The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-12
A Message From the Past,


in gray. as they crowded about the car
In which Major Moses was carrying gold
bullion to deliver TO the federal authori-
ties Stationed in Augusta, after Lees sur
render.
The war had confused mems ideas and
the soldiers, who were unpaid, sWore
that the gold was as much theirs as any
ones. In front of the angry crowd sway
ing round the side-track where Major
Moses had switched off the treasure car
stood a young soldier, his arm in a sling.
who wore the epaulets Of an inferior Of
icer; he was tramping home after the
surrender. for ne had been with Lee in
Petersburg and helped to form that thin,
gray line" which kept Grant at bay during
the terrible winter.
He was heart-sore and desperate. and
although he knew what fearful suffering
a continuance of the war would have
meant for the south. mis- dark eyes flashed
as he heard Major Moses say firmly:
1T is duty to deliver this gold to the
| United States goVernment-the govern
ment which has conquered us-and I shall
do so. The law as well as our honor"
Here a ragged little drummer boy be-
gan to pound his drum, drowning the rest
Of the sentence. Then a soldier cried out:
I'VE Will not let you hand that money
| over TO the Yankees while we starveI"
do you want to give them eyerything?"
| asked another, loudly.
Jeers followed. Where drums beat law
| is silent; the crowd. seeing the treasure
car, began pushing it toward the depot
| But Major Moses who stood in front of
the train, leaped forward, sprang into
/ the doorway as it rolled along, and draw
| ing his sword, cried:
You shall not touch it, It is entrusted
to me to deliver, and will defend it with
1 my life!'
The car soon reached the depot and there
! two or three other officers came TO Major
Moses assistance; they appealed to the
| honor, the patriotism OF the crowd, but
| they appealed in vain.
! 1.-The gold belongs to us!' the soldiers
| cried. eve have fought and bled for the
| south, and we will not let you hand 1t
over TO the Yankees and leave us here to
! starve."
"Shall Ike go to seek for wives and chill
dren, whose homes are in ashes, empty
handed?" cried the young officer with the
sling.
q will beg that rations be handed out
to the starving soldiers of the SOUTH
said Major Moses.
Words sometimes mean more than
swords and hurt worse.
Beg" they jeered Not while we can
take our own! And we are armed to do
it!' they declared, closing about their
leaders.
Followed by that desperate, hungry,
conquered crowd, the young officer sprang
upon the treasure car.
Major Moses had advanced sword in
hand, swearing to plunge it into the first
man who entered, when the young officer
caught the naked blade. Major Moses
eyes fell upon his epaulets.
Hold" he said. Il am one and you are
many; but your rank sir, indicates that
you are gentleman, and your wound that
you are a gallant soldier l appeal to
you in the name of that spirit Of honor
which belongs to all brave men to assist
me in the discharge of my trust-and your
countrys."
The young officer was silent a moment
but he was conquered.
81 must, L suppose" he said at length,
and, turning to the crowd, he cried: |
Boys, l am one of you-as poor, as hun
cry, as homeless-but we have not lost !
all; let US still keep our honor as brave |
men,"
Springing down, he went about from |
group to group until he quieted them; |
then, returning to Major Moses, he sa- |
luted and said:
''Sir, you can now continue your trip |
TO Augusta in safety-they will not dis |
turb you again"
He sat down under a great pine, up |
which jasmine clambered. But he needed |
neither the radiance nor the loneliness |
about him as he drew from his pocket a |
stained, worn letter and began to read |
it aloud:
Dear Jack: Do come at once. We are |
in actual want of food, and baby is
ILL"
He read no further; his voice broke in
his throat in ag reat sob.
God help you, Nellie, if you are wait
ing for help at your husbands hands! |
o my God! 1 had two-but I have only |
one left to fight the enemy, poverty, from
our home-if We have a home yet. o, |
Nelliel My poor Nellie!'
With a groan he flung himself down.
ward upon the pine needles, his head upon
the arm of the hand which clutched the
letter convulsively.
slight noise aroused him and look
ing up he saw a mounted union soldier,
a mere boy, who held a small shot-bag
full of something.
Hello, Johnny Rebr' he cried Home
sick? I've got to go home, too-to New
York-and have just got my pay; but I
guess you need it more than I do; I can
get some OF the boys to help me out"
And he threw the bag of gold at his feet.
The rebel, picking UP the bag, extended
it to the union soldier
DO you think" he asked scornfully
that I, who have refused to take gold
belonging to US Will touch this?"
II guess yer'll have to-" returned the
boy soldier, his blue eyes flashing one
merry glance into the disdainful brown
ones. $50 long," he cried as he put spurs
to his horse and galloped away.
The young officer, after a moments hes
itatlon, put the letter in his pocket and !
whispering softly, For NelIies sake"
went on towards the blue mountains,
where his home lay in ashes-and where
Nellie" waited for him-with softened
thoughts for the enemy who had con-
quered so generously.
This true story was related 10 me by
one Of Atlanta's most successful mer-
chants; and as I write the last words
the small soft hands OF his beautiful
daughter and heiress is laid upon my
arm.
Il want you to send a message for me
inyour story" her sweet voice entreats.
Il want you TO tell that blue-eyed soldier
that welcome is always waiting for him
in one southern home. as well as in the
heart Of that officer, the nucleus Of whose
fortune once lay in the little canvas bag
he flung at my fathers feet"
l write the message as she gave II.
hoping that it may some time find him
TO whom il is sent-Exchange.
|
He Wanted to Fight.
The New York Sun tells this story OF
en- Illinois tar. the incident having oc-
CURED AZ the Norfolk navy yard:
A member Of the Illinois navy militia
passed an examination successfully. and
was appointed an assistant paymaster in