The Press., 1893-03-09
A SACRIFICE.

Like Rasselas, the Abyssinian, we lived the balmy days ''only to know the soft vicissitudes of pleasure and repose." We wandered Gin 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 liar 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 8 story, please" cooed the pretty blond, tossing aside "Hero Worship" "Who ever knew live heroY' she laughingly asked.
 "I," 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, twas displayed by a hero of ebon hue-a strong young Hercules, who, though rough and untaught, pos sessed a 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, "1ny father and brother were in the army, and the overseer being drafted 4o e,, 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 a 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 a good old granny. Albert, the husband of Rachel, was field hand and reliable man."
 "Of what time do you speak?'
 ''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 l and Texas were scattered from Gettys- burg to Vicksburg, and 8 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 | rleaned 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 l the shops as laborers and teamsters in the various departments, to fill such l places as they could, in order that for every slave so employed Q soldier could be relieved and go to the front. The burden of feeding and clothing the army 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" l Excuse me, but whom do you mean by our people?'" chirped the beauty l from the hammock.
 | I've called our slaves our people," 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 presen ed himself at the dining room door.
 "'Good mawnin, mistis, he said, dof- fing his hat, 'an skuse me fo' sturbin yer brekfus, but Tze axin favor dis mawnin.'
 "'All right, Albert. What is it? asked my mother.
 "'Yer see, mistis, as how Jake is pressed along wid tudder niggers an Jake he got likely wife an mighty antic boy
 l "'Well?
 s.Albert hesitated and scratched his woolly pate.
 "'I know my mother said sympa- thetically, I know all the circum- stances, but am powerless.'
 | F'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, Albertr exclaimed my moth CT. You can't mean it! How should get along without you? Think of the 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.' -- | "'I'ze recommembrin all dat, mistis, but I knows what it is for man an wife to be sipperated. Oh, lnistis, de days all lonesome and de nights year long. Faint no sunshine for Albut here nor nowhar. Hits all dark shadder an de nloonshine 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 goingY
 "'Yes, honey he replied, his sorrow full eyes lighting up with pleasant ex- pressien, 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.
 "sDe Law6 ,ress mistis" he cried as he hastened to the quarters,
 "sDe Lawd sabe mistis! echoed Uncle Gabe, 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 to forty-five years,
 ' Albert, said my mother, I must tell YOU before you go that in Shreve.