The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-03-12

thrifty farmer of forty-tive. l had
taken a walk before breakfast one
morning as an appetizer, out from
Jonesboro, where l was attending
court, and was standing by the ruins of
the old mill when he came up. The
roof had fallen in, windows and doors
disappeared. The old water-wheel had
crumbled to decay and green ivy COW
cred the ruins. The dam was now
leveled to a road, and cabbage patch
had taken the place of the mill-pond.
We took a seat on a mOSS-grOwn log
by the side of the ruin, and he contin-
ued:
81 was with Stonewall during the
war, and had some pretty tough times,
some narrow escapes and some hard
tramps. but the close call and hard
tramp that this old mill once caused me
made all of my war experience seem, at
least for time, like pleasure trip.
This was the first mill built on Cedar
creek, and was built many years ago by
old man Ben White, who lies up yonder
on the hill.
After the surrender our army was
disbanded, and the most on us was pretty
close run. We had nothing and no way
to get any thing. I was only about
twcnty-one then. l was strolling round
looking for something to do, and l hap
pencd' along this road one morning.
Well, that morning the wheel was in
action. The gate was histed and the
water was skurrying through. Old Ben
White was standing in the door. l says:
Morning, sir. Can get job here?'
He took off his spectacles, wiped EN-,
put en- back on and looked at me.
'Soldier?' says he.
4 was, says l, till the surrender
"'Luckier than my boys says he.
One of them staid behind down at
Stone river The others lying up there
on the hill-shot in front of Richmond
and come home to die, and the old man
took out his handkerchief and wiped his
eyes. Did you ever work in a mill?'
''No.'
We'll, that don't make much differ
ence,' said he: business is picking up,
and you can stay. I'm getting old. I'll
pay you what can afford to. We can
tell better in a week or two. Have you
been to breakfast?'
"I have not said.
"'Well, go to the house., said he. Tell
Kitty chats my daughter, the only one
the Yanls didn't kilD to give you
breakfast; and come back, you can
work on the dam to-day. There's some
leaks that need stopping
$50 went over the hill to the house.
I still had my Confederate uniform on,
and Mrs. White met me on the piazza.
] saw tears on her cheeks, and ! sup
pose the uniform reminded her of her
own boys. l told her l was going to
work for Mr.. White, and that he sent
me over for breakfast. SO we went in
and she called Kitty, who soon had my
breakfast on the table. Kitty was
about four years younger than l, the
picture of health, cheeks as red as roses.
Her sparkling eyes kindled spark in
my heart that has never gone out. After
breakfast went back, and Kitty went
with me to tend the mill while her
father went to breakfast He showed
me the leaks in the dam before he went.
In fact. worked q week patching up
the old dam, and after that l worked in
the mill and on the farm and in the
garden. Drove the produce to town,
and became more and more attached to
the place and to Ben and Martha White
and to Kitty. How did love that girl!
l was never SO happy as when listening
to the music of her voice. l shall never