The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-11-22
: SOUTHERN ROSES
and NORTHERN LILACS
"Oh!-Oh! oh"

The woman in black turned and
saw Helen drop to her knees. She
was at her side in moment. Beau
tiful!" Helen was saying into the
depths of the creamy roses. Where
did they come FROM"
From Virginia; cane by mail yes
terday," said the woman in black in
a soft Southern drawl. Helen noticed
the accent, and thought.it sweet. She
did not know it was Southern.
"You put them here for u.s."
81 put them here for him." The
woman in black pointed to the name
on the marble slab. 'sHe did ne
did us-a very great kindness years
ago."
She was on her knees now, beside
Helen, helping to arrange the white
li}acs. II love them so, the flowers"
she saiu.
A robin was caroling overhead.
Family there came to them the
thrum, thrum of a drum, and far
down the road a cloud Of white dust
was rising.
1T was a beautiful day, just like
to-day" the stranger was saying, in
her soft, Southern drawl Mature
was joyously, exuberantly happy, but
our hearts were heavy and sad. 1t
seemed to me as if mine was broken,
as if could never be happy and
merry again. Down in our pasture,
tents were pitched. From our side
piazza we could see blue coats NOV
ing about them. l hated those blue
coated men - marauders - called
them by every despica5le epithet I
could think Of I hated them because
they were quartered on US without in
vitation. Only few weeks before, a
party o. them came into our garden,
smashed the sashes of our hotbeds
with his heel, and they helped them
selves to our radishes and early vege-
tables. When old Tom called to them
to leave 'em thar, we wants 'em to
eat,' they laughed at him and retort-
ed: We want 'en to eat, too, old
Mr.. Blackb:rd!'
y "To tell the truth, We had not very
much to eat in those days; we were
III short rations often, and now re-
feet they must have been, too, those
boys in blue. I hated them most, I
think, because only a few days before
they had killed and eaten my pet
heifsr.
ooh child, those were hard days,
cruel days! But hardest on US in
whose homes and dooryards the
fierce, bloody battles were fought.
Our house was watched. Id seen
the men picke.ed about it. We were
suspected of harboring an escaped
prisoner, spy, they deemed him. A
squad of blue coats came riding up
o'.i lane one morning. They were
coming TO search our premises. We'd
expected this for severa! days. They
dismounted and tied their horses to
the garden fence. One of them came
to me. I was sitting OF a bench
alongsid, the house. Over it I'd
spread a rug I'd fetche.l from the
hall.
''Ihe officer explained, or attempt
ed to explain to me that he had seen
detailed to the painful duty of Search
ing our house. DON'T interrupted.
make any apologies; they're quite
cut of place at such a time, and from
you. Our permission you do not need
we are at your mercy, sir!'
81 could have struck him dead,
standing there, cap in hand, had I
been able. I think locked my
hatred. He looked embarrassed,
panied. At a signal from him the
men entered the house. He had bid
den them give as little offense as pos
sible and be quick. He stood there,
cap in hand, while the men were in
side-it seemed to me they were ages
inside. His face was partly averted.
1t was fine, noble face, face to win
confidence. He may have mother
at home, or sister or sweetheart
at home, thought. l mad never as
sociated these tender ties with my
hated enemies before. The men came
out and he went toward them, and it
seemed, led them away from me.
"'All right he said, I was quite
sure there was no one concealed in
side that house Did he emphasize
the word inside? I thought he did
was sure he did, and the thought
froze the blood in my;veins.
"".He came back and stood guard
over me. What did he mean to dc
next? Oh, how anxiously l studied
his face while his men searched ou1
outbuildings. And when they had
done, he pointed to their horses. ther
turning to me, cap still in hand, he
said: I hated to make this search
but We have to obey orders. Say te