Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-01-02
BIT HIS WRIST.

OUT people were said to be giving sig
nails by means of lights in the houses at
night to the confederate troops in the
Blue Ridge heights. Sheridan was en-
camped all round us, and he had issued
an order that any house showing light
Gfter dark should be burned to the
ground. 1t was a regular curfew."
What did you do?" murmured the
hearer, sympathetically
Miss Mary's laugh was a delightful
thing to hear. No one would have sus-
pected her of misfortune, and certainly
not of the tragic experience of war.
"Oh, it wasn't pleasant, but we all
stumbled to bed in the dark-those
who didn't go to sleep with the chick
ems. Well, one night, just at midnight,
messenger rode up to the door with
note for me. 1t was note from one of
my relatives, telling me that my favor
Ste aunt was dying. Of course had to
read the letter, and of course I had to
have light for the purpose. L went up
into the garret aud lighted just one lit
tie candle''-ah, Miss Mary, what meant
that odd Gleam in your keen, dark eyes
at the recollection ?-"but it was seen,
and early the next morning regiment
of soldiers filed into the yard, marched
up on to the gallery and into the l<itch-
en- and proceeded to turn the kitchen
stove upside down, and to set fire TO
the house. My father eXpostulated with
the captain, showed the letter about my
aunt. told him my mother was old and
feeble and liable to die from the shock
it did kill her. Nothing availed, the
house was ablaze in a dozen places and
the soldiers began ransacliing every
thing.
'I rushed frantically upstairs and
down, trying to secure the most ralua-
BILE things, our money-we hadn't much
and the silver and iewelry. Ny two
children were asleep on the third floor
taking their morning nap when the ex-
citement began, my little girl of three
years and my baby boy. My first
thought of course had been for them,
and the negro nurse was directed to
take them to a place of safety.
81 could see her in the distance, my
little girl running about, SO l took it
for granted they were all right. But
suddenly / had an inspiration-you
know things are told gust as though a
spirit spoke-I was dragging small
trunk out when the voice-it was
nothing less-said: GO to your chill
dren.'
II dropped the trunk and ran down
to the quarters; there was the nurse,
there was my little girl, but-there was
no baby. Law, Miss Mary said the
stupid black creature, wringing her
hands and crying, he was so heavy /
couldn't done tote 'em bofe.'
"I never stopped, fairly flew back to
the house; the nursery door was al
ready in flames. On the stairs big,
burly soldier barred the way. l tried to
dodge past, but he caught me by the
elbows-rm not very big, you know
and held me out at arms length.
81 couldn't stop to argue, time was
precious. just ducked my head down,
bit at the fieshy part of his wrist and
Jet my teeth meet. He dropped me
with an oath. I scampered past and
caught up my baby just in time. The
bedclothes were on fire."
A fash of the old bitterness and
storm stirred Miss Mary's mobile fea-
tuGes for the moment; then she leaned
back with her own musically southern
ripple of laughter. "Well. well, those
days are past, and my baby's father.
and I'm a andmother, and you, my
dear. were invited to eat Sally Lunn
and drink tea, which is heap sight
more polite than telling stories against
the Yankees. Let's go and have o,ir
supper."-N. Y. Tribune.