The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-10

haversacks slender rations Of corn
bread, which they shared with their
less fortunate companions A few had
small wounds, which others helped
them to bind up. There was not much
converse ton. One said, in a reninis-
cent sort of way: ''Kunnel Belcher,
when 'listin' us boys, told US one
southern gentleman could lick six
northern mudsills."
HE was a liar" commented another.
in a tone of calm conviction.
.sFo' sure" Endorsed a third.
s'They all said that. to fire the
southern heart"
well, it's fired"
Eyes; OUT
They discussed whether it was worth
while to do any sentry duty, conclud-
ing, finally, more for style than be-
cause there was any use in it, upon a
sort of compromise observance of the
custom, one sitting up by the fire to
keep watch until he got sleepy, when
he could wake up somebody to take his
place. Then all laid down and were
soon sound asleep, except one, a bright,
handsome young fellow, hardly more
than a boy, who had volunteered to
keep the first watch. A long time he
sat, with his arms folded around one
knee, appraised on the other, peering
into the embers, lost in reVeries which,
from the expression of his frank coun-
tenance, did not seem to be pleasant
ones. But at length he became dimly
CONSCIOUS that somewhere beyond the
ring of freight voice was repeating
again and again low but sharp sibil-
ant, "Sst, sst'' He stood up and put
ting his hands around his eyes looked
keenly into the darkness. Then a voice
called just loud enough for him to
hear: MARS Frank! Mars Frank
For an instant he was frightened. A
boy reared in the south, nursed by a
nanny" told the weird tales of SUI
perstition common among the negroes
when his mind is easily impressed,
and, as he grows up, familiarized with
the common belief in ''voodoo,'' seldom
gets rid of the influence in after life.
The young soldier hearing that faint
voice and recognizing it as that of old
Uncle Sam" whose living presence in
that neighborhood was past possibility
Iof belief, at first imagined himself
called by a ghost. But a moment later
the illusion was dispelled by the old
man stepping cautiously into the light,
exclaiming reproachfully, as he APP
peared, Mars Frank, has y'u clean
done fo'got Uncle Sam?'
mo, indeed, Sam. But it took me a
minute to believe it could really be
you, alive"
"Alibe! Oh, yes, Mars Frank. Use
alibe. An it's su'prisin' befo' de Lawd
dat L is. Bin right ermong dem yellin',
murderin' debbils an red-hot, rotten,
Dustin balls, too"
But how on earth do you come to
be here?"
Use gwine tell y'u, Mars Frank.
OATS what Use hyuh fo'.' He crouched
down before the fire, opposite Frank,
who resumed his seat, and began:
'Befo' Missis Silvia died.
"Aunt Silvia dead! I did not know
she had died.
mo. sab. But I know'd it, Gaze I
was dar. Biggest fun'l you ebber saw,
Mars Frank All de 'stocracy cum
I'm Coldsboro' in dey own kerridges.
Mighty fine fUn'l, sab. Nobody in
Wayne county mo- moned dan Missis
Silvia. She mighty good woman"
Poor Aunt Silvia! She was, indeed
a good waman, deserving and winning
the love of all who knew her. She was
a second mother to my sister Eunice
and me-"
''Me, too, Mars Frank. Well, befo
she die she say when she gone I be tic
take Missy Eunice to ledge Wad.
leigh's. up by Lunenburg Cot House
She write him. am he write back he
mighty glad fer to hab he's little niece
wild him. l know he did, Gaze she reac
de lettah to me. Well, dat was a while
befo' she so dreffle sick. Den she jeS
pine erlong a good while, slow, fel
bout three months. Den she die right
suddint Afte the fun'l l stat vic
Missy Eunice fer Jedge Wadleigh's
Den we walked. 'ceptin' when de chile
was so tired 1 cay huh. We get tc