The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-27

deps OF fragrance and slept in fOrtressoS
of security; but, like all pleasure seek
ers, we were now weary of monotonous
rounds of unevcntful days, and former
delights grew stale. Gentle Mrs. Gray
and Miss Harland, the invalid whose
thin. scarlet cheeks and bright eyes
told too plainly the presence of the de-
stroyer, the quiet rector and the some
what ponpous major, with his little
blonde wife, made up our party.
Some ono tell Us a story, please"
cooed the pretty blonde, tossing aside
"Hero Worship" "Who ever knew a
live hero?" She laughingly asked
al" promptly answered Mrs, Gray.
Glow delightful Do tell US about
him; who was hep"
Tho only true heroism that ever
came under my immediate notice" said
the little woman, "was displayed by
hero of ebon hue, a strong young Her
cules, who, though rough and untaught,
possessed a grand nature"
"Yes," sssented the sentimental
major. "Often among the humblest
flowers we find the rsres. odors."
"And," resumed Mrs. Gray, among
the busy workers, with hardened hands
and toil-stained faces, we find great
hearts. During the late war" she con-
tinued, my father and brother were
in tho army, and, the overseer being
drafted into service, my mother, my
sisters and myself were compelled TO
leave our beautiful home in the city
and go up the river to the plantation,
to manage, as best we could, the affairs
of that place. Our people were trust
worthy and kind, so we had but little
trouble. A few weeks after our ar
rival at the plantation our hearts were
saddened by the death of a much-loved
servant-Rachel was her name; she
had nursed my mothers older chill
dren, and we were all very much at
tached to her. Rachel died suddenly,
of heart trouble the physician said, and
her little children were cared for by a
good old granny. Albert, the husband
of Rachel, was field hand and re-
liable man"
"Of what time DO you speak?"
This was in the spring of 1854 The
trans-Mississippi department was un-
der the command of the confederate
General E. Kirby Smith. The struggle
east of the Mississippi river had drawn
from lis the chivalry of the great south
west; the sons of Arkansas, Mississip-
81, Louisiana and Texas were scattered
from Gettysburg to Vicksburg, and a
diminished force composed of the
fathers and husbands was left to meet
the gathering foe that threatened, with
Gen. Steele at Little Rock, Ark, and
Gen. Banks at Alexandria, La The
conscript bureau had cleaned the fields
OF the last OF the bearded grain, and
nothing was left but the flowers that
grew between, the boys too young
TO go.
Then new order came, and the
men slaves were impressed and sent to
the shops as laborers and teamsters in
the various departments, to fill such
places as they could, in order that for
every slave so employed soldier could
be relieved, and go to the front The
burden of feeding and clothing the
army devolved upon the women OF the
south. Cheerfuly, aud with untold
sacrifices. did they do their part. Our
people did not escape the impressment
law"
Excuse me- but whom do you mean
by our peopie?'" chirped the beauty
from the hammock.
We called our slaves our people, -"
responded Mrs. Gray. with a smile.
''They were impressed into service and
sent TO Shreveport, La, TO work
Among the men was one who had been
married only a year: he objected to
leaving his wife and baby. Jake was
his name. While they were discussing
the question among themselves, Albert
presented himself 70 the dining-room
door. Good mawnin', insists he
said, doffing his hat an 'skuse me 70
'sturbin' yer brekfuS but Use akin a
favor dis mawnin'.'
"'AH right, Albert What Is it?'
asked nay mother
Yer see, misti& as how Jake IS
pressed along wild tudder nigSers, an
JAKE he got a likely VIE an mighty
antie boy
"'Wel?'
ALBERT hesitated and scratched his
woody pate
= know my mother said, svmpa-
theticailY. I know all the circun-
stances, but am powerlesS'
- ! amt hlamia' yer. mistis; de Lawd
knows l amt er balm nobody; but