The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-08-31

my rooster was true blue, and fought
only secesh chickens. l stuck to my
rooster, and not few Of the boys car
ried their North Carolina ROSTERS in
the grand review at Washington.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
How Smith and the Captain Traded.
Naturally, the reader, if he has ever
been, or is now, or if he only has an
inclination to be horse trader, will
read this article with the expectation
of gaining a new point or information.
But our story relates only to Gus
tom of trading in military circles In
time of war, and though this particu-
lar incident may not have fallen under
the observation of the reader, yet, if
he has been soldier, no doubt par
allel case can be called to mind
The narrator of the story was dis
| tinguished Georgian, and as we were
more interested in the events than the
time and place, that part Of the story
was lost; yet the incident is vouched
for as having actually occurred.
John Smith lived on southern soil,
yet he was a stanch Union man. HIS
neighbors had all joined issues with
the Confederacy, and of course no fra
ternal feeling existed for any one who
stood an avowed antagonist to the
principles they believed to be right.
Smith was forced to bear insults on
every hand. His cattle were killed,
and in fact the sentiment prevailed
that it was perfectly right to appro-
pirate any property belonging to him,
for either public or private use.
But though this was contrary to our
Union hero's idea Of right and wrong.
he never complained.
Often assassination or a rope in the
hands of a mob were insinuations
brought to bear upon his mind to in
duce him to disavow his convictions.
But all this seemed to make him the
firmer and the more determined not
to complain.
But fortune often changes, and in
the course of events the occasion pre-
scented itself where it seemed the
1 were dUOul W
A small Union foraging force had
made its appearance in the neighbor-
hood, and the defenseless inhabitants
were entirely at its mercy. Smith de-
cided now was the time to get even
with his prosecuting neighbors. So
he had his best horse brought from
his stable, and, after having it sad
died, he set out to meet the Union SOL
diers.
| He had not proceeded far before he
encountered the man he was looking
| for, and recognizing an officer in a
captains uniform, he rode boldly for
ward, and after making a salute, call
ed out:
| Good morning, captain"
Good morning, sir! Dismountw
came the reply.
Smith did not exactly understand
that kind of reception, yet, deciding
it was military custom, he unhesitat-
ingly complied.
"Unsaddle," was the next command
that was given by the captain.
Smith did that.
"Unsaddle that old nag over there
and put your saddle on her, and the
one on her on this horse you've been
riding"
And as he hastily complied with this
command, he began to wonder.
"Now mount that old horse" was
| the next order.
He mounted.
Now face about"
He faced"
"Now mover
But this was past endurance; so
while the old horse was already NOV
ing forward, Smith, turning in his
saddle, called out:
Captain, just let me say one
| thing"
well, say 1t, and say it quickr
"well, I've been trading horses forty
years; but this is the first time I ever
traded and didn't have a word to say
about i'll. NJ. G. in American Trib-
une.