The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-01

dcFcu III gar
dcns of fragrance and slept in fortrcsses
OF security; but, like all pleasure seek
ers,we We're now weary OF monotonous
rounds Of uncventful days. and former
delights grew stale. Gentle Mrs. Graz
and Miss llarland, the invalid whose
thin, scarlet checks and bright eyes
told too plainly thc presence OF the de-
stroycr the quiet rector and the some.
what pompous major, with his little
blonde wife, made up our party.
Some one tell us story, please"
coocd the pretty blonde, tossing aside
Hero Worship" "Who ever knew n
live hero?' She laughingly asked
a." promptly answered Mrs Gray.
GLOW delightful. Do tell us about
him; who was hep
The only true hcroism that ever
came under my Immediate notice" said
the little woman, was displayed by u
hero OF cbon hue, a strong young Her
culcs, who, though rough "nd untaught,
possessed grand nature"
Yes" asscntel the sentimental
major. "Oftcn among the humblcst
flowers we find the rarest ot,ors."
And" resumed Mrs. Gray, among
the busy workers, with hardened hands
and to!i-s,aincd faces, we find great
hearts During the late war" she con.
tinucd, my father and brother we're
III the army. and the oversccr being
drafted into service, my mother, my
sisters 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 trust
worthy and kind, so we had but little
trouble. a few weeks after our ar
rival at the plantation our hearts were
saddencd by the death of a mucn-loved
servant-Rachcl was her name; she
had nurscd my mothers older chill
drcn, and we were all very much at.
tached to her. Rachel died suddenly
of heart trouble the physician said. and
her little children were cared for by a
good old granny. Albert, the husband
of Rachel, was field hand and a re-
liable man
"Of what time do you speals?"
This was in the spring OF 1864. The
rans-Mississippi department was un-
der the command of the confederate
General f. Kirby Smith. The struggle
east of tho Mississippi river had drawn
from us the chivalry of the great south
west; the sons OF Arkansas, Mississip-
pi, Louisiana and Texas were scattered
from Gettysburg to Vicksburg, and a
diminished force composed of the
fathers and husbands was left to meet
the gathering foe that threatened, with
Cen steele 1t Little Rock Ark, and
Cen Banks at Alexandria, 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 younp
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 a soldier could
be relieved, and go to the front. The
burden of feeding and clothing the
army devolved upon the women of the
south. Chcerfuly, and with untold
sacrifices. did they do their part Our
people did not escape the imprcssment
law"
Excuse me, but whom do You mean
by our pcoplc?'" chirped the beauty
from the hammock.
eve called our slaves our people,"
responded Mrs. Gray, with n 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 question among themselves, Albert
presented himself to the dining-room
door. Good mawnin', mistis,' he
said, doiiing his hat, AN 'skuse me TO-
'sturbin' yer brekfus, but Use AKIN a
favor dis maWuin','