The National tribune., 1892-04-14

sidewalk contemplate
ing the unsympathetic residence. He men,
tally debated whether the owner was an ex-
Southern soldier. a Northern sympathiZer, or a
politician whose ambition had not been graft
6ed. lie reasoned that these prejudiced people
would willingly exchange bread for sympathy
The speech Of tie girl gave him hisCue.
lie walked boldly up the graveled walk,
lifted his tattered hat, and requested permits
sion 10 rest for few moments on their shady
steps The old gentleman nodded sleepy
assent and the lady. half rising, drew back the
screen door. aud called within TO Mary TO bring
cut another chair.
Being comfortably seated in a softly cush-
ioned rocker on the cool porch, the itinerant
opened conversation by remarking:
notice that you did not join your neigh
bors in to-days decorations. / took it that
your hearts not with the people who are
celebrating, hut rather with the lost cause and
1T was feeling of sympathy rs well as the de-
lightful shade of your veranda that attracted
me TO your steps. / am proud of having served
the Confedoracy."
The speaker paused, hoping for remark that
would more definitely fix his bearings. The
wife gazed absently into the distance. The
old man sat grasping the arms Of his chair, his
eyes closed. His voice was time-worn and
cracked.
lyon are right" he said ave have nothing
They and their kind broke cur hearts years
ago. For the sake of parcel of niggers who
were well enough of as they WERE and who
did not thank them for interfering. they shot
&c death two of the brightest and most dutiful
Of sons. They were our only children. They
should be here now 10 cheer our last days. But,
as you sec, we are alone. When they died our
hearts fountains dried up. They gave their
lives to the Confederacy. / regret that those
escaped whom we see today"
The wife applied her handkerchief to her
eyes. 1t was evident that she shared the bitter
ness Of her husband. The visitor saw plainly
that in extending sympathy 10 that house he
need not trouble himself 10 be charitable in
his remarks. Nothing mild would win bread
in that family.
:" Yours is q sad case" he began, "and you
cannot be blamed If you do not readily forgive
and forget. / lost. in that struggle, all that
gave value 10 this life and my enemies of those
days are still my foes. ] try to be charitable,
and. indeed. ! have almost ceased TO bear vim
dictive malice, but / cannot make merry when
the Yankees celebrate. The Southern army
was the chivalry of the Nation. The bravest
knights that ever sported plume went down in
its ranks. Overwhelming numbers defeated
Us, but the result does not prove our cause to
have been unjust. shall never cease to regret
that my own extensive operations in that try
ing time came so late as to be of little practical
BcINlC6. I1dN uguT6u IN the SIFlIe IN o. H.
stead of In 60 the result might have been differ
emit"
The tramp gave the old folks a chance to
speak, but they were silent.
Il lived in Louisiana before and during the
war" he resumed. 81 had big sugar planta-
tiou In Bayou Parish, near the Mississippi
River / did an immense business, and super
intended it all personally. So closely was my
attention absorbed, / was practically isolated
from the outside world. My district was so
remote and unassuming that no soldiers ever
came that way, and il was by accident that
learned Of the war in the Spring Of 1863 As
j review my position in those days / see how
almost criminal it was in me TO wrap myself
IN the affairs OF business permitting, and even
expecting, society to-protect me, though gave
no support whatever to society.
AS you see, it was very late IN the day
when / learned that my country needed the
services Of every loyal citizen. Ny dereliction
was v.yidly apparent, but with the Confederate
army N the last bitches there was no time for
vain regrets. Action was demanded then,
and my duty WAS clear. l hastily mustered
my small army Of employees, paid them off and
discharged them. ! Immediately enlisted them
In the Confederate service-twO full regi-
ments-each 1900 strong, placed them in COM
mand ci my oveTseer, who had served with
distinction as Colonel in the war with Mexico,
and dispatched them TO join, if possible, the
main army.
Before they started ] paid the men six
months advance wages. and told them to look
10 me for their pay as long as they upheld
the bonny blue flag ] also placed in the
hands Of the Colonel SUN OF money sufficient
10 pay FOR arms and ammunition, when place
was reached where such things could be had.
Our region, / found, was entirely in the hands
Of the enemy. That all my trouble aud ex-
pendture proved useless, il is true, but am
happy now in knowing that did tho very best
4 could"
lie took a long, deep breath, and continued
A" had at first intended to take command OF
my regiments but another and more promig-
Ing scheme evolved from my brain, and re-
solved TO work it out. II proved equal TO cx-
pectations in lis efficiency against the enemy.
and Infinitely moro so as against myself I
planned TO prey upon the Yankee shipping on
the Mississippi River, and did ruin many O
vessel. ] also was left wreck.
"As / have stated, knew of no place IN that
Fankee-rayaged territory where munitions Of
war could be had for our side, but this appar-
emily insurmountabe obstacle / easily mas
tered. had retained 100 of my best men, and
these set 10 work changing nay sugar factory
into an iron foundry. This done, every scrap
OF old iron 20 be had was nodded into l0-pound
cannon-bal!s. For powder l utilized the salt
peter mine that had the great good fortune
10 have on tie place, and made use Of the
JAIL liDidGh tlat Iau ONCE Dccn nuisance IN
my lurnacc-Gues- condensed smoke from the
pitch pine fuel used.
The guns were more troublesome to con-
struct, and were, for time, a peTqlexing prob
lem. ] finally solved it by drilling holes in
the solid Limestone bluffs that overlooked
the river back Of my plantation. These holes
were made 10 feet deep, with bore to admit
the 10 pound ball. They were fired by fuse
] assure you the drilling of those cannons was
no light task. ! couldn't cut tbs rock at all,
except with diamonds, and l. took all Of nv
own and most of my wile's diamonds TO COM
plete the JOB.
Some Of these jewels were heirlooms In the
family, while others were choice keepsal1es,
and IT was excruciating TO give them up. You
know how hard il is to part with things made
dear by tender associations"
Yes" said the old lady sbsently, eve do
know that" She saw with her inward ewes
her two precious boy.- and the few treasured
trinkets, ali that remained to her of them.
However" the tramp continued, sadly, az
gave all TO nly country. / gave it freely, be-
ing only sorry that it Wa SO little. The sacri-
fee of money and jewels seems trifng now.
The boring Of the guns seemed slow work
but they were ready al cost as soon as the am
munition. had battery of IL 10 pound can
mons, punched In skies. 100 feet apart. The
nuzzles were so directed that they swept the
stream at every point before them. When
they were charged with powder and ball and
fully ready for operations, i called my faithful
Aen together, mounted a bowlder and formally