Connecticut western news., 1893-04-06
A SACRIFICE.

Il
 Like Rasselas, the Abyssinian, we lived the balmy days ''only to know the soft vicissitudes of pleasure and repose.s 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 8 live herow she laughingly asked.
 "I," promptly answered Mrs. Gray.
 "How delightful Do tell us about him; who was her.
 sThe only true heroism that ever came under my immediate notice," said the little woman, twas displayed by hero of ebon hue-a strong young Hercules, who, though rough and untaught, pos sessed grand nature"
 "Yes," assented the sentimental ma- jor. "Often among the humblest flow CTS 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 phy- 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 speakp' "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 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 gleaned 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 l devolved 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 peopleY" chirped the beauty from the hammock.
 "We called our slaves our people, 7" 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- | fng his hat, ian skuse me fo' 'sturbin l yer brekfus, but rze axin a favor dis mawnin.'
 | "'All right, Albert. What is itY asked my mother.
 | "sYer see, mistis, as how Jake is pressed along wid tudder niggers an Jake he got likely wife an mighty antic boy
 | "sWellY
 | s'Albert hesitated and scratched his
 woolly pate.
 ".I know, my mother said sympa- thetically, I know all the circum- stances, but am powerless.'
 "'I ain't blamin yer, mistis; de Lawd
 knows I ain't CT blamin nobody, but I'd
 ruther go in Jake's place an let him
 stay wid hees wife an boy
 "'Why, Albertp exclaimed my moth
 er.. You can't mean it! How should I | l. ,g +L
 number of women and children to be
 provided for; the men left behind are
 too old and the boys too young to be de-
 pended on.'
 'Ize recommembrin all dat, mistis,
 but knows what it is for man an wife
 to be sipperated. Oh, 1nistis, de days all
 lonesome and de nights a year long.
 'Tain'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 tribberlashins.
 Limme go, please, mistis. Let Jake stay
 wid 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 going?
 "'Yes, honey, he replied, his sorrow ful eyes lighting up with a pleasant ex- pression, as with his great black hand he stroked her sunny curls. Yes,
 honey, Unk Albut ain't got muffin t stay here fer. Jake got hees wife. Honey, ax yer mudder t let old Albut go.' ,
 Use your own pleasure, Albert, at last consented my mother.
 "'De Lawd press mistisr he cried As ] hn hGntn1aod h thu rfasrhars