Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-25
A BOLD DESERTER,
BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.


Copyright, 1896 by Bachelor, johnson Bacheller)
The war wasn't much Of a bother to
Hillsborough. for the town was remote
from the field of operations. Occasionally
news would come that made the women
cry out and the old men weep, but the in
terva1s were long between these episodes.
and. to all appearances affairs moved for
ward as serenely as ever
This was during the first year or two of
the struggle Then came the impressment
law. which created bad feeling and caused
good deal of grumbling. Following this
came the conscript act which made mat
tiers much worse, especially when strange
men were sent to enforce it. This dis
turbed the serenity of Hillsborough very
seriously.
Nevertheless. Hillsborough could have
put up with the conscript act but for one
event. that stirred the little community
from center to circumference. The con-
script officers had not been in the town
week before they pouncea upon poor little
Billy Cochran, the sole support OF his wild
owed mother, who was known throughout
that region as Aunt Sally. Little Billy
himself was puzzle to the more thought
ful people He Was SO simple and innoce emit
minded. so ready to do for othecs what he
wouldn't do for himself, that some said he
was a half-wit. while others commended
that he would have sense enough if his
heart wasn't so big
But everybody liked little Billy--for his
mothers sake, If not for mis- own-for Aunt
Sally was, indeed, a good Samaritan. She
seemed to know by instinct where trouble
and sickness and suffering were TO be
there. q
High or low, rich or poor. she passed none
by. And though she was simple and as
innocent-mnded as little Billy. these quail
ties seemed to fit her better than they did
her awkward and bashful boy.
Aunt Sally and little Billy were both as
industrious as the day was long, yet they
made but precarious living on their little
patch of ground-a bale or two of cotton,
mat didn't bring good price, and little
bit OF garden truck, which. with a few
chickens and eggs, they brought to town
occasionally in rickety one-horSe wagon.
Aunt Sally would take no pay for nursing
the sick. no matter how much of her time
was taken up; but she supplemented The
meager income they got from the one
horse farm by making quilts and counter
panes and bed spreads. and by taking in
weaving. being very expert at the loom.
AS may be supposed, Aunt Sally and
little Billy didn't wear fine clothes nor put
on any airs. Living in middle Georgia (the
most democratic region, socially, in the
Worldt, they had 10 need for either the
one or the other. They made bare liv-
ing, and were tolerabiy satisfied with that.
One day, shortly after the conscript off,
Ger had established his headquarters in
iillsborough, Aunt Sally and little Billy
drove into town with a few dozen eggs and
three or four chickens to sell. The con-
script officer. sitting on the veranda of the
tavern, noticed that little Billy was WELL
grown lad. and kept his eye on him, as the
rlckety one-horse wagon came through the
public square.
There were two or three loungers sitting
on the veranda. including Maj. Goolsby
One of them tapped the major on the Shout
der and pointed to little Billy with his fore
finger and the conscript officer with his
thumb. The major nodded gravely once or
twice, and presently hitched his chair
closer to the conscript officer.
You amt a-baggin' much game in these
parts. I reckon" said the major addressing
the officer with half-closed eyes.
Business Is not very good" replied the
other with a chuckle: but We manage to
pick up u few stragglers now and then.
Yonder's chap now'-pointing to little
Blily-"that looks like he would be an or
nament to the rear guard in an engage
ment." The officer was a big. rough-look-
duties very agreeable
DO you mean little Billy Cochran" in
quired the major.
Il don't know mis- name" said the officer
Il mean that chap riding in the chariot
with the fat woman"
That boy remarked the major. with an
eHpHdSiS tIdl caused the COnSCrlpt OIlCer
to regard him with surprise, lis the sole
support of his mother He's all she's got
to make her crop"
Maybe so" the officer said; but the law
makes no provision for cases of that kind"
You said maybe So" suggested the
major. Do you mean to doubt my word?'
His voice was as soft as the notes Of a
flute.
why, certainly not" exclaimed the Off
Ger, flushing little.
The major made no further remark. but
sat bolt upright in his chair. The rickety
wagon drove to the tavern door, and little
| Billy got out, a basket of eggs in one hand
and the chickens in the other He went in
to the tavern, and while he was gone, Aunt
| Sally passed the time of day with the ma
jor and the rest of her acquaintance on
| the veranda.
Evidently little Billy had no difficulty in
diSposing of his eggs and chickens, for he
soon came out smiling. The officer arose as
little Billy appeared at the door. and so did
| Maj Goolsby. The loungers nudged one
| another In gleefu! way. AS little Billy
came out the conscript officer drew a for
his pocket and tapped the young man on
| the shoulder. Little Billy looked around in
surprise, the blood mounted to his face and
he laughed sheepishly.
What is your name@ the officer asked,
posing his pencil.
civilian Henry Harrison Cochran" re-
piled little Billy.
How old are you?"
Twenty, April gone"
Report at my office, under the Temper
ance Hall, next Wednesday morning, the
services"