The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-07-29
SARGE PLUNKETT.
THE OLD MAN Is NOW ENGAGED IN
ENTERTAING THE STRANGERS.
Relating Stories of the War-Pointing Out
Places of Interest and Selling War Relics
to as Many as Will Purchase.
For The Constitution.

them. but they do have with people who
visit this section, and every year that
passes will add more and more of interest
| to them.
| Strangers never tire of asking questions
nor hearing about the battles around At
! lanta, and the fields" seem curious to
| them all. They used to call Brown and |
| "cranks" upon subjects relating to the
war, and common it got to be for the
| young generation to guy" us that we
] quit talking about the war. except when
we would get off on a log by ourselves,
but now, when so many strangers com
| ing every day, we hold up our heads again
and are always ready to discourse upon
! any matters pertaining to the grand
| march through Georgia." or any other
march. "Oh, yes" we tell these strangers.
| Just ask what you please; drpv us
out; we like it, for the telling of these is
| about the only talent We have ever had
| developed fully, and then we have long
| ago understood how easy it is for old
man to be truthful on this line. 1t is hard
/ for or any other old people to be
/ tirely truthful on any of the modern mat
| ters-and we do love the truth, we do, me
! and Brown
We found a crowd of good listeners yes
| terday and they pressed us for some sto
| ries, and. also. purchased of a good lot
| of worthless OLD pieces of shell. old bayo-
nets. balls and ramrods-they viii buy any
/ thing, and L give it here as a "tip'-the
| wise will act accordingly.
Just before old Sherman swung around
to Jonesboro,' l went on as Brown took
in the money for some walking sticks we
We're selling them as relics of that bloody
field, THE people seemed to know that
there was trouble a-brewing and the big
road was filled with refugees getting out
Of the way just fast as they could.
These refugees had been moving on
Sherman advanced till the most of them
were in a mighty bad condition-in fact,
the most of them were in distress and had
TO live as best they could upon the few
along the roads who yet remained at their
homes. Aly folks nor Browns folks could
not find il i'm their hearts to turn away
these poor refugees as long there
a crust of bread and place to stick one
of them.
''The night before Sherman swung
around il was raining hard and was as
dark Egypt. We had took the refugees
in till there was not place for one to lay.
They had been piled upon the floor after
the beds gave out till there not room
TO step about. We had reserved cur own
bed, me and my good wife, and were just
preparing TO retire. when the dogs tore
around the house as if they We're after
some wild varmint and when l stepped
out TO what was the matter what
should | find but as sweet young girl
you ever laid your eyes upon, and when
we got her i'm the house she told the most
pitful story about as how she had started
down the road to keep out of the way of
the yankees, had lost her way in the dark
could so no further and was just about to
faint. The old woman shed tears as the
girl told her story and pretty soon had
some strong wheat coffee for her to drink
and / gave up my last drop of spirits to
warm her up ana make her feel at home
much could.
After long time we begun
to figure as to how the goung lady should
rest for the night, whereupon she irsi 3ted
upon Just sitting iu the chair whctef she
was The old woman would never hear to
that-such a sweet creature must have
a bed if she had TO do without herself In
her enthusiasm she came mighty nigh pro-
posing to put the stranger i'm bed with
me, but l would not hear to any such pro-
cedurc and shook my head according.
AT last # was arranged that / should
crawl M the ladder into the loft and sleep
upon the broomstraw. After I saw the
old woman and the young stranger snug
away in bed | crawlcd up the ladder and
had as good nights rest as | ever had in
all nv life, for the rain pattered upon the
boards right at my head and sounded so
sweet that | forgot the war and dreamed
sweet dreams about the past.
"The young stranger was up and gone
by the break of day the next morning
and our hearts went with her wishing her
a good speed along her road. Up in the
day after breakfast l was out in the plaza
and saw long line of blde coats coming
l called the old woman and told her we
were goners-that old Sherman was upon
us. Browns girls there and pursuad-
cd me out of running and so we stood and
awaited the approach of the soldiers
Just as the line got in front of our house
they halted and the men scattered to each
side of the road and sit them down to rest
Directly there came some men on horses
and as they approached the soldiers arose
and shouted as loud as ever they could
"'Huzar huzar. huzar!
7 did not like that sound nor don't like
it much till yet but anyhow, l soon under
stood that the men on horses were officers.
and IN a minute two of them started to-
ward our house. When they came inside
the yard | told my folks that | knew we
We're goners. but they soon changed their
direction and took M at the well one of
these was monstrous pretty young officer
and the other one was a sharp-loolling old
cuss and they said II was General sherman
/ kept my eyes on them and exepcted every
minute To see them feel for matches but
instead of starting any fire the pretty fell
low politely raised his hat and saIuted ne
Thinks J, what in the thunder is the matter
WIN thtSt Ahnk1eSE Directly the general
called an officer and pointed toward us
and with six others he started i'm our Iii
rection. Then l would have swore that
we were gOners but the officer said as he
halted in our front:
p" We are sent here to guard you and
your home
Pretty soon up rode a fellow with a
sack of bundles, and hands the old woman
some sure enough coffee and many other
good things. Along with these things ne
turned and handed me a note | called one
Of Browns girls to read the note and here
ii is:
" These things are sent to you by the
young officers i'm company with General
Sherman at your well. | thank Won for
your kindness of last night am a fed
eral scout!
THE old woman clasped her hands and
exclaimed
"'Well, well, welln
while l exclaimed
" Hell, hell, hell!"
Brown and / are ever ready to entertain
the strangers coming to the exposition
with stories and point out to them
the fields of battle but in the meantime
we shall sell just many relics" as they
will buy-no danger of our getting short