The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-22
A WEIRD EXPERIENCE.
A Story of a Boys Adventures in the C-rist,-
Season.
Season.

II was with the brightest a~nticipations
that the children of Col. Richmond 5
family waited the coming OF Christmas
in 1865, Tor the four long weary years
of war had deprived them OF anything
like a real Christmas. Il is true the
stockings had each year been hung y the
chimney in mothers room. for however
heavy the hearts OF the older ones were
over the gloomy outlook 20 the cause
they loved so Wen. the children must
not be made sad too. so If I were only
apples. nuts, molaSses candy, rag dos
and homemade balls, they were only too
glad they had these to give.
Many were the ordinations OF delight.
that bright Christmas morning, a. the
gifts were taken from the beautiful hot y
tree, with It's red berries and glossy green
leaves. From dear old grandma, her face
beaming with happiness. over a once
more united family down 10 Johnny
Reb." the war baby all had Just
what they most desired.
Nor has old black Nanny Juno tcr
gotten, for she and the few other darkies
who still retained their old places IN the
household all received pretty and apQto-
pirate gifts.
Robert. the Oldest son, a manly young
by the gift of a fine rife to replace the
loss of one that had been captured by
some of the Federal troops during their
march through he
Now that you are again the owner
of a gum" said Col. Richmond, a few
days after Christmas. 4 Will have 10
send you to look after some matters Tor
me at the plantation. You can get your
Cousin Edward and friend Harry Thorn
ton to go there with you, and have a
fine opportunity to hunt. l will come
too while you are there and we VIII have
a royal good time hunting. The new
overseer will soon relieve you
THAT is the very thing father we lave
been wishing to have said Robert. 'Old
Handy and Sarah are there and they viii
COOK Tor us
1t took but a short time for Robert
to see his young friends and arrange
ments were quickly made for their stay
at the plantation, five miles from their
residence in town.
No happier boys than these could be
found as they gathered around the table
for supper the first night OF their arrl-
val. Their keen appetiteS made fast in
roads on the fried ham and eggs. sausage,
corn bread and hot biscuit and their hap
py voices sounded far out on the crisp
air, reaching the kitchen, whore Sarah
and Handy were holding forth to some
OF the neighboring darkies, declaring that
"dem young men were all fire man
nered." "Humph!" said Sarah, all Of
my Miste's ch.llun always was"
When supper was over, Handy, with
the liberty of an old friend, Joined the
circle around the fire, crouching near tie
wide fire place, his honest old face glow
ing with the pleasure he felt at being
prIrilnro1 to i0i, 4ho marry ciraIn
Mars Robert" said Handy, have you
and Master heard of dem folks 5ey say
is prowling round, stealing folke's hogs,
and cows and corn? Dey tells me dar is
a band of dem and dat dey IS hiding il
dem thick woods and sWampS round the
four bridges, and you know dat amt tyr
from here.
Yes said the boys, we have neard Of
them, but we are not afraid Of them. for
each of us has our gun
81 spicious," said Handy, ''dey is some
mean white trash, DAFT is been hanging
round here doing nothing since that war
stopped
You are nearly right I expect said
Robert, "but then Handy, we are all poor
alike now
.sHumph, you may be poor in your
pockets, Mars Robert, but you all is
rusty crops Ill yOuI DOIeS.
And amid the hearty laughs Of the
boys, the old darkey, after replonishing
the fire with some big hickory logs, with
drew.
The conversation soon turned on the all
engrossing subject Of the war, Of which
they never tired of talking.
Il think the hardest part Of a soldiers
life" Harry said, must have been to be
sent as a picket on one of those lone
some outposts, when you are liable to be
shot down any moment
why, that IS just what | would have
liked" said Robert. Il have heard tho
soldiers tell Of such thrilling experiences
And as with one accord the boys togeth-
er sang:
'All quiet along the Potomac tonight,
Except now and then a stray picket
Is shot. as he walks on his beat to and
By a rifeman hid In a thicket.'
A good part Of the next day was spent
in hunting, returning late in the after
icon with bags of birds and rabbits and
appetites sharpened by their long ramp
to rightly enjoy the savory birds and rab-
bit stew, Sarah knew so well how to pc
pare.
sum o1lSI tHCil euJOydole supper was
over, Harry, who lived on an adjoining
plantation, reluctantly left as he had to |
return home that night.
Scarcely had the two remaining hoys
again around the fire, when a
message came from Edwards mother, ask
ing him to come home that night as his
father had Unexpectedly been called away.
4 am c%ertinly sorry to leave you here
alone, old fellow said Edward, had
you not better have Handy come ard
stay with you?"
1T will be very lonesome. l admit,
after our jolly times together" said
but you Will both coma back
and in the meantime I'll Just
imagine | am a soldier on picket duty"
Nevertheless when he saw his cousin
mount his horse and ride away, he felt
, strong temptation TO do the same. 1t