The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-11

A farmers wife came to our house
wearing Il homespun dress, with white
spots raised on a black ground, re-
sembling polka dots except that they
were oblong. Ii struck MS as odd, but
pretty and some one asked. "MrS.
Smith how did you get those spots on
your dress - She answered, "WcII.
ii was wovc by chart with four
"truddlcs' and the gals calls it
chicken headed. turn about and sho,k
nbout.' 70 this day we can enjoy
Il laugh over the remembrance Of poor
Mrs. Smith and her quaint remarks.
Father bcin" with us was IL great
c"mfnrt. and. although feeble. KEEP Il
watrhful eye I" the interests nf the
farm and mills which yicllrd an
, abundance ni everything in lllH pr',~
'lnrr line. He had flour. bacon. p"ta-
toes and other provisions to offer I"
merchants in exchange for salt. after
having exhausted the supply made at
home by filcrin" the soil in the
smrkr-h"uSr. aS in making lyc from
ashes. Articles of produce were ais"
bartrr"d t" city people dependent up
on the country for such nrrrSsaricS,
in exchange for merchandise and be-
inr :" v"rScd in the art Of cloth max
in". kniliin" and millinery we were
right independent Of the yankees is
to wla, we cared for their fine goods.
Four Of my brothers wen, int" the
army at the brginnin. of III" war.
The two eldest were fortunate
cnuugh tn be stationed near each 9TH
cr in Virginia. for Il short time. and
the tw" Younger boys were for time
in the same regiment. tthc Goth S. c.
W. stationed around Charleston:
changed from fort to fort. from bat
terry to battery, as those in command
saw fiji. notwithstanding the trials
Of our everyday life. the anNiplicS and
suspense endured for the sake OF
these dear. noble soldiers. we felt that
God had been good beyond our en-
pcctali"nS. as they had been spared
through many active engagements.
We lived away from the din "f en-
rilrmcn but in our Srclus"n kept
we'll pn~lrd aS 10 the movements of
tn" enemy and of our own forces. We
were comparatively happy.
Letters were received from cach
dear one in the field as regularly rs
circumstances permitted and although
we lived in dread. fearing evil all the
time. our spirits were bri"htcnc,l af
ter many battles by the oft repeated
story 1T the %allantry of our troops
and their numerous victories. Our
greatest troubles. heart rcnling be-
rcavrmrnl> were reserved until al
m"Sl the last. Some time in 1863. my
brother TEru,lul'" was promoted from
Ah.iulant Of the 20lh regiment to Isl.
Lieutenant and transferred /" the lSt.
4 Taft. REGULARS. and the younger one,
Edwin. waS urdrrrd to Virginia with
the old 2Dlll regiment. That WAS the
source 1T great trial tn all "f us. but
the boy WAS infatuated with the new
lit" ami the picturesque beauty Of
Virginia. Many letters full "l pa
'rinli>m and words IF consolation
were received from him and We had
rrpnrl> tr"m his higher officers OF his
ga!lan,ry. which filled cur hearts with
pride. Months passed. he Sl"oi
har,l>hipS and privatinnS like Il man
ryl went through many hard fnu"ht
battles safely. As the 20lh was fa-
nunS for getting into fights and for
ii"hlin" we'll. We felt that our darling
would hav" opportunities sufficient to
exhibit his bravery. and we were in
constant dread rf evil that might he
fall him. We tried to school u,,r-
selves tn meet diSappoinlmrntS and
sudden shnckS with brave hearts. but
many times our troubles were 50
heavy that il took almost Snprrnalu-
raj strength to bear up with becoming
! f"rlitudc. After the battle nf Stras-
burg. Virginia, fought October 49,
1864. we were greatly distressed by n
dispatch received from DR.. Sallcy.
surgeon Of the 20th regiment. to this
effect: Edwin passed through the
battle safely. but III aiding General
James tnnnur. who was wounded. off
# the field he was struck BY shell
that rXpl"lcd near linn. lie is dread
fully but, trust not mnrially. wulmd-
rl. y In our grief we feared the next
tidings would be news Of his death.
Father hcin" TO" feeble to undertake