Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-06-04
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
eLINTINes IN THE wAR cI.ouO.
Reminiscence of an Occurrence Down on
the Tussabaw in 90.

Whoa said Mac, reigning in his
horse. why, where did you come
frOm?'
''Meany was the emphatic rejoinder
lyon old, mean, ugly thing. You
you-you-"
Don't cry, said Mac, somewhat
sbashed ''Ilave hurt your fcelings?"
''Hush.' with hysterical energy;
''Hush yo mouf you mean-you
Here "A burst of sobbing interrupted.
and Mac stared helplessly, amused, but
sympathetic.
She was a tiny bit Of a girl, vith
brown, curling hair and browfscyes;
half pathetic and wholly interesting
picture, for the wOeful little face was
Enthusiastically pretty.
I'm sorry, said Mac, presently,
vaguely enough. Did the horse scare
you?'
Mo- with a sob, "he didn't "He
stepped on my table N-now, and
spill my things
"Oh, said Mac, down there in the
path, eh? That's bad. But it's getting
dark, and couldn't see very well here
in the woods.
She peeped up at him. pouting. the
tears still standing in her eyes Then
she fell to twisting her apron, but
deigned no further re cognition Of his
penitence.
You're a very pretty little girl, -
said Mac, with as much tact as truth.
II have a little girl at home"
No answer.
Her names Mary" he continued.
''She's FIVE years old. Now, what's your
nance"
She looked up again and then grew
absorbed once more in twisting her
apron.
What's your namc?' Mac persisted.
Still no answer.
rs Il Peggy?"
mo" defantly; 1T amt
us it Sarah Anne"
Course | amt named that"
well, is it"
Name Mary" she informed him, !
with great dignity Peggy ruined |
away las week that's when the ole |
Yankees coined"
''Oh, said Mac; land your names |
Mary? Well, well, welln'
And Pomp hid everything" she con-
tinued, growing communicative and |
looking up into his face, "'cause the
ole Yankees come. Right there"
''Whew" whistled Mac, and laughed |
LOUD and long. He laughed until the |
tears rolled down his face. The more /
he thought of it the funnier ii seemed.
lin that stump, eh9 Well!"-hs came /
very near going into another spasm of /
laughter, but didn't-quite '.Humph,
well"
''Tain't funny, she said sharply.
checking another outburst
and feigning an apology well, guess
you are right; but how did you know it
was there?"
See mamma and Pomp," she said.
and Pomp put all mammals money in
there, and papa's an all Of US, in there .
-Pomp did. Cause it's hollow stump
an they's big hole in there"
Mac laughed thoughtfully
Miss Mary, he said, seriously, you
ought to be at home right now"
Use lost, she ventured, tearfully.
II know it." he laughed, and am,
too. Let's see, do you know which
up town, hopefully. An there's
some soldiers up town.
That's the trouble" said Mac, grim /
ly. We'll, I'll carry you as far as can.
Give me your hand, Miss Mary-thats 1
right"
Just then a shadowy form moved /
from the shelter of tree near by, and /
the figure of an old negro man was
seen in the gathering darkness. He /
carried gun, which he lowered from
his shoulder as he stepped into view,
still keeping his hand cautiously upon
the trigger
The dickens" said Mac. We're you
trying to shoot me? Put down that
gun.
you hush" said the little one, re-
senting the peremptory tone of the Yam
kee scout 'Pomp's our man: Pomp's
amt your man"
NO, Mars 'Ginl, said Pomp, humbly
lowering the hammer OF his long squir-
rel rifle; Il wuz trying no, 70 shoot YOU
But wen l come long yere an we're
ole Missis baby tell bout that money,
Use mos 'blcegc' ter shoot yer. cause
ole MiSsis gimme dc watchin' ar the
gyardin' ont An Marse Jim. 'pens's
powerful on me to look arter ole Missis
an de things Wen he gone away An
yere | been err watehin' an er prayin'
ter de good Lawd, wild my han on de
trigger, an jes' er hopin', Marse Gin'l,
at wouldn't ha ter kin yer An wen
you laff an look back YOU amt gwine
ter take it. hit do look lack de Lawd
answer ole Pomps prayer right den.
No, Marse Gin'l, l amt been tryin' ter
shoot you: been tryin' not ter. +"
And here we are said Mae, fight
ing to set you all free.
Amt sayin' nothin bout that,
little shamefaccdly, "cep'n Marse Jim
pens powerfully on me ter take kyar
de place Wen he gone
Il guess you're right, Pomp, said
Mac, musingly looking out on the dark
ening woods You would only do for