New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1895-01-23


yet.' She spoke the last words with
"a sigh.
+ nhordy, Souri,, y talk like fine lady
compared 18th what y did afore y went
moth. Jake, would y like ter drive
'emF'
:. ':fseckon.''
b The father handed the reins to his
son, who, considering that he had not
driven horse for year, handled them
with considerable skill.
+ How did you leave MAJ" asked the
daughter.
"Waal, y'r nav she war heap lone
some 'thout y uns, and she's been a
worritin TO- fear I'd git sick up thar
18th no one ter tend ter y, but sence the
time TO- y'r comm hum hez drawed
nigh she's puckered up pretty peart''
The boom Of a gun came family from
far down on the lower level, and the
cannonading heard by Corporal Ratigan
and his charge began. Taking up the
whip, the countryman gave his horses a
cut.
"Iwant ter make hum afore somep'n
happens. Thar's goin ter be big fight
bout Tullyhoomy. Thar's forts all
round the place and big guns on em.''
The horses trotted on briskly for a
short distance, when, looking ahead, the
farmer could see the picket post. He
got his pass ready, and when they reach
ed the post an officer came out to ex-
anime it.
'Is your name Ezekiel Slack?' he
asked of the farmer.
"'zeke Slack; yaas, thet's my name. !"
: "And yours?' to the girl, raising his
forage cap admiringly.
missouri Slack
"The other name on the pass refers to
the boy, suppose. You have name,
sonny, haven't you?' he asked absently,
while he was studying the pass, though
lit is questionable if the inquiry was not
INTENDED to show some Righteousness be-
fore the pretty girl.
"Hev 7 got harp
ooh, Jakey," said his sister, "don It
fall back into that habit of asking ques-
ltions instead of answering them. You
know how hard they tried to break you
Of it at school. And say hair. not
'ha'r.''
II got a name" said Jake. "D'y'
reckon boy 14's goin ter git on 'ithout
a name?'
"Well, what is it:'' asked the officer,
smiling.
"Jake.''
"Jake what?'
"Slack,' answered the farmer.
"These two uns is my children. They
been ter skule up in Ohio. They got lots
O. l'arnin. Reckon they'll down the old
man."
"Union or Confederate sympathies?'
"Union.''
Gail right. Go ahead.''
Leaving the picket, they came to an
opening in the country which enabled
them to get view of the region lying
to the west The farmer, though de-
sirous Of getting on, could not resist a
temptation to rein in his horses and
watch the fighting, or the distant evil
dences of it, that morning going on at
Hooyer's Gap. Volleys of musketry
were mingled with the deeper tones of
cannon. Then the firing ceased for
awhile, when the booms began again,
continued and rapid. A white smoke
rose above ridge on which Confederate
cannons were Smelling the advancing
Union troops on the ground below.
Souri, Slack thought of the lives that
were passing from under that smoke and
covered her face with her hands.
When the sounds ceased, Farmer
Slack drove on and soon reached the
Confederate picket. The party were sent
in charge of trooper to the headquar.
ters OF an officer commanding a body Of
cavalry on the Confederate extreme left.
His headquarters were in house beside
the road. It had once been in the cen
ter of neat country place. The fences
the outhouses, the walks, had all beer
in excellent condition prior to the frs
passage of troops. Now of the fence:
there was an occasional upright DOS
left; the walks were overgrown will
weeds and grass; the outhouses hat
nearly all been torn down. The place
was a picture of desolation. Neverthe
1Ss'o oAAo SoOAO1ct1 w liz
there was making himself very comfort
able.
The wagon drew up before the house
and the conducting trooper sent in wore
to the general that a party, who ha(
come in from the Union lines, wer,
waiting outside, desiring permission t,
go on south. An order came to send tn,
party all inside.
The three travellers entered the hous,
to find a tall man with an iron gra,
beard reclining in rocking chair will
as much apparent unconcern as if wa
were simply pastime.
"You have just come from the enc
my's lines, 7 hear," he said to tn
farmer.
"Yaas, sir
"What force did you see in the re
gion through which you passed?''
The farmer explained that he coult
not answer the question, inasmuch a
he had been permitted to pass after tax
ing an oath not to give any information
"H'm. You are quite right not t.
answer under the circumstances, oh
served the general. ''Did your daugh
ter take the same oath?''
''Yaas, general, said Souri,.