Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-12-15
A SACRIFICE.

Like Rasselas, the Abyssinian, we
lived the balmy days "only to know the
soft vicissitudes of pleasure and repose."
We wandered "in 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
up our party.
"Some one tell story, please" /" cooed
the pretty blond, tossing aside "Hero
Worship" "Who ever knew live
hero" she laughingly asked.
a." promptly answered Mrs. Gray.
"How delightful Do tell US about
him; who was her
"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 grand nature"
eyes," assented the sentimental ma
jor. soften among the humblest flow
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 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 reliable man."
"Of what time do you speakr"
"This was in the spring Of 1864. The
transmississippi department was under
the 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 a diminished
force composed Of the fathers and hus
bands was left to meet the gathering fo'
that threatened, with General Steele a
Little Rock, and General Banks at Alex
andria, La. The conscript bureau hat
CLEANED the fields of the last of tn
bearded grain,' and nothing was lef
but the flowers that grew between'-th
boys too young to go.
"Then new order came, and tn
men slaves were impressed and sent t.
the shops as laborers and teamsters il
the various departments, to fill sucl
places as they could, in order that TO
every slave SO employed soldier coul
be relieved and 60 to the front. TIL
burden of feeding and clothing the arm
devolved upon the women of the south
Cheerfully and with untold sacrifices
did they do their part. Our people di
not escape the impressment law"
"Excuse me, but whom do you mea
by our peopleY" chirped the beaut
from the hammock.
"We called our slaves our people,
responded Mrs. Gray with smil'
"They were impressed into service an
sent to Shreveport, La, to work. Anon
the men was one who had been Marie
only year; he objected to leaving b
wife and baby. Jake was his nam
While they were discussing the que
ton among themselves, Albert presente
himself at the dining room door.
"'Good mawnin, mistis,' he said, do
fng his hat, IAN skuse me fo' 'sturb
yer brekfus, but Pze akin favor d
mawnin.'
| "All right, Albert. What is i
asked my mother.
eyer see, mistis, as how Jake
pressed along wild tudder niggers
Jake he got likely wife an nigh
| antic boy
/! "WellP
"Albert hesitated and scratched
woolly pate.
"I know my mother said syml
thetically, 4 know all the circul
stances, but am powerless.'
J, "'I amt blamin yer, mistis; de Lay
knows amt er blamin nobody, but
ruther go in Jake's place an let h
stay wild hees wife an boy
"'Why, Albertv exclaimed my mo-
er, you can't mean it! How shoul'
get along without you? Think of
number of women and children to
provided for; the men left behind {
too old and the boys too young to be
pended on.'
"sI'ze recommembrin all dat, mist
- but knows what it is for a man an W
- to be sipperated. Oh, mistis, de days
lonesome and de nights year lo1
,Ta;n,t no sunshine FOR Albut here