The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-29

bruised, and probably some of the smaller
bones are out of place, but do not think
that it is permanently injured or that there
is any danger of your losing your foot"
"Thank you for those words" said the
patient. "From the way it throbbed fear
ed that the whole foot was smashed be-
yond repair"
The soothing influence of the hot water
gradually eased the intensity Of the pain.
Aunt Lily entered, her black face scOwl-
ing. "Some OBJ dem dar niggsh sodgers
done stole de huh brekfus ;sclar off end tote
away eberyt'ing on de table-de chicken,
de sweet Eaters, de con bread-a.i done
gone. an dere's on'y leetle teenty mite
OBJ con meal left, not a speck oh meat in
dis house! Wha' we're gwine ter do TO
breekfus?"
The ladies flushed crimson with dismay
and confusion. They were mortified that
the old servant should have exposed the
poverty of their larder to a stranger. The
Captain comprehenGed the situation. Let
me introduce myself" he said. Il am
Capt. Harry Parker, til Regiment
United States Colored Infantry. / real
ize how you are situated. My servant will
soon he here. Allow me to replace the
stolen breakfast, so far as / can, with the
rations Of Uncle Sam. will send note
to our Brigade C0mmissary. and / know
! that / can obtain sufficient supplies to
temporarily relieve your necessities"
you are very kind, sir" said Mrs.
Northam. "Onr armyehas been burning
meat and meal that should have been Civ
en- to the women and children of this city,
and now they are running away, and run
ming from She indicated the direction
of the coiored skirmish line. She spoke
| bitterly. She was an ardent SOutherner,
and for white soldiers to retreat before
| black troops seemed to her cowardly and
disgraceful in the extreme.
! ''Do not let that fact hurt your PRIDE"
said Capt. Parker. "Those black soldiers
are seasoned veterans. The troops retreat
ing are Gen. Hoke's old veteran division.
who have proved their courage in many
| rd-fought battles. We have met them
| in Virginia and at Fort Fisher. We each
| have mutual respect for the other Your
men fell back because we were outfiank-
ing them. To have remained would have
been death or capture. They did well to
get out Of here" Mrs. Northam and Der
daughters fully appreciated the courteous
words and the gentlemanly manner in
which they were spoken.
The servant, Ben arrived. bringing two
well-filled hayersacks. From them he pro-
duced coffee, sugar, a can of condensed
milk. hard tack, boiled ham and a gener-
Gus chunk of cheese All this was turned
over to Aunt Lily. and Ben was dispatch
/ -.
Northam directed that the breakfast table
be brought to the room where the officer
was. The fragrance of coffee soon per
meated the air, and the ladies' were chat
ting affably.
| Coffee has been an almost unattain-
able luxury with us for long time" said
the hostess, when Aunt Lily rushed into
the room trembling and hardly able to
speak from excitement. "Oh, Lordy mas
sy, Missus, de house am on fiah! dem bum
shells hab done sot de ruff Albumin Oh,
Lordy, Oh, Lordyr'
The ladies rushed outside There on the
roof of the main part of the house was
little fame slowly burning Ii covered a
small space, but was spreading slowly but
surely. Can't. Parker had hobbled slowly
and painfully after them.
Have you garden hose" he asked.
No; we have nothing of that sort. We
draw our water from that WELL" pointing
to well with long. sweeping pole.
Have you ladder, or is there way
to the roof through the attic? A bucket
of water would eXtinguish that blaze"
No; there is no ladder. nor any win
dow from the attic to the roof We South
erners never provide for emergencies, but
trust to luck, like the shiftless people that
we are. There is not man or a servant
who can do anything anywhere in the
neiehborhood. Our house will burn. and
we are poweriesS TO prevent it. Oh, it
seems so hard to have our nome destroyed,
when one little bucket of water would
save IT, Mrs. Northam's voice broke, and
she sobbed bitterly.
Are there any soldiers near!"
The girls ran to the street, and came
back saying that there We're none in sight.
The skirmish firing indicated that they
were long distance away.
I'VE muat try and save what we can"
said Belle with energy. and she rushed for
her fathers portrait. The Captain scruti-
nized the house carefully. Have you a
gun?' he asked.
No" said Mrs. Northam despairingly;
1--WE have nothing"
Oars gun an cartridge box out by
de kitchen do; sodger drapped it dere
dis mawn;n," said Aunt Lily.