Evening journal., 1892-12-09
A SACRIFICE.

sou NlClSSlIuueS Oh llledSuIo anu lepoNcs
We wandered sin gardens Of fragrance
and slept in fortresses of security" but
like all pleasure seekers, we were now
weary of the monotOnous round Of un-
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
mp our party.
"Some one tell a story, please" cooed
the pretty blond, tossing aside "Hero
Worship" "Who ever knew live
herog' she laughingly asked.
81" promptly answered Mrs. Gray.
I'How delightful Do tell US about
him; who was hep
"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"
eyes" assented the sentimental ma
Tor. "Often among the humblest flow
Ein We Aln AAlD AoANNh 0AOAns
"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 a much loved servant. Rachel
was her name. She had nursed my
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 a field
hand and a reliable man."
s'Of what time do you speakY'
"This was in the spring of 1864. The
transmississippi department was under
the command Of the Confederate General
Z. 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 a 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 a new order came, and the
men slaves were impressed and sent tC
the shops as laborers and teamsters il
the various departments, to fill such
places as they could, in order that fol
every slave so employed a soldier could
be relieved and 90 to the front. The
burden of feeding and clothing the army
devolved upon the women of the south
Cheerfully and with untold sacrifices
did they do their part. Our people die
not escape the impressment law"
Excuse me, but whom do yOu mea1
by 'our people? chirped the beauty
from the hammock.
I'VE called our slaves our people,
responded Mrs. Gray with a smile
"They We're impressed into service anC
sent to Shreveport, La, to work. Amonl
the men was one who had been marie,
only year; he objected to leaving hi
wife and baby. Jake was his name
While they We're discussing the ques
tion among themselves, Albert presente,
himself at the dining room door.
"'Good mawnin, mistis,' he said, dOi
fing his hat, AN slSuse me 70 'sturbii
yer brekfus, but Ize akin favor di
lnawnin.'
"'All right, Albert. What is it
asked my mother.
eyer see, mistis, as how Jake
pressed along wild tudder niggers a
Jake he got a likely wife an might
antic boy.
"'WellY
albert hesitated and scratched hi
woolly pate.
81 know, my mother said symp5
thetically, 1 know all the circun
stances, but am powerless.
&c i amt blamin yer, mistis; de Law
knows / amt er blamin nobody, but L
ruther 90 in JalSe's place an let hif
stay wild hees wife an boy
"'Why. Albertr exclaimed my mott
er. You can't mean it, How should
get along without you: Think of tn
number of women and children to b
provided for; the men left behind N
TOO old and the boys too young TO be d'
pended on
lie recommembrin all dat, misti'
but knows what it is for n man an wifi
TO be sipperated. Oh, mistis, de days a
lonesome and de nights q year lone
'Taint no sunshine for Albut here nc
nowhar Hits all a dark shadder IN d
moonshine don't nigh tech Albut. NJ
mistis. hits all trials an tribberlashini
Limme go. please. mistis. Let Jake sta
wild hoes WIFE pleaded the earnest voicl
hall choked by sobs.
asUnk Albert called my httle sister
going to his side, would You really s
q ~.