The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-07-29
WAS WORTH HAVING.

successful raid through Missouri. The
enemy came up against them like great
pillows. Steadily and threateningly
they moved to cut of their retreat.
All day long the incessant roar OF the
cannon had sent a thrill Of horror to
those within reach of its hoarse voice
The dead and the dying marked the
path OF the army. Night closed days
battle that could not soon be forgotten
The October moon looked coldly down
upon the hard-won field.
AS night advanced here and there In
the distance we caught sight of the
slimmering camp-fires. We knew the
army had sought rest for the night;
rest that would nerve the army for
deadlier blow on the morrow.
Impatient and anxious walked back
and forth on the long porch that ex-
tended across the front Of the house,
hoping every moment to hear some.
thing of our brave boys who had been
In the battles fore front all day. ]
happened to be guest at this house
Lucy Eaton, our young hostess, was
most companionable girl, and the es.
pecial pride of the home. She had just
Joined me when we were startled by
rapid volley of pistol shots fired few
yards from the house.
THAT means death to some one" she
exclaimed, as we stood together silent
and trembling while the thick shadows
Of the night crept closer to us.
A riderless horse sped past az II
maddened with fright. In few mo-
ments a squad of federal soldiers gall
Hoped swiftly and silently down the
road
I'VE must see what this terrible
shooting means" said Lucy as she
summoned the negro cook, Aunt Cindy,
from the kitchen to accompany us.
Frightened and excited, we began to
reconniter. A short distance from the
house we found a confederate soldier
shot through the legs and shoulder.
After many attempts we succeeded in
getting him into the house, where his
wounds were dressed He was de-
lighted to be thus cared for, and said
he felt sure that he would be able to
join his comrades in few weeks.
The strictest secrecy was enjoined
upon the entire household regarding
our wounded soldier. Aunt Cindy es-
pecially was impressed with the neces-
sity of maintaining a strict silence on
the subject.
Laws O. mercy" she calculated,
nobody kin incinderate me into tellin'
one word. Miss Lucy sholy know what
she's bout takin' in half dyin' man.
Use side by side wild Miss Lucy; least
ways Use not gwine agin' her."
Next morning, fearful that some of
the stragglers from the army might
discover our soldier and take him pris-
oner, Aunt Cindy stood in the roadside
and refreshed them as they passed with
cooling draughts of water. When the
last soldier had passed she commended
herself in extravagant terms for the
strategy she had used so satisfactorily.
We larned from our soldier that he
was Kentuckian and colonel in the
COulCuClotC al NY. ANClSAUOlo
friends came and went as usual ex-
changing visits, yet we never divulged
In any way our secret, which seemed
almost sacred to us, and they never
entertained the slightest suspicion that
within the home was wounded soldier
constantly attended by a physician.
One day as l was sitting at the win
dow party of federal soldiers on a
foraging expedition halted in front OF
the house. Our confederate was doz-
Ing in his chair. Aunt Cindy, with her
usual thoughtfulness, met them at the
gate. Cheerily her voice rang out as
she expostulated with them regarding
the propriety of their making liberal
appropriation for themselves.
Now, look here, gemmens," she said,
Use Objectionable to you helpin' yer
selves, not cause you amt welcome to
ennything we've got, but it's kinder
hard on me and Miss Rebecca keepin'
up all by ourselves. Pears like 1t
would be more fittin' and proper for
you to go whar yo' can git more"
After much expostulation they SEEM
ed quite willing to go where they
could git more" as they rode away and
Aunt Cindy returned to her work and
her guest breathed more freely.
The days wore on; weeks merged in
to months, and the colonel, who for
so long had eluded soldiers and officers
Of the federal army, surrendered I'M
conditionally to the brave little woman
who in the dark hours. of the night
had rescued him from death and ten
derby nursed him back to health and
strength.
One night stole softly to Aunt Gin
iy's cabin door and said:
"Cindy, can you keep a secret? II
you can go to the parlor."
With wide-open eyes she rose to her
feet exclaiming:
go goodness, l don't know what
else gwine to happen"
After a few moments she shuffled
through the hall into the parlor. AS
she entered she saw the minister stand
Ing and the colonel with Lucy beside
him.
The minister was repeating these
words: "Do you solemnly promise, in
the presence of these witnesses, to love
and honor?"
Aunt Cindy's face grew very grave.
She comprehended it fully. Her lips
moved prayerfully. When the cere-
mony was ended she extended her hard
brown hands. Proud of being thus
honored, she said:
"Massa Colonel, Gabriel hisself
couldn't make me tell less chose"
Faithful, indeed, she had been.
A few days later the colonel stole
away, under cover Of night, to join his
old comrades in the south, ana Aunt
Cindy renewed her promise again as
to the sacred obligation regarding all
of his affairs.
The rattle of muskeiry and the roar
Of cannon ceased at last. After four
years of hard fighting there was a
great homecoming. The colonel re-
turned and took his wife to his Ken
lucky honest. Louis Republic.
A Homesick Cat.
A homesick cat has excited the pity
of many wealthy New London people.
The animals old household recently