Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-02
A SHINPLASTER.

was able 60 do so much good the day Rich
mond was evacuated, feel | must tell
about IL, for | was MS much subject OF
dispute in my day az gold and silver and
bonds are now. / was sent forth fresh and
crisp from Washington 10 n paymnster In
the Army OF the Potomac on the Virginia
peninsula, and he delivered me, along
with q lot OF larger notes, to n captain Of
tho Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry. The cap
tain placed the big notes In a letter which
he wrote his wifc---a sweet, loving letter
IN which he told her he was going the
next day ON rid up the peninsula, and
that II all went well he might sleep In
Richmond; that she must keep up "a brave
heart, and that he would 10 home soon.
when ho scaled this letter. saw tho mus.
clcs Of his mouth tyyltch and his brave
bluo eyes moisten, and l Struggled up
within, for knew the bravest wtgV the
tcndorcst, and he was Wishing he could go
with TINT letter But there were no Drawer
mon In the war than tho ponnsylynnians,
and j knew that, live or die, he would be
game and do what was right Tho next
morning we started off and got along very
well until, about ~ miles beyond VIII
liamsburg and Just at the fork Of tho
roads, we were attacked by the advance
guard of Shingler's South Carolina CIV
airy. We Ind only 40 men In our party
and the rebels were numerous. The cnp-
tain saw he had better retire. So he turned
his horse, ordered rotreat, and the men
dashed down the road, firing ms they ro-
treated. We went into n now position be-
hind the college walls--tho college had
been burnod-nnd as the hot lead spattcrcd
against tho old English bricks / sbud-
dercd, and every time the statue of Lord
Botetourt was hit / felt as II everything
sacred was being doscoratcd, and l could
almost hear the British lion growl. While
! was made for circulation was based on
protection, and when charges were made
against me feared would DO ground in
to pulp before was withdrawn.
Our enemies wero re-cnforcod, and my
captain, seeing discretion was the better
part OF valor, ngain retired and dashed
down the main street. Before he had gone
two squares a bayonet was thrust through
his thigh and he was made prisoner In
very short time / was EXCHANGED for IA
bag Of tobacco and became an ally and as
sociato Of armed rebellion. a shinplaster
has no affections or attachments, you know.
j was put In what was called pocket by
my rebel owner, but it seemed to me like
a rag bag
] was presented 10 his sister, and then /
was taken TO the parlor In Richmond and
put In something had never heard Of be-
fore-a glory pitcher. had great curiosity
to know what glory pitcher was. Day
and night kept my ears open to try to
find out, and ON the Fourth Of July did,
for they took mo out md filed the pitcher
with punch and drank General George
Wnshington's health, and i heard them say
TINT when General Washington died these
pitchers were made Of china, with pic
ture of General Washington being taken
up 20 glory on their sides. Every ED Of
February and Fourth OF July they were
used for punch. II 1 had been sound mon
ey, would have known TINT sister of tho
poet Longfellow, Mrs. poarco of Portland,
Me, had ono of these pitchers, but was
of mushroom growth-knew nothing of
traditions and really very little about my
self. Well, l remained prisoner in soli-
tary confinement in Richmond until evacu-
alton day came. 1t was Sunday, and heav-
en- seemed TO give ono grand, glorious smile
to the last day Of the Confederacy-a smile
| like n martyr wears ON his dying face and
nature, every tree and flower, was bursting
with green leaf and blossom, struggling to
| be free, and thought the fearful eyes of
| my dear ladies should take comfort and re-
member that they, too had been prison
bound and now were freeing themselves.
l had grown to love the lady in whose
care had been, she WINS so pure and brave,
and l became unhappy lest some evil
should befall her and her little children.
l saw her kiss her husband goodby, and
saw her hand her jewels and valuables to
an old slave, who promised to do his best
to protect her. In n sbott time the city
was in flames, and water cut off, the gas
house destroyed and darkness reigned. Tho
streets were full of Union soldiers and
army followers, and the desolation of that
house was beyond anything can describe.
| Suddenly 1 heard my friends coming
down stairs, and felt my dear lady's soft
| white hand pick me up from the glory jar,
smooth Ine out, and, calling Uncle Harry,
a faithful old slave, she said; "Uncle Har.
ny, this shinplnster came from fight in
Williamsburg. Richard gave 1t to me, and
l hive kept 1t all this while. l sec they
have established suffers store ncross the
way. If you arc not afraid, go and see II
| II Will buy mo some candles, for II 1t will
| we will not be quite 30 forlorn."
Uncle Harry grabbed me with his big,
old, black hand and said God knows,
Miss Mary, you always was good and
God gwino TO take care OF you and yourn
and wo and lis. Afeerds / amt gwine to
como back 'dout dem candlcs-'sruein
dey amt got none" And he brought back
three, and the light they shed WINS like the
glory Of Coda light in n dark place.
She lit ono and made patrol OF the
house from garrett TO cellar, under the
beds and in the closets-would blow Il
out and in n fow hours rcconnoitcr ugain,
for, when they We're gone where would
any more come from? But she knew that
unto the upright there arlsoth light in
| tho darkness ~ and her beautiful fai.h -.