Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-11-27
The Confscated Hams
A Stor lie G oso f the i''l
War.
By Ella Lowery Moaely.


Fode al armies were moving nome
war Truly, we were glad TO see
them going, bat we wis ed them e
leave behlng them the little live s'oc
and other portable pr per which tn
b'oody conflict had left us. Else h''.
,on'd we begin this new life?
So there was excitement in the TO
and people were hiding their valu'l 'es
and driving their ca tie to The swan =
The little sto down on the square
was deserted early in the evening, or
thu Sc who ba no property to den and
their attention had also gone home 10
fax over the news with the folks III r.
having already exhausted the 81 ] ct
down town. Tits store, together Nj b
The building, one room Of while 1t
occupied, was owned by tie Rar y
lrothers, commonly called Jack ana
Jim. They sat just Low in spin OF
tom chairs tilted back aga'ns the
counter, their worn gray caps ru led
over their eye o keep out the h8ht.
Ten months before this Jack Rarely,
rendered unable for further SCI ice in
the amy by wounds and exposuro, had
come home 10 STAY. He foEni the
store. which a lad of seventeen had
been running, in most deplo able
condition as to its stock, Weak, thin
faced, full of aches and pains AMI with
hunger almost impossible TO appease
be took charge OF 1t. There was SO
little in it and customers We're so
scarce be was the same wor gaunt
figure, with hsllow, yeanin eyes now
that he was then.
A few weeks before this Jim had
been sent home on a Through to gain
strength enough, if he could, to GO
back. The surrender had rel 'ed HIN
| OF that necessity. He looked il his
brother, save that his figure was
naturally heavier.
They had been sitting very quietly
They were in tina state whep silence
is more resff1l than talking They
were not disturbed by the expected
| arrival of the Yankees. A LITTLE rusty
tinware, a few d ngy discolorec calicoe
some wormy meal and rank l. eat. no
BODY wanted that. l say the wer'
not dis urbed, but Jack at least baC
been doing ONE hard III mixing
Now the room over them had beer
the warehouse in that district for tn
Confederacy. There was Soodl.
store OF hams in it belongings ccurs
as confscated property to the FEEDERS
government. That was the subject !
Jacks thoughts, for presently he sal
to jim, who was engaged IN whlttlIn
a stick;
"What's to hinder us takin' coupl
Of those hans home?" He spok
cautic usly, as though in doubt as t
the reception of his suggestion woul
eceive,
jim stopped his whiting an
lc oked Up. He was very slow in al
swering. He had studied for II
ministry once and was given to weigh
inc matters OF an ethical nature SER
onsly,
9 ii don't know" he answered
EN- I'll, and then, the tone belying t
word, I'VE hayen'C a right ha'
wei"
why" said Jack, "we've nev,r hi
i any rent for the room they're in. Seer
d like we ought to have sonethn
= eyes," replied Jim, but the o
Y who put the hams there cant p
i n ow, and the ones who are goin'
take 'em away haven't any CT
to-"
Y "Ma Would like bit Of that hin
ii Jack continued musingly, "She SO
this mornin' that side meat hadn't a
% TASTE. She amt had much appetite he
6, of late"
m Jim's expression changed. A yisi
"a of his mothers tired yet patient fa
which Lad grown so much more tn
ID and more patient during the mont
or when her boys were in battle, and
with her aged husband; had sttugI
n along as best they could-her II
al came before him and brought tears
his eyes
no "Jack;"he said softly, "maybe
in could eat some, and as I'VE haven't h
any rent reckon we mi hit carry
IN few home just two or three,
90 90 IT was late that night and all
a. town was in bed. For although t
had sa isfactoriIy settled the mat
,.o with their conscience. it seemed /
81 ca to wait until no one was stirri ne
~ fore carrying out their purpose. Il
~ ~ selected ham and carried it ne
NV On reaching the house they shpl
noiselessly iuto the kitchen and h
Nc up their precious burdens the pau
to gaze upon so unnatural specto
The moon sent broad flood oil Il
10 rough the open door and showed
'ns plainly. They were large and round
Aen had most sabory odol. 1t seemed
ncn though even raw piece would
|. delicious,
"Jlm," said Jack, shifting &
nty hungrily "won't some of chat t
'la good in the mornin'9"
OF "Ma will enjoy It, said the o
10 simply.
day In a few minutes they had retire
their rooms, very softly too, SO as
to disturb the old folks.
Jack did not go to sleep as
L. .lnL In hnA fhnnnh that WA