The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-12-01

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BILLY DEcoRATEs HIS "MAssAs"
'Twan't never Go fight but Come on,
boys an he was always in de front,
a-leadin' 'em on. Many's the time I've
brought up fresh boss for him when
his was shot, and carried coffee an a
bite O. something to eat to him on the
field. Wasn't no one else could cook for
the gen1 'cept ole Billy. Come here,
you damned black niger, an get me
something to eat!' he useter yell, an
you bet I did right smart. He would
cuss me awful, but, Lor'! that wasn't
nothing. When he didn't knew there
was trouble on. ~E
"All through the war tended him,
and when he was shot in the wrist at
Cape Girardo I nursed him. Lots o.
men went hungry in those days. but I
generally could pick up something for
the gen'l. Had to be mighty careful
bout it, for he didn't allow no stealin'.
eyes, sab, I was captured jes once.
Lempe' see, that was at Lone Jack.
Genl Shelby sent me to Col. Jordan's
camp, bout mile away, an the feds
scooped me and took me into the vii
lage, but in an hour an a half the
James brothers came chargin' through
and drove the feds off. They pulled me
out from between two feather beds,
where I was keeping away from the
bullets, and took me back to Shelby.
When he saw me he lookedsmad clean
through. Where in blazes yod beeh,
you black rascal?' says he; 'go get=me
some breakfast, damned smart
''When Gen'l Shelby started for Mex
leo with his 1000 picked men he says
to me: Billy, you take Miss Betty
that's my missus-and the children
back home and you're free man. So
l left him at Galveston and carried
them cross the Gulf of Mexico to New
Orleans, and from there to Lexington,
safe and sound. After that drifted
off on my own hook, working as porter
in hotels an tending bar, and I never
heard of the gen'l for more'n 80 years.
One day while I was working for Jim
Baldus in Chicago heard that my ole
massa was United States marshal in
Kansas City, and I let him know where
I was. He sent for me to come back,
but guess didn't start quick enough
to suit him, for one Sunday when I was
readin' the papers in the barroom in
walks a man and says:
,"'I'm Deputy Mashal Potts, of Kan
sas City, an I'm lookin' for William
Hunter
CTS the man, sah,' says I.
"'What you done, Billy?' said Bal
dus. 'I'll stand by YOU
"Gen. Shelby told me to bring you
back with me-" Potts said. He said:
THAT blamed black niger worked for
me more than 80 years, an he's going
to take it easy now. You bring him
back, and I'll give him all the land he
wants.
"'I'd 60. through fire for the ole
massa,' says I, and back starts. The
missus give me two horses and staid
with 'em till the gen'l died. I done lost
the best friend I had then. An now
I'm living with Joe Shelby, Jr., sab, and
tend his children jest as did him when
he was little teller. But.every Deco
ration day goes over to my ole massa's
grave and puts flowers on it in memory
of the finest man that ever lived, sab
Genl Joe Shelby kansas City Star.
HAlstead Obeyed Sherman.
Murat Halstead, the great journalist
of war times, has begun telling again
the story of how he went down to Gen.
William T. Sherman's headquarters
once for the --latest news from .ithe
'front.'" Halstead was armed with many
fine Introductory letters, but decided
to rely mainly on one given him by
Thomas Ewing, Sherman's brother-in-
law. He found the general at little
railroad town in Kentucky, pacing un-
easily to and fro in front of headquar-
tiers tent, his great mind revolving
some critical plan of campaign. Hal
stead advanced and presented Ewing's
letter. The general opened it some
what impatiently, read few lines, fold
ed it, and said: "Ah, you come from
Ewing; and you desire to have all the
latest news'-the next probable move
of our army-eh? Well, there's train
leaving this town for Cincinnati at two
o'clock. Here, take this ticket, and
step over there and get your dinner
and then get on that train.,' ''Well, but,
Gen. Sherman" began the newspaper
man, hoping to reopen the case; but
Sherman waved him off. go over and
get a good dinner; we have plenty, and
always strive to treat our friends well
but be sure you don't miss that two
o'clock train!" And Halstead, realiz-
ing the sort of man he had to deal
with, wisely obeyed. Los Angeles
Times.
Do Not Always Glitter. 81
Golden opportunities do not always
glitter Chicago Daily News.