The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
Il BOLD DESERIER.
scopyright 1896. by Bachelor. Johnson
and Bacheller)

the women cry out and the old men
weep. but the intervals were long be-
tween these episodes, and To all appear
ances affairs moved forward as serene
ly as ever.
This was during the first year or two
of the struggle. Then came the i'm
pressment law. which created bad feel
ings and caused good deal of grum-
bling. Following this came the con-
script act, which made matters much
worse, especially when strange men
were sent to enforce il. This disturbed
the serenity of Hillsborough very Sc
riously.
Nevertheless, Hillsborough could
have put up with the conscript act but
for one event that stirred the little COM
munity from center to circumference.
The conscript 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 that region as Aunt
Sally. Little Billy himself was puz-
gle 10 the more thoughtful people. He
was so simple and innocent-minded, so
ready 10 do for others what he wouldn't
do for himself. that some said he was
3 haif-wit, while others contended that
be would have sense enough if his heart
wasn't SO big.
But everybody liked little Billy-for
his mothers sake, if not for his own,
for Aunt Sally was, indeed, a Good
Samaritan. She seemed 10 know by
instinct where trouble and sickness and
suffering were TO be found, and there,
too, she was to be found. High or low,
rich or poor, she passed none by. And,
though she was simple and as innocent
minded as little Billy, these qualities
seemed TO fit her better than they did
her awkward and bashful boy.
Aunt Sally and little Billy were both
IS Industrious as the day was long, yet
they made but precarious living on
snsrr little patch Of ground-a bale
or two of cotton. that didn't bring
good price, and little bit of garden
truck which, with few chickens and
eggs, they brought TO town OCCASION
ally in a rickety one-horse wagon. Aunt
Sally would take no pay for nursing
the sick. no matter how much of her
mented the meager income they got
from the one-horse farm by making
quilts and counterpanes, 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 fire clothes nor
put on any airs. Living in middle
Georgia (the most democratic region,
socialN in the world), they had no
need for &ther the one OF the other.
They made bare living, and were toll
erably satisfied with that.
One day, shortly after the conscript
officer had established his headquarters
in Hillsborough, Aunt Sally and little
Billy drove into town with few dozen
eggs and three or four chickens to sell.
The conscript officer, sitting on the
veranda of the tavern, noticed that little
Billy was well grown lad. and kept his
eye on him, as the rickety, one-horse
wagon came through the public square.
There were two or three loungers
sitting on the veranda, including Mai.
Goolsby. One of them tapped the major
on the shoulder and pointed to little
Billy with his forefnger and the con-
script officer with his thumb. The
major nodded gravely once or twice,
and presently hitched his chair closer
10 the conscript officer.
'You amt a-baggin' much game in
these parts, / reckon" said the major,
addressing the officer, with half-closed
eyes.
Business is not very good" replied
the other with chuckle, "but we man
age to pick up a few stragglers now and
then. Yonder's chap now" - point
ing 10 little Billy-''that looks like he
would be an ornament TO the rear
guard in an engagement" The officer
wac big. rough-looking man, and
lseemed TO find his present duties very
agreeable.
"Do you mean little Billy Cochran?"
Inquired the major.
II don't know his name," said the Of
hcer. Il mean that chap riding in the
chariot with the fat woman"
THAT boy" remarked the major.
with an emphasis that caused the con-
script officer TO regard him with sur
prise, sis the sole support of his mother.
Hes cil 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 flute.
why, certainly mott" exclaimed the
officer, fiusvling a little.
The major made no further remark,
bnt sat bolt upright in his chair. The
ric1ety wagon drove 20 the tavern door,
and little Billy got out, basket of eggs
in one hand and the chickens in the
other. He went into the tavern, and
while he was gone, Aunt Sally passed
the time of day with the major and the
rest of her acquaintances on the veran-
da.