Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-07-31
Little Dave.

Crazy grown folks are common
but it's mighty seldom you hear OF
crazy children" said Plunkett, as he
turned TO face Brown, and continued:
Little Dave was er crazy child, and
the way he got TO be crazy Is one OF
the unwritten stories Of tile war.
He lived over the creek-beyond
the mill, there-and he got usened TO
some mighty hard times, for the men
folks were all in the army. and little
Dawes mother had 10 leave him all
alone many er time to go off to mill
and scufiie erround in many ways that
these since-the-war women know
nothing Of.
He had learned to set erround on
the grass in the yard and on the old
gate posts and watch and wait for his
mammals return. Patience had got
10 be one of his characteristics, for
many had been the time that he had
cried himself to sleep on the grass III
the yard
"As the war went on the more lone
some little Dawes waitings got To be,
for at first chickens crowed and
cackled and the pigs grunted around
and yearling calf played horse with
the little fellow, and Ponto, his little
dog, was always ready 10 cheer him
as best he could, but one by one. and
one way and another, the war had
stripped the place OF every living
thing but the boy and his mother, and
when she was away there was not
sound save the signing OF the wind
and the rustling Of the leaves 10 keep
him company-it was lonesome, lone
some times.
ION the day I'm telling you OF the
mother left home early To procure
some meal. Kissing her little boy
good bye, she promised TO be back 10y
the dinner hour, and she brushed II
tear from her eye a she turned at
bend of the road and saw how lone
some he looked as he sat straddle of
the big gate-poSt, watching her de
parture.
For hours little Dave sat, first on
one post and then on the other watch
ing the bend of the road for his moth
ers return. At last the sun turned
over to the west and Dave knew that
his mother should have been at home
it was past the dinner hour. with
patient set face the little fellow still
held up, but the tears were running
down his cheeks and dirt had striped
his face from the hands that had
wiped them away. Little Dave was
restless now. 1t was o'clock and his
mamma was still away. He was hun
grv and scared now and his eyes were
hurting from his watching. Every
thing leaves the old place, he thought,
little Dave and mamma was all that
was left, and now mamma is gone and
there is nothing left but poor little
Dave. Thus he waited and watched,
till at last. exhausted, he threw him
self upon the grass and cried himself
to sleep.
Little Dave didn't know that the
mother was crying and struggling,
and was frantic because she could not
get to him But so it was the Yam
KEGS had come, she was cut of from
home and from little Dave, and the
battle would soon begin.
"Confederate troops were double
quicking over the fields and the Yam
KEGS were anxious to do any kind OF
devilment, but little Dave slept on and
knew nothing Of what was going on
AT last the guns opened-the can
non and the muskets-and he was
awakened by the din. Think OF n lit
tie six-year old boy being awakened
in the midst Of great battle. so II
was. He awoke dazed. He run here
and there crying, Mamma Mamma
Mamma The cavalry rushed past
him, the artillery numbered by, the
yell Of the troops, mingled with the
rattle OF the guns and little Dave lost
his mind-he was crazy-a crazy child.
| hope there will never be another.
''The battle was over. the armies
were gone. death and desolation were
everywhere. Like er skeered rabbit,
little Dave hid in the sedge, while the
mother moved along the battle line.
calling:
Dave Dave Oh, my little Dave
The smoke OF the battle had set
tied in the low places. and the moth
er's eve could not see her little Dave
as he darted from stump to stump
and from log to log in hiding from his
best friend.
Dave Dave oh, my little Davel'
the mother cried. "a she wrung her
hands and moved amongst the ruin
Of the battlefield.
"a crazy woman said some sol
diers, who were on the hill burying
the dead.
And 20 it was. \ crazy mother
and crazy child was one Of the cruel
ties Of the Yankees visit.
Wars er bad. bad thing
A hard drinker dreamed that he
had become possessed OF a bottle OF
genuine stuff, but determined TO en-
Joy it thoroughly, he had begun TO
heat 1t. During the heating process
he awoke. Hoo. hoo" he groaned.
III had known this was TO happen,
I would have drunk IL cold.
Chappie-I knelt befoah her and
awsked her 10 be my wife.