The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18
PAP'S MULES.


her basket before the arrival of the stage.
or her butter and eggs would have re-
manned unsold, so great was the excite
ment that convulsed the village. AS the
Widows rustic mind gradually apprehend-
ed the tale of the approaching carnage
which threatened Oakville her thoughts re-
verified 10 her home at Hickory Hollow. and
an irresistible desire seized her to COM
municate the fearful tidings to the benight-
ed denizens of that mountain hamlet. If
there was to be battle at Oakville, and
blood was to flow in the streets, Nancy
Barbour did not wish to see it, so she
moanted Old Sorrel and started at speed
for home.
But it was far to Hickory Hollow, and,
with her heart beating time to Sorrefs
cantering feet, Nancy soon recognized the
impossibility of surviving four hours with
out telling the news to some one, so she
resolved upon a diversion up Blackberry
lane for the purpose of terrifying the fam
lily of Susan Cline, a crony of hers, who
had formerly dwelt at Hickory Hollow.
'"Tain't likely Susan's heard the great
news" murmured the widow, she gall
loped, AN if 1 don't tell somebody soon
I'll jest BUST
The trees around John Clines log cabin
were in half LEAKAGE, although it was but
April, and the foliage afforded consider
able protection against the west Alabama
sun. The tide OF war was rapidly engulf-
ing the doomed Confederacy, but there was
no hint of conflict in Clines dooryard.
True, there was smoke, but it was not the
sulphurous fumes of battle smelling of
burned powder and carnage, but the in
cense Of peace curling gracefully from the
fire about Susan Clines soap pot, and red
olent of the spicy scent of pine knots and
hickory boughs. The south wind at inter-
walls blew the pungent smoke into the peach
trees that hung over the garden fence, and
the bees that were rifiing the pink bios
SONS rose with an indignant hum, TO re-
turn to their toll when the gust had passed
Susan stirred the steaming cauldron med
itatively with a long soap stick. Sometimes
she made a brief remark to guide the la
bors of her two daughters, Betsy and
Judith, the first of whom bent over a wash
tub, while the other churned a turn of
milk; sometimes she looked across the field
to where her husband was p6wing with a.
pair of bay mules, or her glance fell ten
derby upon Johnny, her little boy Of ten
who made it his duty to keep the fire burn
Ing about the pot OF soap.
A messenger of i'll to this peaceful scene
might we'll lament his errand. But no COM
junction visited Nancy Barbour's brain as
she galloped up the lane. With her brown
skirt sailing in the wind and her sunbonnet
Tapping from side TO side. the widows APP
pearance was we'll calculated to excite the
anxious fear of the little group in the door
yard.
Ian sake Nance What's the matter?"
exclaimed Susan, as Nancy drew rein at
kin at the Hollow?'
With a breathlessness, partly real but
largely assumed, Nancy nodded her head
negatively and asked for a gourd of water
and it was not till after repeated solicita-
ton that she proceeded to unfold her tale
OF terror Time was precious, yet the
ment Of her friends suspense.
The day o wraths at han, Susan
Cline" she finally began, IAN you pore
an bilin soapr'
Susan threw quick, questioning glance
at Nancy, as if she suspected her sanity.
Nance, have you come gallopin up the
lane jest to, norate about judgment day?'
NO, Suse, I've come from OakVille; the
Yankees are a-comin, thar's goin' to be
battle thar, and hoods goin' to run in the
streets.
The Yankee raiders a-comin' at iast!'
exclaimed Susan. Are yer shore the news
is true, Nance?"
Yes Suse; the news was brought by
stage. and it's a sartin fact. The mayor,
ln6 aldermen ana the One-armed and the
one-legged soldiers have helt meetin I'M
der the big oak front of Browns sto' The
soldiers How it's no use to put up fight.
for thar's no able-bodied men left to fight
But the mayor and tothers say it would
be deSSgrace to surrender without a gun
pinted or lick struck. 1t was a great
meetin', Suse. His Honor stood on a bar
rel and made grand speech"
Nancy paused to enjoy the sensation she
was creating. Meanwhile, to brace her
nerves, she took out box of snuff from
her fiat bosom. and, inserting her brush,
she mopped up a brown ball and put it be-
tween her thin lips
His Honors a fool and the old soldiers
are in the right" said Susan, gesticulating
with her soap stick. "rhar's been enough
blood GOD and tears shed in this pore country"
We'll, resumed Nancy, his Honor out
talked en- and carried the people with
h nm l tel yer Suse. thar's goin' to be
company and named it the Oakville Home
Guard and app inted Abner Wilkins cap'n.
And you know the old cannon on the bluff
July, and amt been fired in nigh on to
four year? Well, they've drug il down to
the bridge and loadened it with scrap iron.
But thar's some folks agin' the cannon,
sayin' she's too old and rusty to shoot; and
II she do shoot, nobody knows which ends
driving out the bees. SCATTERING the bios
SONS and taking Judiths yellow hair with
pink. After it there came a hush as if
the wind had suddenly stopped and held
its breath, like frightened child. Then
it fed furtively down the lane. one could
trace its feet by little eddies of dust Then
came a bit of April cloud longer than
ones hand, and fioated under the noontide
sun, casting a shadow over the little group
Susan glanced at her frightened children
and a feeling of resentment toward the
bearer of i'll tidings who had alarmed them
rose in her heart.
We are much obliged to you, Nance. for
comm out OF yer way to bring us bad
news, but We're not beholden to you for
namin US pore critters jest because we are
washin' out clo'es and b'ilin our soap.
Iivin' or dead a body needs soap and clean
clio es. Fu'thermoah, if the raiders be
a-comin we can't bender en-"
Susan'S affected calmness vexed Nancy
who vaguely felt herself defrauded She
had expected more of panic.
I'm powerful glad to see you so rec
signed Suse, for it's a Christians duty
the raiders I'D skin the county, and thar
wouldn't be a four-legged critter left to
milk or pillow. What are you-uns goin' to
do when yer mules is gomez?
1T would be a hard case to lose our
mules, for they are our main support,
Nance, but the grounds broke and planted
and we could make out TO work it with a
hoe
create dismay, Susan ordered her little
flock back TO their labors; and the widow,
fearing tic be forestalled as a messenger of
III to the jewellers on Little creek, declined
Sorrel blow with her switch, departed at
a brisk pace for Hickory Hollow.
When Nancys lank figure had disap-
peared down the lane, a sigh from his
mother filled JohnnyS face with gloom.
Nanny do yer reckin the Yanksll take
pap's mules?' asked the little boy anx-
iousy.
yer pap TO come to the house, and take
Tige with you; I'm 'fraid he'll git seated