Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-11-23
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
= THE DRUMMER AND
y THE DRUMMER
n Ely Chas. 81. Day.
! I.-WAR.
AAVETHY, you're a Yankee, aren't
wv you?"
! I.-WAR.
Ca OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

gOO'
That was what Gladys Clayton, a lit
tie southern girl, said one morning TO u
small boy dressed in blue who, upon
her approach, had half risen to a sit
ting posture beside a path which led
10Th to 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,
instinctively saluting; you can tell
that by my blue;" then he paused for
second and said, hesitatingly: "Of
course you are-are-a-"
The boy in blue blushed and the
little maid, with twinkle in her eyes,
said:
"a little rebel. Do you surrender"
Hardly" replied the boy, making an
endeavor 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 boys" then, as
reinsurance, she added: "You needn't
be afraid, Yankee boy; I won't hurt
you, and all the gray soldiers are gone
away"
"Where am II" asked the drummer
boy.
"You are on the Clayton plantation,
Yankee boy; my mother says that it is
20 miles from Nowhere, and the last
place that was made"
"There's been big fight" said the
boy; (which lcked?"
Mother says" answered the girl,
chat she reclsons that they both got
all they wanted, and then withdrew in
good order"
"Where is your father?"
Licking Yankees" was the reply.
with a great deal of energy thrown into
the words.
ooh, mol" exclaimed the boy, and
then, in spite OF himself, he permitted
groan to escape his lips.
ooh, dcar!" said the girl, coming close
up to him, "are you hurt much, LITTLE
Ya.:l:fe boy?"
For the moment the boy in blue lad
forgotten himself, as he asked, in aux
iety:
'.plcasc, 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" saii the soldier boy;
"the rcbs have shot it cull ST holes, and
it's no goods throw il away"
The girl threw the shattered drum
into the bushes.
"What can I do for you?" asked the
girl, somewhat perpleXed at the situa-
ton.
"Ill tell you" replied the boy, "and
1 want you 10 do it right quick. 1 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
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:
81 know what I'll do. I'll go to old
81, 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 will do anything for me. Re
rs patient as you can while l 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:
"Waterl"
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 10 the cabin.
Auntie strobe on, taking such immense
steps that her husband, in vain en-
deavor to keep up, was taken with
fit of coughing, and was obliged to
take 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
anlnred woman. who had had many