Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-06-27
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A N yNIENIPIEG TED !
III PLEASURE.
A Story of the Civil War.
By FANNY DAY HURST.

The period, the early part Of the civil
war; the scene, one Of the stately old
homes that have made the Blue Grass
State famous for its hospitality; the
chief actor. a stanch little rebel, who
gloried far more In the fact that in this
awful time OF war her husband was
one Of the bravest In Morgan's brave
band Of rough riders than she did In
the knowledge that in the times OF
peace no other home in all Kentucky
showed more elegance in its appoint
ments than did hers; the exact time,
an early morning In the early summer,
when the Inhabitants of the town had
awakened to find that, although few
hours before they had gone to sleep In
Dixie, with "Desha's boys" camped In
one Of the fine old woodlands just west
of them, they had seemed to awake
Yankeeland, for their streets were fill
ed with 1000 bluecoats under Colonel
Landrum.
Coming from her room on the morn
ing in question, with her boy IN her
arms. Mrs. PEBBLES met at the door
two negro women, their black faces
filed with terror and their bodies quiy-
ering In All agony OF fright
"what is 1t, mammyf Quick! Has
anything happened to-
Her mistress anxiety dispelled ner
own fright In an instant, and the elder
OF the two answered: Mass Jeemsf
No, chile, bress Gawd, / hopes he an
GinI MawgIn Is still mekin hit wawm
fo' de inimy In Ten'see. But dis mawn-
in befo' was up Kit come a-reshin to
my cabin an say de Yankees done got
US, an sho' nun, Miss Annie. de towns
done live wild 'em. Heah, gimme dat
chile. honey, knze you'se gwine drap
him sho'. Sit down, now, an don take
on So / might "a knowed you couldn't
stan dis fright"
But what has happened to our
boys?" Mrs. PEBBLES asked, stepping to
the door and glancing into the street
at the line of soldiers stationed at In
tervals as far as she could see. Were
many Of them killedY
"Whut dat you sayT And Casters
face spread into a grin. mot much
am dey killed. Dey done got de news
dat Kunl Landrum comm wild big
Yankee ahmy, an dey jes' fol- up dey
tents an lef'. an dey amt sprecify no
regrets, nuther. Dey do say, Miss An
ME, dyah u comp'ny brack niggers
'mongst de Yankee soldiers an dat We
all III have to feed de whole kit an
Doodle or EN- =.
The little womans eyes flashed as
she answered: II for one shall not
feed any Yankee soldiers, and you may
send for me II any OF them come
around. All. good morning. uncle"
The last was spoken to a negro sol.
der who wore the blue uniform and
who had come up the walk as she
spoke.
Good mawnln, mlssis. jeB' wants
to use yo' saw ef you can lemme have
1t TO little while. We done mawch
all night, an we's mighty tired an hon.
CRY, an we has TO cut some wood TO-
de fahs."
Yes, indeed. OF course you can
have the saw" answered Mrs. PEBBLES
quickly. Kit, show the man whers
to get the saw, and let him have the
woodborse too"
a suppressed laugh from behind her
brought n smile to Mrs. PEBBLES face,
and she turned to the older negro to
say:
NANNY. am sure that negro was
ten feet high"
'No. Misc Annie, 'twarn his bein a
big man whut done hit, but you knows
you ain gwine turn no hongry nigger
frum yo' DO. 'Tnin't In you, an you
can't do hit, even cf you does wanter
kaze he got on dem blue clothes"
few days later martial law was de-
clared. What was coming no one knew,
and 30 strict was the surveillance
that not one word could be got from
the outside world. When the military
rule had begun. the supply Of food had
seemed large enough to last perhaps
elk weeks, but at the end OF the first
month the supplies began TO run low.
yet neither market gardener nor gro
Ger was allowed to bring food into tho
town. Evidently the Federals were
getting ready for the early advance OF
a Confederate troop and were using
every precaution TO prevent tho enc
my gaining any advantage.
Ono evening during this anxious time
an Mrs PEBBLES sat In tho twilight
grooming lullaby TO her baby boy
Easter came into the room and asked
In low tone:
"Am do little lam asleep Miss An
nieT
mot quite. nanny" the mother an
Bweredrand smiled to see the little fell
low sit up and hold out his arms to the
old nurse who said:
Oats right. Come TO yo' nanny,
honey, an she'll tell you about Brer
Rabbit Dyah Ia Yankee capting In
do library. Miss Annie. an he says he
mus see you, dat dyah some business
he mus talk to you about"
When Mrs. PEBBLES entered the libra
ry, the soldier stood looking at a pic
ture Of her husband thnt hung over the
mnntcl.
sudden fcnr seized her. Was n
Norgnn's men whom the Federal had
expected and had skirmlsh already
occurred7
"oh. sir" she exclaimed. do you
| tf' fip '"'s from my husbnndr
| 70 f.. nI tilcrly man, anu ms no
tuiA.- 4-d 4a,. the white face, with its
| pleading eyes searching his own, he
| pressed her gently into large rocker
| whose arm she Ind clnspcd for support
| nnd said rather TO himself than TO her:
"Ah. these women or ours! They guf-
| fer ut home more than we do In the
| Gtld" Then TO her. mo, have no
| news from your In band. Our division
IL made up entries OF northern men.
With whom is yott husbnndT
| "YOu mistook my meaning" she en-
| clnined. the color creeping back 10 her
! face and the old fire awakening within
her eyes. "Hc is not n Union soldier.
lie In with Morgnn's men, but l
thought perhaps there Ind been an en.
gagcmeut aud you had come TO me.
oven ms he would go 10 nn anxious
northern wife. Have you heard from
Morgan's men. captain; II IN 10 long
since we had any news from outside
the town"
The pleading In her voice touched