be able to stand it.
"Well, you fellows here who know
my liberal disposition will probably i'm
agino want slow to take q hint like
that turned In my crow bolt and took
the best in the lot. and flatter myself l
know q good mule when see one.
"'Purty good animal you got there,
said the officer when rode up to his
quarters "ther's some coffee down III
the commissary, and that mule looks
strong enough to carry bag of it.
"Well, sir, half an hour later l left
town on the best mule over straddled,
carrying O bag of coffee worth 500 in
gold, and altogether feeling like the
richest man in the late Confederacy.
II travelled by myself on the first day
out-just me. and the mule and the bag
Of coffee.
II got along all right until along
toward dark, when began to look out
for place to put up for the night. 1t
was tho dislnalest prospect you ever saw
tho poorest pine barrens--it made you
hungry to just ride along and look at
tho countryi and the houses were mighty
wide apart.
"At last say a light, and rode up tc
"a cabin by the side Of the road. and
found an old woman sitting IN the door
smoking pipe, boned her to let mo
stay all night. She fetched her old pipe
a few moro whiffs, and finally said:
You'll halter gwy ON TO the next
house, stranger
"'How far Is TT
puff, puff. Bout four or five miles
mebbe six
"But, my good woman, am tired and
my mule Is tired-let me stay, II l have
to sleep on tho floor
Puff, puff. 'Hain't got no grub
I do not care for myself, II you can
only give my mule something
Puff. puff. 'Haint got nothing ,for
the critter.'
well We will both DO without, If
we can only stay do not want to lie
down by the road and maybe wake up
murdered by some guerrilla
"Shc finally consented 10 this-moved
out ot the docf and took up her station
by the fireplace, where she continued
her labors with the pipe, as II that were
the chief end and aim Of existence
IL took of the saddle, tied the mule
to tho door jamb, spread my blanket just
inside the door and lay down. With my
precious bag Of coffee for pillow.
There didn't seem 10 be another soul
OH the place, but asked no questions
for coDsoience's sake. Just laid there
a-wtshiug for bite to eat, and a-watch-
ing that old woman Numbered over the
fireplace smoking like q tar ldln.
"Well, kept on a.laying there trying
70 forget how mortal hungry I was and
nebbe catch forty winks Of sleep, but
the mule outside was as hungry as was,
and every now and then he'd fetch q low
kind of whickerin' he-haw, and then
he'd let in to knaw on the door 1amb.
got tired OF his capers after awhile
and finally said:
"I know you are hungry, old man, and
If thought you'd eat 10 I'd give you
some Of this coffee
"Well, sir, I happened TO have my eyes
turned toward the fireplace when I said
this, and I'm sinner II didn't actually
see that old woman prick up her ears
like she'd heard something drop.
"She Strengthened up, looked at me q
moment, and said:
"Did you'ns say o-o-f.f-eser
"T did, madam
"'G-i-n-n-y-wi-n-e c-o-f-f-eep
genuine coffee. madam
"A-gwyin TO give 1t TO the newell
"'The mule A tired ar hungry,
madam, and 30 ON l.
Stranger. II hain't seed no gi-n-n-y-
vino coffee for nigh onto three, years,
an hit would seem sorter onr1ig'u us,
somehow, TO feed hit 10 O newell
II supposed she'd actually told me tho
truth about having nothing to eat. bat I
said at venture:
Madam, I've got 16O pounds Of coffee
right here under my head, and II you'll
get something for mo and my mule 30
eat you shall havo some Of IT,
well, sir, it acted like magic. Sbe
went 30 tho bed In tho corner, turned
back the cover, turned down the mat
tress, and I'll agreo 70 mover put good
victuals in my chops again II she didn't
have q regular commissary In there. All
tho unJsT part Of the bed was planked
up solid, and was Just filled with ham
and side bacon and meal and corn. She
c,yen fetched out. a little poke Allied with