The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-01-25
A SACRIFICE.

soft yicissitudes OF pleasure and repose-
We wandered s.in gardens Of fragrance
and sIept IN fortresses Of security but
ike all pleasure seekers, we were now
weary of the Donot0nons round Of un-
evenfful 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 tel a story, please, >, coced
the pretty blond, tossing aside Hero
Worship" who ever knew a live
hero.- she laughingly asked
y, " 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 hero
Of ebon hDe-a strong young Hercules,
who, though rough and untanght, pos
sessed a grand nature
Yes" assented the sentimental ma
jor. "Often 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. s.my father and brother were in
the army, and the oversesr being drafted
into service my mother, my sister and
myself were compelled to leave our
beautiful home ia the city and 60 up
the river 10 the plantation 10 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 ali
very much attached 10 her Rachel
died suddenly, Of heart trouble, the ply
sician said, and her little children were
cared for Icy a good Old granny. Albert,
the husband Of Rachel, was a field
hand AID a reliable man"
.'Of what time DO yoa speak:
This was In the spring Of 1864 The
transmississippi department was under
the command OF the Confederate General
{. Kirby Smith. The struggle east Of
the ALissis- .ppi river had drawn from Us
the chivalry Of the great southwest; the
cons 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 20 meet the gathering foe
that threatened. with General Steele al
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 to
the shops as laborers and teamsters IN
the various departments, TO iii such
places as they could, in order that for
every slave so employed a soldier could
be relieved and 90 to the front. Tho
burden Of feeding and clothing the army
devolved upon the women of the south.
Cheerfully and with untold sacrifices.
did they do thor part. Our people did
not escape the inIpressnent law"
Excuse me, but whom DO you meaa
by our people, chirped the beauty
from the hammock.
We called our slaves 'Our. people. -"
responded slrs. Cray with a smile.
They were impressed into service and
sent to Shreveport, La, 10 work. Among
The men was one who had been married
only year; he objected 20 leaving his
wife ana baby. Jake was his name.
While they were discussing the ques-
lion among themselves, Albert presented
himself at the dining room door.
Good mawnin, Inistis, he said. dof-
Ing his hat, an skuse me 70 'sturbin
yer brekfus, but Tze akin a favor dis
lnawnin.'
~'An right, Albert. What is it
asked my mother.
Yer ser, lnistis, as how Jake Is
pressed along wid tudder niggers an
Jake he got likely wife an mighty
Rntic boy
".Wellg
Albert hesitated and scratched his
Eoolly pate.
II know my mother said sympa-
thetically, I know al the circEm-
stances, but am powerless.'
! amt biamin yer, mistis; de Lawd
knows 1 amt er blamin nobody, but II
Tnther go n Jake's place an St him
stay wid hees wife an boy
Why, Albert exclaimed my moth
cr. 'You cant mean IL How should
get along without you: Think If the
liulnber Of women and children 10 be
provided foI: the men left behind are
too old and The boys too young 10 ie de
pended On.
Ike uecommelnlrin IL dat, mistis,
bst / knows what 1t Is for man aa wife
10 Ice sipperated. On, Inistis, de DAYS all
lonesome ard De nights a wear long.
'Taint no Sunshine for Aibut here nor
rowhar. Hits al a Ozark shaGsier aa DE-
nioonshine don't nigh tech klbut No.
iaislis, hits al trials an tri5herlaslsius.
Limlne 90 please. nlisIig. LIT Jake stay
Uid hees wife. pleaded the earnest voice.
half chokei by sobs-
"'Unk Albert called my htile sister,
going TO his side, would you really SO
away to save Jake from goingg
Yes, honey be replied. his sorrow-
fcl eyes lighting up with pleasant ex-
preston, as with his great black hand
he stroked her sunny curls. Yes.
honey, Unk Albut amt got muffin Z
stay here fer. Jake got hees wife.
Honey, axyer muddert I let old Albut 90
Use your own pleasure, Albert al
last consented my mother.
"'De LaNd bress lnistisr he cried rs
be hastened 10 tAe quarter,
DE Lawd sabe mistisr echoed
Uncle Gsbe, waving his hat as he leaned
on his crutch.
They left Us that afternoon. 100
tall, strong sons Of Ham, Of VARYING
ages, from twenty 10 forty-tive years.
Albert, said my mother, 1 must
tel you before you 20 that in Shreve-
port men die at the rate Of fifty dav.
Often the death rate is greater. The
fever IS terrible
''She looked up into his face. hoping by
tins last appeal to discourage his gong.
Kahn hep il, Inistis; spec hits
bout es nigh a route to hebbin bv
as hit air by dis plantashin.
Al5ut amt keerin. Inistis, kaze de big
White gates mp yander's wide open
wGitin fer Albut; an, Lawd, Rachel's er
ssaadin 5es' inside
Boys! Fl" he cried, turning to the
inultitude assembled under the oaks on
the lawn. Bows. mind mistis an do