Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-05
HER MlsTREss's HORSES.
How Nanny Managed to Get Them
Back From Gen. Sheridan.

How Nanny Managed to Get Them
Back From Gen. Sheridan.
From Virginia ONE the following
story concerning Gen. Phil Sheridan
which is said to be both new and true.
Gen. Sheridan was resting from a
raid during the war in camp near a
fine old mansion in Virginia. The
former master of the mansion had
been killed in the battle of Manassas.
NANNY" who had been the mistress's
chief comforter when this event oc-
CURED, had practically taken charge
of the plantation and had run things
pretty much to suit herself. Sheri-
dams soldiers had taken every sound
horse on the place, including w car
riage horses. After the raid was over
NANNY" entered the house to find
her mistress and the two children.
weeping bitterly. NANNY asked:
Child, what in de worl' is the mat
ter?" The lady replied between sobs:
Nanny" they've taken the carri-
age horses, and an officer tells me Wen
never get them again unless l take the
oath"
Den, chile, take de oaf. 'Tain't so
berry bad, it it? You TUX lie widout
puckering yo' mouf when yo' was a
baby. l made you take many a dose,
and now brace UP and take de oaf."
ooh, Nanny" the lady walled, Il
can not do it. 1 don't think Jack
would like it."
Cant see, honey, what Massa Jacks
led. But if you can't take de oaf, I'll
ro .oa &c T ,,r,t ,1,o ~ for 1,N,, Any-
how, Use gwine to investigate Marse
Phil Sheridan and git them carriage
horses back, if 1 has to pretend to take
pizen to do. it"
Nanny" put on her brightest ban
dana handkerchief, a clean white APP
ron. and started for the camp, which
was about a mile distant.
In about an hour Nanny" walked
back into the large yard in front Of
the house, leading a carriage horse
by each hand, each one wearing a
brand new halter around his neck.
The mistress saw her coming and mel
her at the front gate.
How on earth did you get them,
Nanny" inquired the lady.
Mammy's black face was damp with
pe%rspiration and her fat breast fairly
painted for breath. She said: Len,
me set down on de grass, honey, and
cotch me BRET. Set down by me an III
tell you all about 1t. I go to de camp
and / asked two or three men in uni
forms with muskets in dey hans to
tell me whar l could find Marse Phil
Sheridan.
What do you want with him."
81 snof'c =, I,,cjrnccS , covc Z Affnt
skirmishing round de generals tent. I
walks in and draps my best curtsey.
'Sarvant, Marse General I says.
What kin I do for you, madam he
says.
ct amt no madam, Marse General;
Use plain ole black nanny l seed a
twinkle in his eye, n he says:
"Well, nanny, what kin I do fer
you?"
An bless you soul, honey, he said
that nanny jes' as natural as If he
had ben a born gentleman. Den l
'splained dat his soldiers had stole my
mistis' carriage horses as well as ev'y
otha good boss on de place. l tole him
he might keep the other horses If I
couldn't git 'em u Of him, but dat I
must have the carriage horses. for my
mistis was a lady and her foot want
acquainted wild de ground.
as But your mistress is a rebel" said
Marse General.
Den ! says: I dom know nothin'
about no rebel. Marse General. I jes
knows dat my mistis' fot amt quaint
ed wild de ground and Use boun' to hab
dose carriage bosses back
vivid dat, Marse General laugh and
hollered to a man not very far off, all
dressed up in blue clothes and brass,
and says:
"Come here, major, here's somethin'
fer yo' to hear
But when Marse General said dat ]
seed a twinkle in his eye, and / knowed
somethin' I'd said hit him in de right
place. De major come, an I tole 'enl
bofe de same tale. AS I got thru the
major and the general laughed, and de
general says:
""Well, nanny, If you recognize the
carriage horses you shall have them
"And day riz up, bofe Of 'em, to go
wild me to the pen thar the soldiers
had put the bosses dey stole. AS we
went long / says:
"Marse General, Of cose 1 knows my
own bosses, but dem bosses gwine to
recognize me de minute dey slap dere
eyes on me-
AN so God, de minute dey saw me
comm twixt dem two fine white men
dey pricks up dey ears al trotted up to
me jest as natural as if dey had been
circus bosses. And, mistis, de general
tole one of de soldiers to put brand new
halters on desc horses necks and ham
'em over to nanny, and here dey is,
and I amt tool oaf nor nothern' else
Washington Post.