The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-10-01

was the nrSt.
"Mahs Dan. you talkin' bout. Mahsta 2
"Yes; tell me how he is hurt"
ooh. hold on, Lacy; plenty Of time for
that. Old. man, where are the rebels!'
repeated the Captain.
| Now, this, in Squirrels opinion, was n
very unparliamentary question-One of the
questions against which he had been earn
estly cautioned; and he thought the best
policy was to split the difference-to tell
half-truths and half-lies, and to exagSer-
ate lavishly.
'Dey is all about. sab. 'scusin dem
watts done went away. Some Of 'em is
in Loudoun, an some of 'em is in Culpepeh.
an some in Mellan' an Penns'vania. an
some is in Richmon,' an some is in ole
Fihginny. an den some moe of EN- is done
went to Washin'ton."
Washington" exclaimed Capt. Free
man, angrily; you know very well that's
n lie. Who put you up to say that:'
DIR. Lacy seemed as angry as the Cap
tain. though on different account.
Freeman. let the man tell all he knows in
his own way and get through. l want to
hear about Morgan's wound"
Now you just hold on till your turn
comes, Doc-Say. old man, what do you
mean by telling me such lies!"
Squire was inwardly trembling because
Of his mistake, but thanks to the respite
brought by the Surgeons intervention, had
seen his way out.
"Yassah. mayby dey did tell me wrong,
Gaze l didn't go wild 'em, an cou'se l
can't tell it feb true. an some men is
might deceivin, Mahsta, but l seed some
of 'em tex de back track feb Washin'ton
wen de mos of 'em ride down the road
tO'ads Leesbuhg."
w nB Is;s s,oa arq &c !! Do you know where
"Yassah de big Washin'ton hits down
de road, an de Little Washin'ton hits up
de road. You b'lieve talkin' bout de big
Wnshin ton, Mahsta:"
oh" grunted the Captain, you mean
Little Washington in Rappahannock
County?'
"Yassah"
Now. Freeman, give me my turn" said
the Surgeon, chuckling.
NO; I'm not through with him yet.
Are there no rebels left about Middle
burg?"
"Oh, yassah," replied Squire, lying SUI
pcrbly; "dcy is some dab yit; but dem dat
done sOnt me dey amt a-gwine to fight
shu all; dey say you dess SEN an git Mahs
Dan Mawgin; dey not a-gwine to fight
shu ALL dey says Thu dess put up de wife
flag an dess come along; dess put up de
y lite flag. Mahsta, avn yo' alliance, an
come right along an git 'im-dat's wat
dey want shu to do-you kin tex i'm an
koch (cure) i'm up, case he mighty bad
awff, an he sho' is a-needin' de tools wat
shu got an wat dey amt got; dat's wat
dey says, Mahsta, an dat's wat dey done
sont ole Squiah to tell you, sab, dat
dey amt agwine to fight shu eff you dess
puts up de wife flag"
Now, Freeman, will you graciously per-
NIT me to do my duty?" said the doctor.
go ahead, Doc" replied the Captain,
h tic tones ipdicn tin0 surrender yyithout hit-
terness.
Tell me, my friend, where the wounded
man is hurt"
'In de neck an shoulder. Mahsta."
"By what sort of weapon!"
"Sah?"
"Was he shot, or cut?" explained Free
man.
"Hit mus ha' ben bullet, sah."
"WhereabOuts on the neck?'
Squire put his fOreinger somewhere be-
hind his right jaw, as it seemed to Free
man; perhaps Lacy, even in the mild moon
light. knew what was meant.
Can he eat?'
mo, sab, an he can't talk, nutheh he
dess stays right still all de time, sah."
Lacy continued to question the negro,
who, however, was really unable to give
him other information than that the wound
was very serious.
'WEere are Mosby's men?" asked the
prudent Captain.
~ dunno, Mahsta."
where are Whites menu
81 dunno, Mahsta."
Yet. even guerrilas would respect the
white flag, thought the Captain. There
need be no hesita ton in accepting the ne
gro's news as valid, and there need be no
fear in sending for the wounded officer so
Squire was dismissed with verbal mes
IN tho affacf that tho MIN
| would be sent to Armstrong; at II o'clock
on the morrow.
r. Daniel Morgan had been warned by the
Confederate Surgeons that his brothers
case required appliances impossible for
them TO procure; he had seen, therefore,
that the only hope was to deliver him into
Federal hands, and for this purpose he
mad risked another days delay, SO when
Squire before daybreak returned with the
report of a successful mission, it needed
but few hours to make everything ready,
not for his own departure merely, but for
that of his friends also.
| The ArmstrOngs-father mother, and
daughter, with Mrs, Berry-took their
seats in a great carriage, while the SER
wants climbed into heavy wagon loaded
with what the refugees felt compelled to
save. The adieus had hardly been said
when old Squire trotted up.
'Lawdy! You gwine now. Mahs JOhn!'
Mr. Armstrong found himself unable to
reply. This home which he was deserving
had been his home since his birth-the
only home he had ever known; the only
| place he would ever know as home.
The old negro sidled up to the carriage,
and took one by one the white hands
extended to him, and called down all the
blessings of heaven, while unrestrained
| tears were visible on Lucy's cheeks, and
Mrs. Armstrong sobbed convulsively. Then
Squire went to the wagon where Aunt
Judy, his wife, was sitting on big trunk.
He put one foot on spoke. raised him
self, took his wife's hand and placed it on
his own white head.
"Gawd bless an save you, Judy. Is got
to follow Mahs Chahley though thick an
thin an yOu's got to go wi Miss Lucy
anywhah an ev'ywhah. You an me. Judy
you an me-dat's all. 'Membeh ole
Squiah'-and without another word he
sprang from the wheel and turned toward
the house. leaving old Judy rocking from
side to side in her speeches. agony.
Hardly had the horses started when Squire
was at the doorway where Daniel Morgan,
bitter partings over, still stood, watching
the refugees begin their journey into
hoped-for safety.
"Mahs Dan, you amt a-gwine to hide?"
"No. it's almost time for them to be
here, Squire"
"Yassah dey gWine to git Shcah bout