The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-12-31
A SACRIFICE.

sou VlClsslJUueS OF pleasure ana repOse.
We wandered lin gardens of fragrance
and slept in fortresses of security" hut
like all pleasure seekers, we were now
weary of the monotOnous round of I'M
eventful days. and former delights grew
stale. Gentle Mrs. GRAY and Miss Har-
land, the invalid whose thin. scarlet
cheeks and bright eyes told too plainly
the presence of the destroyer, The quiet
rector and the somewhat pompous
major. with his little blond wife, made
up our party.
"Some one tell II story. please" cooed
the pretty blond, tossing aside Hero
Worship" "Who ever knew Il live
heroE she laughingly asked.
81, promptly answered Mrs. Gray.
'How delightful Do tell us about
him; who was he:"
"The only true heroism that ever came
under my immediate notice." said the
little woman, was displayed by a hero
of ebon hue-a strong young Hercules,
who, though rough and untaught, pos
sessed a grand nature"
Yes assented the sentimental ma
JNA' cAttH ahApliS AiS llhHIultNl uDW-
ers we find the rarest odOrs."
And" resumed Mrs. Gray, ''among
the busy workers, with hardened hands
and toll stained faces, we find great
hearts. During the late war" she CON
tinued, my father and brother were in
the army, and the overseer being drafted
into service my mother, my sister 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 trustworthy and
kind, so we had but little trouble. A
few weeks after our arrival at the plan
tation our hearts were saddened by the
death of n much loved servant. Rachel
was her name. She had nursed nv
mothers older children, and we were all
very much attached to her. Rachel
died suddenly. of heart trouble, the ply
sician said. and her little children were
cared for by good old granny. Albert,
the husband of Rachel was field
hand and reliable man.
'Of what time do you speak?'
This was in the spring of 1864. The
transmississippi department was under
tine command of the Confederate General
E. Kirby Smith. The struggle east of
the Mississippi river had drawn from us
the chivalry of the great southwest: the
sons of Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Texas were scattered from Gettys-
burg to Vicksburg, and diminished
force composed of the fathers and hus-
bands was left to meet the gathering foe
that threatened, with General Steele at
Little Rock, and General Banks at Alex
andria, 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 We're 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
devolyed upon the women of the south.
Cheerfully and 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 people?' chirped the beauty
from the hammock
I'VE called our slaves our people >"
responded Mrs. Gray with smile.
They were impressed into service and
sent to Shreveport, La, to work. Among
the men was one who had been married
only year; he objected to leaving his
wife and baby. Jake was his name.
While they were discussing the ques-
tion among themselves, Albert presented
himself at the dining room door.
"Good mawnin, mistis, he said, dof-
ting his hat, ian skuse me fo' 'sturbin
yer brekfus, hut rze akin favor dis
mawnin.'
"'AlI right, Albert. What is itY
asked my mother.
eyer see, mistis AS how Jake is
pressed along wild tudder niggers an
Jake he got a likely wife an mighty
antic boy
"'Welly
ALBERT hesitated and scratched his
woolly pate,
- know, my mother said sympa-
thetically, 4 know all the circum-
stances, but am powerless.
Il amt blamin yer, mistis; de Lawd
knows | ain'r er blamin nobody, but I'd
ruther go in Jakes place an let him
stay wild hees wife an boy.
Why, Albert! exclaimed my moth
er. You can't mean it! How should /
get along without you: Think of the
number Of women and children TO be
provided for; the men left behind are
too old and the boys too young to he de
pended on.
'lze recommembrin all dat, mistis,
but knows what it is for a man an wife
to be sipperated Oh, inistis, de days all
lonesome and de nights a year long.
'Iain't no SUNSHINE for Albut here nor
nowhar. Hits all dark shadder an de
moonshine don't nigh tech Albut. No,
mistis. hits all trials an tribherlashins.
Limme so, please, inistis. Let Jake stay
wild hees wife pleaded the earnest voice,
half choked by sobs.
"'Unk Albert called my little sister,
going to his side. would you really go
away to save Jake from goingE
Yes honey he replied, his sorrow
full eyes lighting mp with pleasant ex-
preston, as with his great black hand
he stroked her sunny curls. Yes,
honey, Unk Albut amt got muffin T.
stay here fer, Jake got hees wife
Honey, AK yer mudder G. let old Albut go.
"'Use your own pleasure, Albert, at
last consented my mother.
"'De Lawd bress mistisr he cried as
he hastened to the quarters.
"'De Lawd sahe mistisr echoed
Uncle Gabe, waving his hat as he leaned
on his crutch.
They left MS thar afternoon. 100
tail, strong Sons of Ham, Of varying
ages, from twenty to forty-iye years.
&" Albert, said my mother, i must
tell you before you go that in Shreve-
port men die at the rate of fifty day.
Often the death rate Is greater The
fever is terrible,
''She looked up into his face hoping by
this last appeal 20 discourage his going,
" Kahn hep it, mistis; / spec hits
bout es nigh a route TO hebbin by
Shrebepote as hit air by dis plantashin.
Albut amt keerin, mistis, kaze de big
white gates mp yander's wide open
waitin fer Albnt; am. Lawd, Rachels er
standin jes inside
'BoysG he cried turning 20 the
multitude assembled under the oaks on
/ the lawn. Boys, mind mistis an do
I right an be hidderhle. BE hones' boys
Don't go 20 cuttiu mp no disregyardabls
Z eapsra and prauks les whirl inan uI