The National tribune., 1901-02-28

Small, kase We cont belong dar any
more. Ncuns don't belong { you no
more. We'uns is free. an belong T. Fad
der Abraham, an glory t God, wc'uns S
gwine right wild him.
! What that. you black hussy?' shout
ed MIR. Ben Small. for once allowing him.
self TO become greatly excited, and picking
! up hickory withe. he started for her
!. Go back to the place at once and take
these people with You, afore kwhip every
inch o hide often Yer black carcass"
Aunt Minerva AIMS lips trembled, but
i she confronted him with steady eyes, and
made no move to avoid his uplifted whip
Uncle Ephraim fumbled hls gun RervOusiy.
Hold on, Mr.. Small" SAID 81, putting
his gun-bsrTel in front of Small, aud
pressing him back toward his chair. Go
back and sit down, and keep quiet This
colored lady is a friend of minc, and
you'll have to treat her with the greatest
respect, or I'll not like it''
And shall be positively yexed," added
i Shorty, catching Mr.. Small by the collar,
and pulling him back to his chair.
/ That greasy wench colOred Iadyr'
i screamed Mrs. Small. raising her whiD
and starting for Aunt Minerva Ann "She
free, an gwine off with the Yankees?
III skin the black trollop alive this MIN
] ute"
Aunt Minerva Ann quailed more before
her mistress than she had before her mas
ter; but little Pete could not stand the
coarse epithets applied to his sable friend
and the threat of violence to her. He had
just burst open a large, fieShy. roasted
yam, and in his anger he flung it straight
into Mrs. Smalrs face, covering her an
/ ger-distorted features with a poutice OF
the hot, mushy inside.
| Pete, what did you do that for?" asked
4 81, severely. You must never strike a
woman on any account"
Well. she shan't hit Aunt Minerva
Ann.' yelled Pete. ''I'll throw the whole
kitchen at her if she lifts her hand to her
again"
Aunt Minerva Ann deliberately restored
the bonnet to her head, and hoisted the
parasoi. Uncle Ephraim regained courage
| to put on his hat again.
Halt. who comes there?' sharply chaI-
ienged Shorty. springing out into the road,
at the sound of marching footsteps
Who are you, yOurself?' came back.
with the sound of clicking gunlocks. An
swer at once"
Squad of the 2OOth Injanny,' prompt
ly answered 81, striding out beside Shorty
and IeYeIlns his gun. "Hooray for the
UniOnl Who are you:'
Picket detail. First Brigade, Third
4 Division, Fourteenth Corps Advance
one and be recognized"
81 walked forward and was confronted
| by the Captain who was taking out his
| company to establish a picket line He
was accompanied by an officer of the bri-
gade staff, to direct the location of the
regard to it.
IAN right" said the Captain, after 81
had finished his story. Bring your men
| right in. You'll find the camp of the
2OOth Ind just over the hill there a little
| ways and to the left of the road. But
you'll have to leave the negroes outside"
'I'll do nothing of the kind" said ST,
determinedly. THE darkies have got to
come right along with US. They helped
us, and were going to stand by them
nENG nn'f k.,,, - Il
answered the Captain. You pass on in,
and leave them out here. They'll take
care Of themselves all right"
But, Captain" pleaded 81, these are
darkies who fed us when We were escap-
ing from AndersOnvilIe and kept US from
starving. We're not going to desert them
now, on any account"
Il don't blame YOU answered the Cap
tain, sympathiZing at once with 81; but
the orders are strict. don't know but
wen, you can't bring em in," said
the Aid, decidedly. That's the end of
it You take your men on to your regi-
nent at once, and leave the niggers out
side. We can't have them in here eating
up our rations and constantly in the way
of every movement"
But ] tell you. Lieutenant there ara
special reasons for bringing these Garkies
in. They 're'-
SO, there's always special reasons
broke in the Aid. Everybody has some
ger, and if We allowed them the camp
would soon be swarming with nisgers. 1
order you to leave them outside, and go
on at once with your men to join your
regiment"
you can't order me- said 81. firmly.
You're oniy a staff officer. | don't take
orders from nobody but Col. McGillicud-
dy and the officers of my regiment"
Then turning he said:
Harry, mount your horse, and ride
over there and find Col McGillicuddy and
tell him the trouble
Make yourselves comfortable right
here, boys" said the Captain of the pick
cts, kindly, with your contrabands. Wen
have a fire started here for the reserve
and throw the pickets out farther"
Say, Cap said Si, there's a camp
o refugees-the owners o these niggers-
down there little ways. Keep 'em out
side your line"
Owners of the niggers. eh?'' answered
the Captain. well, I'll see that they're
not let in. Make yourselves comfortable
here with me and the reserve. Lieut..
Malion, take 80 men, advance about 200
yards, and deploy them to the right, until
you connect with the left of the Second
Brigade's pickets. If you find any citi-
zens out there push them back to good
distance in front of your line"
Apparently Harry did not have to so
very far, for the Adjutant of the 200h
Ind, soon rode up, and, with q CHEEKY
Good evening, Captain; how are you,
Sergt klegg," remarked, officially:
Captain, Col. McGillicuddy presents his
compliments, and directs that you admit
Serst klegg and whoever he may have
with him.
Very good, SIR" said the Captain, sa-
luting.
Come along, Sergeant. with your con-
trabands,' said the Adjutant, land tell
me what you've been up to today"
shall report this to the General"
said the Aid, severely, as he gaIluped off
toward Brigade Headquarters.
81 was showing his train to Col McGiI-
licuddy, and telling his story, when the
Aid trOtted up, and, dismounting, stiffiy
saiuted, and said in severe, official tones;
Col. McGillicuddy, the General pre-
sents his compliments, and desires to
know if you are aware of the orders
against the admission of negroes to our
camp, while on the march?'
Return to the General, sir" said Col.
McGiillicuddy. with equal formality, with
my compliments, and inform him that |
am fully aware of those orders. and take
the entire responsibility of my action
In a few minutes, and while 81 still
stood talking to the Colonel. the General
himself apepared, wearing a stern look on
his face.
Good evening, Col McGilicuddy," hc
said cOdly HXOu hava vary niaooant