The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29
THE STORY OF AARON
80 NAMEo)
the SON OF BEN ALI.
Told by His Friends and Acquaintance.
by JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
COPYRIGHT, 1893, ov joel Chandler Harrfs.
CHAPTER XII.

NA" s.~g aNaSN ~ s"'N W h'N AAahhHh
The war had been under way for some time,
and one rainy day In November word came that
two soldiers in blue had been seen riding along
tho road at n gallop. That was early In the
morning. BY noon the plantation fairly
swarmed with the foragers in blue. The Union
army was on It's way from Atlanta to the sea.
Standing Mt the window and looking through
the mist and rain. Buster John and Sweetest
Susan could see the ~foraging parties running
about collecting tho cows and calves. the horses
and the mules. and presently they saw tho
same men in blue driving tho stock out through
the avenue and into the public road. Sweetest
Susan cried when she saw the old gray pony
amblinG along with the rest. but Buster John
never thought about the pony Mt all. lie was
watching to see the black stallion pass by. and
wondering how the men would manage him.
The children also saw many OF the negroes
following the soldiers of. They saw Aaron
dressed in his Sunday best. and they wondered
whether he WINS going with the rest. But after
a while they heard Aaron talking to their
grandfather In the next room. They heard
him say that he had tried to hide the horses
and mules in the swamp, but some of the ne
groes had carried the ~foragers in blue TO the
hiding place. They heard Aaron say that he
had carried Timoleon to another part of the
plantation. and that the old horse was not
likely 10 he found. They heard their grand.
father tell Aaron that he was now free to go
where he might-that he was no longer n
slave. To which Aaron replied that II he was
free to 90 or STAY he would stay.
A little later the children. still standing at
the window. or near 1t. heard a great chatter
of hoofs In the avenue. mingled with the low
ing of cattle, the neiRhing OF horses, and the
shouts and yells of drivers. At first Buster
Joha and Sweetest Susan, looking through the
ale --,1I 80. AM l"t l--- .-l .-.s-.
mass of animals and men. But in a few mo-
ments they were surprised to see that the for
ayers in blue were bringing back the horses
and cattle thay had driven Off. There was the
old pony nmbling back to the lot; there were
the carriage horses, and there were the milk
cows and dry cattle. Accompanying the for
ayers, who were on foot. were two or three
mounted men, and one of these wore "a sword
and was giving orders.
The gran dfather. attracted by the children's
cries of surprise, had come to the window, and
he stood there gazing at the spectacle in a be-
wildered way. II was more surprising to him
than 1t was to the children. He could make
nothing Of it. He could only rub his eyes and
look. Here were his horses, his mules, and his
cattle coming back in a hurry, driven by the
soldiers In blue. lie went to the rear porch to
see what would be done with the stock. and
there, to his further surprise. he saw IA soldier
on guard. The soldier saluted the white haired
old man with the utmost Difference. standing
at present arms until the gentleman, somewhat
rusty In military etiquette, had returned the
salute. Then the soldier resumed his march
back and forth.
Looking across to the lot. the old gentleman
saw Aaron showing the foragers where to put
the horses. the mules, and the cows, and with
Aaron were two or three negroes who had re.
fused to go Off with the rest.
what is the trouble here?' the old gen
tleman asked. Are we prisoners"
mo. sir" replied the soldier. laughing. 1--WE
are here to protect this house from the foragers
and stragRlers. l was thinkin' maybe you're
some close kin to Uncle Cump.'
Uncle whot"
"Cump. ~Cump-Uncle Tecump. We march
by that name"
The white-haired gentleman, regarding this
as II soldiers joke. went into the house. The
children, still at the window. called. his atten-
ing on the front piazza. he saw a soldier march
ing on that side. and but for the garden fence.
d aisr msssh bhesf ie TGndd the hsy Kitchen. Sssn " fourth sol
came g~alloping down the avenue. They drew
others. The children ran into the froit parlor
who had come into the yard had neither gun
nor sword. He wore a heavy overcoat. and his
spurs ratified as he stamped the mud and water
from his boots. He removed his oyercoat, lift,
and then walked back and forth on the piazza
with a quick, nervous step. He seemed to be
restless and inpatient.
The children's grandfather went to the door
and threw 1t open. The soldier lifted his hat
with a gesture that was more familiar than def
Come in. sir" said the grandfather. 1--WE do
not keep the door closed even on our enemies
~ am here" remarked the soldier CURLY,
Ia Ind a nnpk narVpna wa nf talking md
pictures on the wall. One OF these pictures
Snd the the t pSet Of Clutch or l'r peep osSi from R@is BEHIND sha G1 lis
shoulder. On this portrait the eyes Of the sol
gesture. The children's grandfather stood
watching him. The old gentleman's attitude
was stIfr and formal, and =, there re- was as an an rssSs .
ognized that the commander; tho General OF
the army of ipyasiop, stood before him:
and his eyes sparkled. II he had noticed the
attitude or expression of the other he ig'
THAT Is Little croohets,"he said brusquely,
ened. and his whole attitude Changed,
Little Crochet IS not here now he replied.
seemed to be blurred by the mist and the rain
blown against II by the east wind.
and placed his hand gently on the grandfather's
7" i am sorry" he added. II have a message
III my son had liyed.'' remarked the chill
dren's grandfather. by way of explanation.
he would he a grown man. AS 1t is. he Is
still a little boy"
That Is curious, too" said the commander.
since | heard 81 him | nave always Thought
OF him as "A little hit nf n chap. Something like
that. He turned to the portrait on the wall
" an forgetting myself, :" said the children's
grandfather. holding ont his hand. which the
soldier seized and pressed In his quick. ner-
yOus way. 'Sit In this rocking chair near the
hearth and dry yourself. You and are old
this part Of the country on horseback and
stopped here over night"
That Is So" replied the commander. II
was just beginning, the business OF life. You
had already begun It,"
ITO some extent was ahead Of you then,
just as you have now outstripped me In the
business OF dealing out death and destruction"
The commander rose from his chair quick
as a flash, and placed his hand on the old gem
tleman's shoulder.
My dear SIR" he said, this is war, and war
is.the most serious business that men ever en-.
gage in"
He resumcd his seat as suddenly rs he had
=. 4. -.vrl, --. NJ