River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-11-16
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= THE DRUMMER AND ]
y THE DRUMMER s
X BY Chas. H. Day. Il
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WAR.
hXHHY, you're a Yankee, aren't
Wv you?''
BY chas. H. Day

w YOUR
That was what Gladys Clayton, lit
tie southern girl, said one morning to a
small boy dressed in blue who, upon
her approach, had half risen to a sit
ting posture beside a path which led
both TO a spring and a negro cabin,
within hailing distance of the spot
where the reclining uniformed figure
was gazing in open-eyed wonder on the
vision of juvenile loneliness.
Yes, I'm a Yank" replied the boy,
instinctiyely saluting; you can tell
that by my blue" then he paused for
a second and said, hesitatingly: "Of
course you Area
The boy in blue blushed and the
little maid, with a twinkle in her eyes,
said:
"A little rebel. Do you surrender?'
Hardly" replied the boy, making an
eudeavor to take his feet, but falling
back until he supported himself upon
his elbow. An expression of pain swept
over his face which startled the child
as she exclaimed in sympathetic tones:
ooh, dear, what a pity! You are
wounded, and only a boy;" then, as a
reinsurance, she added: You needn't
be afraid. Yankee boy; 1 won't hurt
you, and all the gray soldiers are gone
away"
"'Where am r." asked the drummer
boy.
You are on the Clayton plantation,
Yankee boy; my mother says that it is
90 miles from Nowhere, and the last
place that was made
There's been big fight" said the
boy; (which licked?"
Mother says" answered the girl,
"that she reckons that they both got
all they wanted, and then withdrew in
good order
''Where is your father"
Licking Yankees was the reply,
with great deal of energy thrown into
the words.
"Oh, no." exclaimed the boy. and
then, in spite of himself, he permitted
a groan to escape his lips.
'Oh, dear!" said the girl, coming close
up to him, ''are you hurt much, little
Yankee boy?"
For the moment the boy in blue had
forgotten himself, as he asked, in anx-
iety:
please, little girl, have you seen my
drum?"
The girl looked up and down the
path and either side, and at length she
discovered the wreck of the martial in
strument.
Here it is. little boy" said the girl,
with much dignity.
Thanks. miss. said the soldier boy;
1.-The rebs have shot it full of holes, and
it's no good; throw it away"
The girl threw the shattered drum
into the bushes.
what can l do for you?" asked the
girl, somewhat perplexed at the situa-
ton.
'T'H tell YOU" replied the boy, ''and
want you to do it right quick. want
YOU to get me out of this right smart
for a scouting party of rebs might come
riding this way and capture me-or
worse
Yankee boy, my mamma would have
a fit if she saw YOU in that blue suit
She hates you all! Let me see, let me
see!"
Then she clapped her hands and ex-
claimed:
II know what I'll do I'll go to old
ST, down at the cabin. He and auntie
are the only ones Of all the slaves who
have not run away to follow the Yam
KEGS. ST viii do anything for me. BE
as patient as you can while am gone,
for it won't be long"
1t was not long that the lad had to
wait, but when the girl returned with
the two colored people he was quite
faint, and gasped:
Water"
Bring the gourd from the spring"
commanded auntie. who had arrived in
advance of her rheumatic husband.
The labors of years and perfect health
had given the black woman immense
strength. and the drummer boy was
little more of burden to her than an
infant.
GLADYS ran on ahead to the cabin
Auntie strobe on, taking such immense
steps that her husband. in n vain en-
deavor to keep up, was taken with
fit Of coughing. and was obliged to
take a long rest by the wayside. When
he did arrive at the cabin the boy in
blue was snugly hid away in its privacy,
and receiving the kind offices of the
colored woman. who had had many.
many years of experience in nursing.
Now that the wounded drummer boy
was made a. comfortable as possible,
auntie closed the cabin door and said,
as impressively as if she was reciting
one of her best ghost stories:
''You hear me. Miss Gladys, an you,
ole man. you both done keep your
mouth shut bout this ere young 'un.
You both all know that the missy at
the big house is just pizen on the Yam
KEGS, for all she's drefful good wom-
an. But for all that we mustn't let her
know of this little chap a-hidin here
any more than's if twas Abe Linkum