The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-29
Continued from last sunday)
CHAPTER XII.

saw announcer SIStlI Oh blletb IJlcll4btlbl
They forgot all about Mr.. Timblefinger
and Mrs. Meadows and Mr.. Rabbit.
They forgot to talk to the animals,
The war had been under way for some
time, and one rainy day in Novem-
Der word came that two soldiers in blue
had been seen riding along the road at
gallop. That was early in the morn
ing. By noon the plantation fairly
swarmed with the foragers in blue.
The Union army was on its way from
Atlanta to the sea.
Standing at the window and looking
through the mist and rain, Buster
John and Sweetest Susan could see the
foraging parties running about col
lecting the cows and calves, the horses
and the mules, and presently they saw
the same men in blue driving the stock
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 at all. He 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 Off.
They saw Aaron dressed in his Sunday
best, and they wondered whether he
was going with the rest. But after a
while they heard Aaron talking to their
grandfather in the next room. Ihey
heard him say that he had tried to hide
the horses and mules in the swamp,
but some Of the negroes 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 to be found. They
heard their grandfather tell Aaron
that he was free to go where he might
that he was no longer q slave. To
which Aaron replied that if he was free
to go or stay he would stay.
A little later the children, still stand
ing at the window, or near 1t, heard
a great CHATTER Of hoofs in the avenue,
mingled with the lowing of cattle, the
neighing of horses, and the shouts and
wells of drivers. At first Buster John
and Sweetest Susan, looking through
the mist. could see nothing but dense
and moving mass of animals and men.
But in few moments they were sur
prised to see that the foragers in blue
were bringing back the horses and cat
tie they had driven off. There was the
old pony ambling back to the lot;
there were the carriage horses, and
there were the milk cows and dry cat
tie. Accompanying the foragers, who
were on foot, were two or three mount
ed men. and one of these wore sword
and was giving orders.
The grandfather, attracted by the
children's cries of surprise, had come
to the window, and he stood there gaz-
ing at the spectacle in bewildered
way. 1t was more surprising to him
than it 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. He went to the rear OF the porch
to see what would be done with the
stock. and there, to his further sur
Prise. he saw soldier on guard. The
soldier salnted the white-haired old
man with the utmost Difference, stand
ing at present arms until the gentle
man. somewhat rusty in military ETH
ouette. 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 for
ayers where to put the horses, the
mules. and the cows, aud with Aaron
were two or three negroes who had
refused to go off with the rest.
"What is the trouble here?" the
old gentleman asked the soldier. "Are
we prisoners?'
aNo, sir" replied the soldier, laugh
ing. I'VE are here to protect this
house from the foragers and stray
olers. / was thinl1in maybe you're
some close kin to Uncle Cump"
Uncle who?"
"Cump, Cump-Uncle Tecump. We
march BY that name"
The white-haired gentleman, regard.
ing this as soldiers joke, went into
the house. The children, still at the
window, called his attention TO sol
der marching back and forth. Going
ON the front plaza, he saw a soldier
marching. on that side, and but for the
garden fence, doubtless there would
have been a fourth soldier marching
behind the kitchen.
Later in the afternoon O squad Of
riders came galloping down the avenue.
They drew up their horses at the yard
gate. and one Of them alighted, throw
ing his reins to one of the others. The
children ran into the front parlor and
peeped through the curtains. The sol
dier who had come into the yard had
neither gun nor sword. He wore
heavy overcoat, and his spurs ratified
as he stamped the mud and water from
his boots He removed his oyercoat,
lifted the l<nocller on the door and let
IT fall twice, and then walked back and
forth on the piazza with quick, merry
GUS step. He seemed to be restless and
impatient.
The children's grandfather went to
the door and threw it open. The sol
der lifted his hat with gesture that
as more familiar than deferential.
Come in, sir" said the grandfather.
eve do not keep the door closed even
on our enemies"
~ am here remarked the soldier
curtly, because have a message for
this house."