The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-05-07
Her Mlstress's Horses.

rald during the war In camp near O
hue old mansion in Virginia. The for
mer master Of the mansion had been
killed in the battle of Manassas.
Nanny" who had been the mis-
tress's chief comforter when this event
occurred, 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 two 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 worr is de mat
ter?' The lady replied between sobs:
Nanny, they've taken the carriage
horses, and an officer tells me we'll
never get them again unless 1 take the
OATH"
"Den, chile, take de oaf. Tain t
SO berry bad, is it? You TUX lie with
|'out puckering 20 mouf when yo' was
a baby. l made you take many a
dose, and now you brace up and take
de oaf."
"Oh, Nanny" the lady walled. "I
cannot do it. ] don't think Jack
would like it."
Cant see honey, what Massa Jack > 8
| got to do wifi it, He's deAd and bu.
ried. But if you can't take de oaf,
III go see if I can't do it fer you.
Anyhow, Use gwine to investigate
Marse Phil Sheridan and git them
carriage horses back, if I has to pre-
tend to take pizen to do it,
"Mammy" put on her brightest
bandanna handkerchief, a clean white
apron, and started for the camp, which
was about mile distant.
In about an hour NANNY" walked
back into the large yard in front Of
the house, leading carriage horse by
each hand, each one wearing a brand
new halter around his back. The mis-
tress saw her coming and met her at
the front gate.
"How on earth did you get them,
Mammy?' inquired the lady.
Manmy's black face was damp with
perspiration and her fat chest fairly
painted for breath. She said: "Lem
me set down on de grass, honey, and
cotch my bref. Set down by me an
I'll tell you all about it. I 60 to de
campt and I asked two or three men
in uniforms with muskets in dey han 8
to tell me whar I could find Marse
Phil Sheridan.
"'What do you want him?'
OATS my business says I. After
skirmishing round I foun' de gener-
ais tent. I walks in and draps my
best curtsey. 'Sarvant, Marse Gen
eral,' says.
"'What kin I do for you, MADAME
he says.
" I amt no madam, Marse General;
Use plain ole black nanny I seed q
twinkle in his eye, and he says:
"'Well, Nanny, what kin do fer
your
AN bless you soul, honey, he said
that nanny jes as natural as if he
had ben born gentleman. Den I
'splaned dat his soIdiers had stole my
mistis' carriage horses as we'll as ev'y
othah good hoss on de place. I tole
him he might keep the other horses if
couldn't git 'em out Of him, but dat
must hsve the carriage horses, for
my mistis was lady and her foot
want 'quainted wild de ground.
But your mistress is REBEL
said Marse General.
"Den says: 'Idon' know nothin'
about no rebel, Marse General. jes
knows dat my mistis' foot amt
'quainted wild de ground, and Use
bound to hab dose carriage hosses
back
ovid dat, Marse General laugh and
hollered to man not very far off, all
dressed UP in blue clothes and brass,
and says:
"'Come here, Major; here's some
thin fer yo' to hear
But when Marse General said dat
| seed twinkle in his eye, and I
knowed somethin I'd said hit him in
de right place. De major come, an I
tole EN- bofe de same tale. AS got
| through the major and the general
laughed, and de general says:
well, Nanny, if you recognize
the carriage horses you shall have
them
"And dey riz up, bofe Of 'em, to go
wild me the pen whar the soldiers