Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1901-09-27
s....i. .'i'...'x
!. IN M u)INIENIp|EG1 TED !:
! ! bA PLEASURE. {
=
:: A Story of the Civil War. |:
:. By FANNY DAY HURST. /:
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, 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 awaken in
Yankeeland, for their streets were fill
ed with 1000 blGecoats 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
filled with terror and their bodies quiy-
ering In an agony of fright.
what Is 1t. nanny? Quick. Has
anything happened to-
Her mistress anxiety dispelled her
own fright In an instant, and the elder
of the two answered: Mass Jeems?
No, chile, bress Gawd, l hopes he an
Gln'l Mawgin is still mekin hit wawm
fo' de inimy In Ten'see. But dis mawn-
In befo' was up Kit come a-reshln to
my cabin an say de Yankees done got
US. an sho' 'nuff, Miss Annie. de towns
done live wild 'em. Heah, gimme dat
chile. honey, kaze 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 killed"
"Whut dat you sayf" And Casters
face spread into a grin. Not much
am dey killed. Dey done got de news
dat KunI 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 a comp'ny brack niggers
'mongst de Yankee soldiers an dat we
all II have to feed de whole kit an
Doodle of EN-"
The little womaps eyes flashed as
she answered: Il for one shall not
feed any Yankee soldiers. and you may
send for me If any Of them come
around. All. good morning, uncle''
The last was spoken to negro sol
dier who wore the blue uniform and
who had come up the walk as she
spoke. =
Good mawnin, missis. | jes' wants
to use yo' saw ef you can lepme have
1t 70 little while. We done mawch
all night. an Yves mighty tired an hon
CRY, an We has TO cut some wood fo'
de fiahs."
have the saw" answered Mrs. PEBBLES
quickly. Kit, show the man where
TO get the saw, and let him have the
woodhorse too"
A suppressed laugh from behind her
brought smile TO Mrs. PEBBLES face,
and she turned to the older negro to
say:
Nanny. | am sure that negro was
ten feet high"
NO. Miss Annie, 'twarn his beln
big man whut done hit. but you knows
you ain gwine turn no hongry niger
frum yo' do. 'Tain't in you. an you
can't do hit. even eff you does wanter
kaze he got on dem blue clothes"
A few days later martial law was de-
clared. What was coming no one knew,
and so 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
six 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 the
town. Evidently the Federals were
getting ready for the early advance of
n Confederate troop and were using
every precautlon to prevent the ene-
my gaining any advantage.
One evening during this anxious time
as Mrs. PEBBLES sat In the twilight
grooming lullaby to her baby boy
Easter came Into the room and asked
In "A low tone:
Am de little lam asleep. Miss An
nieY
mot quite, nanny" the mother an
swered and smiled to see the little fel.
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 is a Yankee capting In
de 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 that hung over the
mantel.