Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-11-02


mddly forward, even after his own arm
hung helpless by his side: He be.
came unconscious from loss of blood
and fell, rose again and staggered he
didn't know how long or where; fell
again; and when he struggled back to
life it was night, and everything was
quiet.
'sNo, not everything-he could hear
q moaning sound near linn, and when
he crawled over to the spot it came
from he found-Will.
"Will didn't know jim; he was too
far gone But he kept moaning
water! Water!' Poor Jim lay there
and cried, for his canteen was empty,
and he was too weak to move again.
All through that night he lay there,
listening to his brothers. voice beg
ging for drink and too helpless even
to put his hand ont to touch him.
'sWhen morning came the calls
ceased, and Jim remembered nothing
more till he woke in his own room,
with mothers face bending over him.
I might have saved his life-for few
hours; anyway-if my eanteen hadn't
been empty cried the poor boy, bury
ing his head in the pillow, while mother
and sobbed aloud.
"There was only the freight in the
room, and we little dreamed that
Dorry had come in. She sat in the
shadow till the tale was done, then
rose and stood among us, who were
too startled to speak. Her face looked
white; her great eyes were dilated, and
the baby voice sounded harsh and OLD
when she spoke.
"'Did papa die cause he couldn't
have iink OF water?' she asked, in o
tone of horror, laying her hand earnest
ly on Jim's arm.
eve couldn't pacify her. She
didn't cry, but shook and quivered,
and all the time she was so white, and
her eyes went from one face to the
other iu such questioning, pitiful
way, that we were broken-hearted over
her.
"That year the war ended. The
soldiers began to come home, and we
could see trains filled with them pass
ing every day. One mornjng,ju just be-
fore breakfast time, there was an acci-
dent on the road some miles ahead OF
ns;and an early train loaded with the
army men was detained at our town
for over three hours.
'sSuch wornout-looking lot! Some
were sick, some wounded, and all were
tired and hungry. Every house in the
place was thrown open to. them. Jim,
still weak and shaky, was rolled to the
door to welcome them as they came up
the path, while mother and Barbara
and I flew about, grinding coffee, bak-
ing cakes, frying and broiling and set
ting the breakfast table the whole
length of the dining room.
SIN the excitement Dorry was for
gotten. I had left her standing by
Jim when T ran out to the kitchen.
He told us afterward that she stood
watching the scene for some time, her
hands clasped behind her in an old
fashioned way; then she suddenly
surprised him by pulling him down
and Whispering, Uncle Dim, may I
have my papa's cap?'
'sIt was the first time she had
spoken of her father since that night.
Just then lot of the boys went past.
Away she few, and in the excitement
Jim forgot her question.
"Well, the dining room was full;
everyone was busy, and stood pour
ing coffee at side table, when Mat
thew, Aunt Barlara's boy, came rush
ing in, his face on its usual broad
grin.
"'Come to the front door for jest a
minute, he said. So I dropped every
thing and ran.
'sShall I ever forget that scene? At
first I.saw only great many soldiers
gathered about the horse-block in the
front yard. Some were on the road,
some in the yard, but all pressed close
to the steps. Then one of them moved,
and I saw Dorrv standing bravely
among them, her white dress blowing
in the breeze, q worn soldier-cap on
her erect little head and in her out
stretched hand long dipper.
"While I looked and could scarcely
believe nay eyes, her ringing little
voice called out sweetly, Flesh water,
nice flesh water!' and she was lost
again behind the crowding bluecoats.
GO She done got me to fetch dat
bucket and put it on them steps, and I
weren't studyin' what she was gwine
to do till I heard her calm out and
Them soldiers crowdin' up to get a
drink explained Matthew. She
looked so kind O. businesslike wild dat
cap on, went right on and done like
she told me. What you reckon made
dat chile think bout gettin' 'em q
drink?' he asked.
ct believed I knew and. crept quiet
ly over to the edge of the crowd to
watch and listen. I could see her
plainly then. The earnest gray eyes
looked straight into each bronzed face
from under the rim of the old cap.
She watched each soldier as he drank
from the upturned dipper, then called
again, Water, nice flesh water!'
Down she would plunge the dipper to
the bottom of the big bucket and bring
it up Hospitality full.
s'The men crowded around her, full
of surprise aud curiosity. Her little
sigh of satisfaction when some dusty
throated old veteran drank deeply from
her hands was very evident. Once,
| when young fellow asked for Sec
ond supply, the dimple came into view
for minute, the little face relaxed into
q shadowy smile.
"'Nice?' she asked, kindly, STOPPING
to look under his cap, and ripple OF
sympathetic laughter ran through the
crowd.
/" oTaintlikely her folks set her to
doin' this, said one soldier.
snb thev mjIst haye' said