Democratic messenger., 1894-09-01
CHICKEN AND HONEY.
"A FoRAGING EXPEDITION OF ONE
MAN IN THE WINTER OF 1863.

!" pNattAs
Uncle Joe. Who Was "Cap'n" Then. Liked
His Chicken Done Brown.
1T was a wretched night back in
1885," said Uncle Joe.
Uncle Joe's stories of the war We're
things to be looked forward to and re-
ineinbered. He had served during the
rntire four years rs a commissioned Off
eer and knew whereof he spoke. having
I'm excellent memory and ssR inimitably
humorous way of telling the adventures
lof himself and his men.
''It was in Missouri in the winter Of
1858 on cold raw night that /, the Off
Ger Of the day. prepared about midnight
to make, with half dozen of the guard,
what is called the grand round, or.
more plainly speaking. the visiting of
the soldiers doing picket duty at their
different posts. We We're on short ra-
ltions. and every man of us. officer or
private, longed for good, square meal
TO brace him mp against the raw, damp
GOODNESS Of the night. As was about
TO spring into my saddle a low voice ut
my shoulder said:
"'Cap'n, how wOuld a supper of chick
EN- and honey taste:'
''I swung hastily around and beheld
the speaker. He was n fellow called
Lang, one of our most valuable spies,
and in some respects mighty clever
fellow, but in-oh, well, I'll let it go
by saying that his moral nature had
never been overdeveloped. He was a
short, thickset man, with twinkling
black eyes and otherwise the most thor
Ioughly impassive face l ever looked
into. 1t was said of him that he would
slip into the butternut suit Of the rebel
and make himself much ut home in
Lees army. He was hail fellow well
met with all the men and came back TO
the Union lines possessed of the most
Invaluable information. He had expe-
rienced thrilling adventures and was n
man of intrepid courage.
'Cap'n, he repeated rs he stood be.
side me that cold night, how would q
supper of chicken and honey taste:'
Excellent. Lang, excellent l re-
piled, thinking of our limited supply
IOf smoked meat and hard tack. Have
lyou some:'
No, but might get some, reckon,
liz looked round bit, he drawled, laz-
lily kicking up clay with the toe Of his
boot. saw Immediately that he meant
Ito go out of camp find a farmhouse and
help himself. Such things are not un-
heard of in the army.
'''Nonsense. Lang said ]. 'You
would be killed sure il you went The
pickets are on extra sharp lookout to-
might, and it's altogether too dangerous.
You would never come back alive
with that / sprang into my saddle
and rode away, followed by my men.
I'VE were gone two or three hours,
making the rounds of the pickets, and
a more miserable ride had seldom tax
ZEN. was chilled 10 the bone and hun
CRY and my men likewise. As l rode
back toward camp the glow of a bonfire
in remote corner caught my eye. and
i Immediately turned my weary horse
toward il. Before the cracking heap
sat Lang. calmly frying chicken, while
Iat his side reposed n hive of honey. He
looked up and smiled grimly.
90 'Supper's most ready, cap'n,' he
said, touching his apology for a cap.
Make yourselves to home. gentlemen.
Lang. said sternly. didn't tell
You not TO go:'
No, cap'n. he replied as he con.
Itinued to cut up the plump fowl in his
hand; you didn't say l couldn't go, al
Though, il i remember correctly. you
didn't exactly advise it on the score of
tits being dangerous but man what's
led the life have amt goin to let
little thing like that stop him when
hes hungry, and he held toward me
the plump leg of q chicken nicely
Drowned.
Lang said !. tell me how you
did it.
No very great matter, he replied,
proceeding with his culinary art. When
you'd gone, walks along quiet to the
outpost and finds picket walkin up
land down like he owned the earth, so /
fiops down on my stomach alongside
fence. Bein dark night. rs it is, Mr..
Picket comes along and don't suspect
that fence so of much rs harborin n
mouse. Minute he gets half rod away
over that fence l goes lightninlike
and takes a scoot into some woods close
by and then goes about my business.
"'Go on. said i, with my mouth full
of chicken and honey.
Lang continued: 'You see, know
this country mighty well. so / makes
tracks for farmhouse close by where
they keeps plenty of chickens. When /
"opens the gate to go in, along comes
dog. Well, cap'n. that's the only dog
scare or make friends with. No. sir.
that dog wouldn't take no stock in
bluffs. so / whips out my revolver and
lays him ont. At that up goes win
dow, and a man begins to yell to find
out who's there. Put your head inside
that window and keep it there, or I'll
knock it off for you," says i. Now
Jim." continues. ''you just watch
that window, and if the fellow sticks
his head out don't wait to be ceremo-
niouslike. but just fire. I'm goin TO
get some chicken and honey" Course
there wasn't no Jim along, but that
fellow in the house had to be kept out
OF the way; so. being q dark night.
just bluffed him about there being more
than just me around. You bet he keeps
his head inside. and goes TO the chick
en- house and helps myself TO some plump
young codgers. and takin a beehive
ON the other shoulder makes tracks for
the camp the way / come.
Have a piece of the breast. cap'n.
That's done particular brown. the way
you like il. Chicago Post
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