The National tribune., 1898-10-06

kin Go heaps O. work. Will you hire me
| NASSAU?
Don't know but may. Can you COOKE
Yes, Massa, kin cook anything l ebber
! seen.
How much do you think you can earn
| a month?
Guess kin earn $40 easy huff"
| Turning to Mrs b, he said in an
undertone: That darky understands his
| business.
Yes, indeed; would hire him, by all
means, Doctor, said Mrs B.
Well, if you wish, you can stay with
me a month and by that time will be a
better iudge how much you can earn.
So saying DR.. E proceeded to give a
synopsis of contraband's duty toward
month, especially emphasizing the last
clause. Then | was introduced to the
culinary department, which comprised
-four, pork, beans, a small portable stove,
a spider, and medicine-chest.
1t was now supper time, and was sup
posed to understand my business sut1-
ciently to prepare supper without asking
any questions whatever, and also to dis
play some of my boasted talents by max
ing warm biscuit for supper. But how
was | to make biscuit with my colored
hands. and how dare wash them, for fear
the color would wash off?
All this trouble was soon put to an end,
however. by Jacks making his appear
ance while | was stirring UP the biscuit
with a stick, and in his bustling, offici
Gus. negro style he said: See here, mig,
you don't know muffin bout maxim biSket.
Jis let me show you once and dat ar will
save you heaps o trouble wild MaSSa
Doct'r for time to come.
very willingly accepted of this proffer
ed assistance. for had all the necessary
ingredients in the dish. with pork fat for
shortening and soda and cream-tartar
which | found in the medicine-chest,
ready for l<neading and rolling out. After
washing his hands and rolling up his
sleeves, Jack went to work with a -four
iSh and a grin of satisfaction at being
boss over the new cook. Tea made,
biscuit baked. and the medicine chest
set off with tin cups, plates, etc, SUPP er
Vas announced DR.. E was much
pleased with the general appearance OF
things. and was evidently beginning to
think that he had found rather an in
teiligent contraband for a cook.
A SECRET EXPEDITION.
After supper | was left to my own re-
tiections. which were anything but pleas
ant at that time, for in the short space OF
three hours ! must take up my line Of
march toward the camp of the enemy.
AS sat there considering whether it was
best for me to make myself known to Mrs.
b before | started DR.. E put his
head in at the tent door and said in a
hurried manner
Ned, ! want you to Black my boots to-
night. | shall require them early in the
"A!l right, Massa Doct'r." said ]. Il
alters blacks dc boots over night"
After washing up the few articles which
had taken the place of dishes, and black
ing the Doctors boots went to seek an
interview with Mrs. B. / found her
alone and told her who | was but was
Obliged to give her satisfactory proofs Of
my identity before she was convinced
that | was the identical nurse with whom
she had parted three days previously.
Ny arrangements were soon made, and
| was ready to start on my first secret cx-
pedition toward the Confederate Capital.
Mrs. b was pledged to secrecy with
regard to her knowledge of Ned and his
mysterious disappearance. She was not
permitted even 10 tell Mr.. B or DIR.
F., and | believe she kept her pledge
faithfully.
With few hard crackers in my pocket
and my revolver loaded and capped, |
started on foot, without even a blanket or
anything which might create suspicion.
At halfpast 8 O'Clock ] passed through
the outer picllet-line of the Union army, at
II O'Clock ! was within the rebel lines,
and had not SO much as been halted once
by Il sentinel. | had passed within less
than 10 rods of n rebel picket, and he had
not seen me. ] took this as q favorable
omen, and thanked heaven for it. ~,