The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-26

VZD6A
THE SPoILs OF WAR
and buttermilk, and didn't know but what
you might let US have some. We're willin'
to pay for it."
woman promptly, - kin gin it to we.
never turn no hungry man away from my
door Wait minnit, and III bring We
some"
She disappeared inside the house, and ST
remarked to Shorty:
''Your heads level this time. as it gen.
orally is. Well git something that's worth
while comm after"
The woman reappeared with couple of
good-sized corn-dodgers in her hand.
This appears to be all the bread that
left over from dinner" she said. And the
meats all gone. But the wenches I'll be
through their washin' purity soon, and then
I'll have them cook ye some more, if yell
wait"
"Thankee, ma am, - said Shorty; I" we can't
wait. This III be a plenty, if we kin only
git some buttermilk to go with it. We don't
want no meat. We git plenty o. that in
camp
You kin have all The buttermilk We want to
drink" she answered, "if you'll 90 down to
the spring house thar and git it. It's fresh,
and you'll find gourd right beside o. the
jar. I'd go with you, but it alters gives me
the rheumatic to go nigh the spring-house.
"Don't bother, ma'am, to 90 with Us,
said Shorty politely" We are very much
obliged to you, indeed, and we kin make out
by ourselves. How much do we owe you? F"
And he pulled a greenback dollar from his
pocket.
"Nothin'. Nothin', at ALL" said the
woman hastily, s. don't sell vittels. Never
thought O. SIGH thing. Ye're welcome to all
you kin eat, any time"
''Well, take the money, and let us ketch a
couple of them chickens there" said Shorty,
laying down the bill on the banister rail.
After a little demur the woman finally agreed
to this, and picked up the money. The boys Sc
lected two fat chickens ran them down. wrung
their necks and, after repeating their thanks.
took their bread and started for the spring
house. They found it the coolest and most
inviting place in the world on hot, tiresome
day-just such a spot as Shorty had de
scribed. 1t was built of rough stones, and
covered with moss-grown roof A copious
spring poured out a flood of clear, cool water,
which flowed over white pebbles and clean
looking sand until it formed cress- bordered
rivulet just beyond the house. In the water
sat crooks of fresh milk, large jar of but
termilk, and buckets of butter. The looks,
the cool, pure freshness of the place, were de-
lightful contrasts from the tiresOme smells
and appearances of the camp kitchens. The
boys reveled in the change. They forgot all
about wars alarms, stood their rifles up
against the side of the spring-heuse, washed
their dust-grimed faces and hands in the pure
water, dried them with their handkerchief
and prepared to enjoy their meal. How good
the buttermilk tasted along with the corn
pone. The fresh milk was also sampled, and
some of the butter spread upon their bread.
ST even went to the point of declaring that
it was almost as good as the things he used
to eat at home, which was the highest praise
he could possibly give to any food. ST never
found anywhere vctuals or cooking to equal
that of his mother.
He was pointing out to Shorty, as they
munched, the likenesses and uniikenesses of
this spring house to that on the Wabash, when
they were startled by the stern command:
Surrender, there, you Internal Yankeesl"
They looked up with startled eyes to stare
into dozen muskets leveled straight at their
heads from the willow thicket. Corn
dodgers and milk gourds dropped into the
water as they impulslvely jumped totheir feet.
If youns move we'uns'll blow the lights
outen you'ns," shouted the leader of the
rebels ''Hold up yer hands. /"
1t was moment of the most intense
anguish that either of them had even known.
Their thoughts were lightning-like in rapid
ity. The rebel muzzles were not rod away,
their aim was true, and it would be madness
to risk their fire, for it meant certain death.
The slightest move toward resistance was
suicide.
ST gave deep groan, and up went his
hands at the same moment with Shorty's
The rebels rushed out of the elump of
willows behind which they had crept up on
the boys, and surrounded them. Two
snatched up their guns, and the others began
pulling off their haversacks and other personal
property as their own shares of the booty.
In the midst of this, ST looked around, and
saw the woman standing near calmly knitting.
.. You amt so afeared o. rheumatism all
at once" he said bitterly.
My rheumatic has SPELLS young man,
same ez other peoples" she answered, pull
ing one of the needles out, and counting the
stitches with it. Sometimes it is better,
and sometimes it is wuss. Jest now it is
great deal better, thankee. only wisht /
could toll the whole Yankee army to destruc-
ton ez easy ez you wuz. My, but We walked
right in, like the fly to the spider. never
had nothin' do my rheumatic so much good"
And she cackled with delight.
"When you git through" she continued,
addressing the leader of the rebels, ''come
up to the house, and I'll have some dinner
cooked for ye. l know ye're powerful tired
an hongry. s'pose nothin' need be cooked
for them," and she pointed her knitting
needle contemptuously at 81 and Shorty.
cole Satanll be purvidin' fur them. I'll |
take these along to cook fur ye."
She gathered up the dead chickens and |
stalked back to the house.
''Ef we're gwine t shoot they'uns les take |
they runs over thar on the knoll, whar they uns |
won't Spite nothi2'," said one evil-Iooking |
man, who had just ransacked Sis pockets, |
and appropriated everything in them. |
''Hit'd be too bad t kill they'uns here right |
in sight o. the house"
"Le'me see them letters. BushrOd, said /
the leader. snatching y r,age OF letters and |
Annabel's picture on the others hand.
4" Mebbe thar's some news III them that the