The Red Cloud chief., 1893-09-15

OF como n living near Dy.I
Mr.. King said that he had heard that
ducks were good for dinner and suggcs.
ted that we kill one and have 1t for din.
ner. l said that IL they were tame ducks
We ought not to modest them, to which
King replied that IL they were tame. and
tho owner lived near, he was probably a
rebel, in which case they were contra.
band Of war" So I ut Inst consented but
suggested that we had better take two,
as one would not DO enough for all our
mess. AS q further argument in favor
Of taking two or more, it just then oc.
CURED to us that our rovolvers had not
been unloadcd for some time and need.
cd TO DO cleaned. So il was finally
agreed that we would empty our revolv.
ore, which would take twelve ducks, and
leave tho thirteenth duck (which was
probably u drake, to tell the tale. So
We commenced shooting, still seated in
our saddles, shot about, until the dozen
shots were fired. When the enoke
cleared away We proceeded to sum up
the result, as follows: two empty rcvolv-
crs, twelve bullet holes in the water, the
thirteenth duck unframed, his twelve
ditto, and two cavalrymcn without any
duck for dinner. Instead Of reioining
tho regiment in the evening, as we
should have done, we stopped nc q farm
house, or rather at q house whore there
was no farm, for supper and to feed our
horses. Tho house was a neat hewed.
log building, which with a few acres OF
cleared land was surrounded by a rail
fence.
There was q small stable, a corr crib
with some corn in it, and a small stack
Of shcaf oats, but no hay. The family
consisted Of tho husband aud wife, and
two small children. All wcro dressed
in homcspun clothing aud their posses
sions, including their eighty acres Of
billy land, wsro worth perhaps $500 or
5000. And these people were well.to. TO,
IL not rich. 1t was not yet night, but as
ouh "uBoh tiuih wv ploNby oNNt viz
billy and mountainous roads of that reg
ion, we had plenty oil timo to spare and
keep up with the regiment. Our supper
which was also our dinner, being over,
we asked permission to stay over night,
which was granted, the lady saying that
her husband would soon DO home, and
we wcro vclcnun IA utnv If uo ,,ul,l ant
mp with such fare Us they could give us.
The husband soon returned and being
told Of our wish to stay all night offered
no objection, but seemed TO he pleased
to have II 6 stop with him. lie proved to
be q union man and was glad OF this op.
portunity 20 learn from us something
Of the progress OF the war, Of which he
knew but little, being in a measure iso.
lated from the busy world, with no pa.
, pers to read, and seldom seeing any ON,
who knew more than himself Of wha,
was going IN, or what the result would
be. We slept that night in u plain but
comfortable bed, and in the morning az
tor partaking Of a breakfast, which like
the supper, consisted chiefly Of corn
| bread and bacon, We asked for u bill
which we were told was nothing, but w
|, prevailed on the lady to accept pay.
r hayc been thus particular in speakingo
this family because it is typical Of a class
found nowhere else than in the hilly ant
thinly settled portions VI the border
slave states. 1t might be termed
middle class" They were not slav,
owners Of tho upper class, nor poo
white trash" Of the lower. The major
ity Of them had neither any sympath,
for the institution Of slavery. nor emit!
, against it. They were mostly loyal, bu'
r took no part in the war, unlcs through
tho force OF circumstances they wer,
compelled to, in which case they either
enlisted in the union army or acted III
union scouts or guides. They werc no
wealthy, nor yet poor. Their wants be
ing few and simple thcy were easily sat
isted and were contented il they hat
enough to eat and g II from year {,
year they could make both ends meet
they were satisfied and did not soc tn,
need Of anything moro. While many O
this class were illitcrate, some were cd
ucated, aud though lacking the polish
OF the highly cultured, were posscsset
OF u genuine hospitality seldom, il evel
found in the higher or lower classes
They were rs q class much superior Il
the "white trash Of the lower in every,
thing that goes to make upgood society
Don't you know to have. perfoct health
you must nave pure blood, and the bes,
way to have pure blood is to take Hood.
Sarsaparilla, the best blood purifier and