The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-14
CHAPTER VII.
OLD FRIENDS MEET.

CHAPTER VII.
OLD FRIENDS MEET.
It was tho middle Of August before
the different columns Of the Army of
tho Cumberland began to GROSS the
mountai..S between it and Chattanooga
In pur. of tho Confederates who had
withdr;,..' % that place and there in
trcuohed themselves. Meanwhile tho
Slack family had arrived at their homo
Much to Souri's surprise, everything
about the place looked unoouth. When
| she left it a year before, 1t was all she
had evor known. A ton months resi-
dence in the north, surrounded by every
comfort, associating with tho daughters
of refined people, had made n great
Dhange in her. Now the furniture ap-
peared dilapidated, the rag carpets
rough. Indeed there was disappoint-
| mont about "sweet homo" that she had
not expected. Nevertheless che did not
| sit down and repine over it. She had
no means Of procuring anything better,
but sho found that she could do great
deal Of patching. With considerable fore
thought she had brought some cheap ma
terial Of different kinds with her from
the north, and this she used to tho best
advantage She mado neat Yalances for
the beds, cushions for her mother rook-
ing chair, soarfs for the bureaus-in
fact, with very little she made quito o.
revolution in the house.
Her great anxiety was her brother.
Jakey had attended we'll to his studios
while at school, but his teachers had
found it impossible to change his moth
ods Of expressing himself. AS soon as
he reached Tennessee he began to re-
lapse into the state Of semibarbarism in
! which ho had lived before tho coming
Of his advantages. Souri, knew that
there was no hope for improvement in
her father and mother. Instead of trou-
bling thom when their ways Of acting
and speaking shocked her, che refrained
from comment. but when Jakey dropped
Into his old ways she tried hard to check
him. Besides she felt that it was neces-
sary to keep strict guard over hcrself,
| for she had noticed that when under
| any excitement OF when her feelings
were deeply touched she was apt to for
| get herself and DO once moro the "poor
white'' girl Of former days.
| There was another cause of solicitude
rs to Jakey. 1t must be admitted not
withstanding Jakey's good points and a
certain original shrewdness thoro was
about him, that he never was the same
boy after his few hours Of service Oh
Colonel Maynard's staff. 1t was con
stantly "when war Colonel Maynard 4
aid dcr-camp or "whcn tho colone
II mo rodo inter Tullyhomy, or "who1
l carried tho news Of tho revacuation. ,
Then he would strut about with hi,
hands in his pockets, much to his fa
ther's amusement and Souri's dreat
that no would run away and join tn
Union army. But ono day when h
threatened to do SO Souri, took him t.
task for it and made him promise tina
ho would not. This ended her anxiety
for Jal1ey would as soon have forgotten
his military honors rs break pledge t,
his sister.
The Army of the Cumberland wa
now advancing by every possible route
toward Chattanooga. One Of tho routes
taken by tho Union army lay through
the Sequatchie valley and directly past
the Stacks little farm. One evening
Souri, was leaning over the gate
thoughtfully when she saw several
mounted men III blue, with yellow fac
ings, trotting down tho road. They
wero tho first bluocoats to appear OF
tho host that was coming. There is n
certain jaunty air, devil may care ap-
pearance, about trooper who becomes
used to being always OH horseback.
Each man and horse seemed the same
-. IL lrNI y,,S mi
son, and they were chatting and laugh
ing as if they had come to tho south
with only the most peaceful Intentions
Whom they reached the gate whero Sou
ri stood, one Of them, lifting his hat
politely, asked
"Would yo mind mo goin to tho
we'll for little water2'
In tho brilliant display that was ro-
vealed by tho lifting Of tho mans hat
Souri, recognized head she could never
forget-tho head of Corporal Ratigan.
"Why," she said, "ain't you Cor
poral Ratigan2"
Il am, mo young lady, and if Oi'm
! not mistaken yo're ono Of tho party that
was goin through the lines ono day n
few weeks ago."
Jakey Mt this momont came around
tho house in q fashion at which no had
| become expert at school. This was turn
ing handsprings sideways like q cart
wheel. Seoing tho soldiers, no suddenly
remembered his dignity as former vol
| untocr aid-de-camp, and strengthening
, up pulled his hat down over tho back
Of his head and tried to look military.
Truo, his hair was in his eyes, but his
military training had only beon for ono
morning, and Jakey's hair was always
! in his eyes. Doubtless it would have
! required months Of training from q
drill sergeant to got it to growing any
! other way. Approaching tho fcnco, he
| climbed it and sat with Ole log on each
| sido Of it.
! "Do ye know mo, mo boy?" asked
| Ratigan.
"Docs I know ono O. them signal
lights OH th' mounting?''
! ooh, Jakcy," sighed his sistor.
"Wcll, mo lad" pursued tho corpo-
/ raj. laughing. "Who am n"
Gratis. -
II sec ye have q good memory. Rats
It's qnaro yo should have remembered