The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-20
CHAPTER vi.
CONvALESCENCE.


lest he disturbed the sleeping ones who
could give him no more than their SYM
pathy, and he rested only when nature
succumbed .
The fact that the old colored woman
foretold unerringly every phase of his
case kept his confidence in her at par.
In her crude way she explained that
the bullet, which ranged along the fore
arm under the sleeve of coat and shirt
had carried some of the cloth with it,
and it was this foreign substance that
was still within the wound which caus-
ed the irritation. Until that was re-
moved by her treatment the infamma
ton and pain would continue, but the
miscellaneous substance would be exuded
at some hour on the fourth day, after
which his improvement would be rapid.
And it came about precisely as she
said. Indeed the relief was so marked
that, as he expressed it, the change was
like heaven itself.
A strong man desires to be let alone
when he is suffering. Words of SYM
pathy do no good and generally are a
bore. Lieutenant Oakman was glad that
Mrs. Eldridge and her daughter under
stood this truth and forbore intruding
upon him. The effort to show the cour-
tesy and gratitude due them would
have intensified his pain.
But there were delicacies sent to his
room, accompanied by kind wishes
borne by Aunt Marcie, that were the
sweetest of balms. How these people,
reduced to the most painful degree Of
poverty, could furnish him with such
delicate and nourishing food was in
conceivable to the guest. All the slaves
had run off excepting Pete his wife
and the boy Rastus The plantation
had been going to waste for long time
and it would seem that the production
was not sufficient for the sustenance of
one person.
And here were mother and daughter,
accustomed to lives of refinement and
luxury, besides the three servants, none
of whom showed evidence of actual
want, though the poverty of attire, the
substitutes for genuine tea and coffee
and the meager fare itself spoke elo-
quently of the painful change of condi-
tions.
It is probable that this exemption
from the distress that came to thou
sands of other homes was due to vari-
ETY. Of causes. AS is known, the section
lay in the very heart of the Confeder-
acy, where, until the visit of Sherman
and his army. the real presence of war
was not felt. Although the men at
tached to the plantation had long since
gone to war, taking the most valuable
horses with them, Pete and his wife
were able to give more help to the
women than would be supposed. Their
love for the mistress and her daughter
led them to self denial that no one
besides themselves suspected.
Since Lieutenant Oakman was not
ailing in body and the arm which he
carried in sling was mending rapidly,
there was no call for him to stay within
doors. The second night on which he
walked the floor was the most wretched
Of his life. A drizzling rain fell steadily
through the dismal hours, and the pat
tering on the roof, the endless dripping
of the caves, the soughing Of the wet
branches, drove him almost frantic, but
with his sudden release from anguish
the autumn sun burst forth in splendor
as if rejoicing with him over the blessed
surcease from misery
Stirring news had come to the Unio1
prisoner From some cause Genera
Sherman made an abrupt turn to tn
northward in his line of march, thu
leaving the Eldridge plantation good
ly number Of miles to the south. Thi
I was an enormous relief to the officer
I who knew too we'll the plundering pro
clivities Of many Of his countrymen
which led them to regard everythin,
: worth taking as legitimate spoil. Fl
! dreaded a visit from them, though ex
! pecting it, until he learned of tn
change in the line of march Severa
Q squads Of cavalry had been seen hover
; ing in the neighborhood, but they van
q ished without molesting the women
q who uttered a prayer of thanHulnes
3 when convinced that nothing NOR
J. would be seen Of the invaders. -
70 Of course in the event Of hosti]
70 visit the officer would have defende
the household to the last, but he We
y only one unarmed man against whs
might have been score or hundred
10 Perhaps his chivalry would have avail
20 ed, perhaps it would not; SO it is we
that it was not put to the supreme tes
The situation of Lieutenant Oakma
was unique. He felt that he ought NJ
D TO prolong his stay, and yet what mea,
should he adopt to departa He was
10 prisoner on parole and unexchange,
r Scurrying back and forth on the han]
and in the wake Of the Union arm
IN were multitudes Of Confederate cavalr,
d men, through which it would be We
q nigh impossible for him to make
70 way. Some of them were irregul
forces or guerrillas. who, enraged
40 disaster, would show scant consider