The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-25
4 BOLD DESERTER.
ny JOEL cuASDLER HARRIS
Copyright. 1889

The war wasn't much of q bother TO
Hlllsborough, for the town was remote
from the tield OF operations Occa-
siOnally news would come that made
the women cry out and the old men
weep. but the intervals were long be-
tween these episodes, and TO nil appear
ances affairs moved forward as serene
ly as ever,
This was during the first year or two
OF the struggle. Then came the inn
pressment law, which created bad feel
ing and caused a good deal OF grim-
bling. Following this came the con-
script act. which made matters much
worse, especially when strange men
were sent TO enforce II. This disturbed
the serenity OF Hillsborough very Sc
riously.
Nevertheless, Marlborough could
have put up with the conscript act but
for one event that stirred the little com.
munity from centre to circumference.
The conscrlpt officers had not been In
the town week before they pOunced
upon little BILLY Cochran. the sole sup
port OF his widowed mother, who was
known throughout TINT region as Aunt
Sally. Little BILLY himself was puzzle
TO the more thoughtful people. lie was
so simple and innOcent-minded, 10
ready to do for others what he wouldn't
do for himself that some said he was
q half-wit. while others contended that
he would have sense enough II his heart
wasn't so big.
But everybody liked little Bllly-for
his mothers sake, II not for his own.
for Aunt Sally was. Indeed, q Good
Samaritan. She seemed to know by
instinct where trouble and sickness and
suffering were to be found. and there,
too. she was 10 be found. High or low.
rich or porr, she passed none by. And,
though she was simple and as limo
cent minded az little Billy, these quail
itleS seemed 10 1T her better than they
did her awkward and bashful boy.
Aunt Sally and little Billy were both
as Industrious as the day Wns long, yet
they made but a prccarious living on
their little patch OF gruund-u bale
or two OF cotton that didn't BRINK a
good price and little bit OF garden
truck, which, with n few chickens and
eggs. they brought TO town OCCASION
ally In q rickrty one-horsc wagon Aunt
Sally would take no pay for nursing
the sick. no matter how much OF her
time WIS taken up. but she supple
mented the meaEer income they got
from the one.hOrse farm by innkipR
quilts and co,ptcrpanes. and bed
spreads. and by taking In weaving, be-
ing very expert at the loom.
As may be supposed, Aunt Sally and
little Billy didn't wear fine clothes nor
put on any alrs Living In middle
Georgia 1.-THE most Democratic region,
BOcially. In the world). they had no
need for either the one or tho other,
They made bare living, and wer1 toll
crnbly satisfied with that.
One day. shortly after thc conscript
officer had established his headquarters
In HlilsbOrough Aunt Sally and little
billy drove into town with u few dozen
eggs and three or four chickens to sell.
Tho conscript officer. Sitting on the
veranda OF the tavern, noticed that H.
Gle Billy WIS q well grown lad. and kept
his eye on him, MS the rlokety, one
horse wagon came through the public
square.
There were two or three loungers sit.
ting on the vcrnnda, including Major
Goolgby. one Of them tapped the ma
jOr ON the shoulder md pointed 10 little
Billy with his forcnngcr and the con-
script officer with his thumb The
major nodded grnvoly once or twice.
and presently hltchcd his chair closer to
tho conBcrlpt officer
you amt u-bngsln' much gnme In
these parts. reckon" said the major,
addressing tho officer, with hnlf.clOscd
eyes.
"l}uslneRs ID not very good" replied
the other with II chuoklc. "hut we man
age 10 pick up few atruEglcrH now and
then. YOndcrB chap nOw"-polnllnB
to little lilliy--"that looks like he would
be nm ornament to the renr guard IN M
"a ltt
rough.iOOking man. and seemed to IND
Ills present putlcn very agreeable
DO you mean little Dllly Cochran"
inquired the major.
II don't know hia name" raid the OIL
cor. II mean that chnp riding In tho
chariot with the fat woman"
THAT boy" remarked the major,
With ~ cmphnHiH that caused the con-
script officer 10 regard him With SUR
prise. "la the sole support OF biz mother
Hos MI Rho'R got 10 mako hoi CROP"
Maybe no." the Oillccr said, "bnl tho
law makes no provision for cases Of
that kind"
you said maybe so Fuggcntcd
the major "Do you mean 10 doubt MY
word9 His voice was M soft ~ tho
notes VI flute
"Why, certainly mott" exclaimed tho
officer, nuHhing little,
The major made no further remark,
but vat bolt upright IN hin chair 'rhn
rickoty wagon drove ~ the tavern door,
and little lIllly rot out n bnBkot of cRRB
In unc hand ana the rhIclrhn In the
Dthor Ilo went into tho tnycrn, aud
while hu wnp gone Aunt Anlly pnaFcd
the time N day with tho tnninr md tho
ront NJ her acquaintance on tho yCtnn-
dh.
Evidently little illlly had no dllnculiy
I'm dlHponlng NJ hla uggh md chickens.
for h. soon came out rnllllnE The
officer nrUfc ~ little llllly appeared NJ
the door, and % did Major uUOlHby
The lOunRcfH niidgcd one another In a
glocfll way Az little llllly came out