Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-11-10
SOUTHERN ROSES
and NORTHERN LILACS
"Oh!-Oh,-Oh!"


The woman in black turned aud
saw Helen drop to her knees. She
was at her side in a moment. Beau
tiful!' Helen was saying into the
depths of the creamy roses. Where
did they come FROM"
ssr----- -. o s.4iss, ~e-llLc .li1,lI , ~
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 us2"
Il put them here for him" The
woman in black pointed to the name
on the marble slab. He did me
did us-a very great kindness. years
ago"
She was on her knees now, beside
Helen, helping to arrange the white
lilacs- Il 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. Nature
was ioyously, exuberantly happy, but
our hearts were heavy AMI sad. II
seemed to me as il 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. I hated those blue
coated men - marauders - called
them by every despicable epithet |
could think of. I hated them because
they were quartered on US without in
vitation. Only a few weeks before,
party o. them came into our garden,
and one of them went along and
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 EN- thar, we wants EN- to
eat, they laughed at him and retort-
ed: We want EN- to eat, too. old
Mr. Black5ird.'
TO tell the truth, we had not very
much to eat in those days; we were
L short rations often, and now I re-
feet they must have been, too. those
boys in blue. I hated them most, /
think, because only a few days before
they had killed and eaten my pet
heifer.
"oh child. those were hard days,
cruel days! But hardest on us in
whose homes and dooryards the
fierce, bloody battles were fought.
Oar house was watched. I'd seen
the men picke-ed about it. We were
suspected of harboring an escaped
prisoner. a spy. they deemed him. A
squad OF blue coats came riding up
o.. lane one morning. They were
coming 20 search our premises. We'd
expected this for several days. They
dismounted and tied their horses to
the garden fence. One Of them came
to me. I was sitting or a bench
alongside the house Over it I'd
spread a rug I'd fetchel from the
hall.
The 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 I interrupted,
make any apologies; they're quite
out of place at such a time, and from
you. Our permission you do not need
we are at your mercy, sir.'
Il could have struck him dead.
standing there, cap in hand, had
been able. l think l looked my
hatred. He looked embarrassed.
panied At signal from him the
men entered the house. He had bid
den them give as little ofanse as pos
sible and be quick. He stood there,
cap Ia hand, while the men were in
side-it seemed to me they were ages
inside. His face was partly averted-
It was fine, noble face, a face to win
confidence. He may have a mother
at home, or a sister or a sweetheart
at home, thought had never as
ISOLATED 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 do
next oh, how anxlously l studied
his face while his men searched our
outbuiIdings. And when they had
done, he pointed to their horses, then
turning to me, cap still in hand, he
said: + hated to make this search,
| but we have to obey orders. Say to
them, to your people, that you will
not be subjected to this annoyance
again while am on duty, but shall
/ be relieved of duty here at 8 O'Clock
| tomorrow mornings o'clock to-
morrow morning he emphasized.
Il know what he meant. l knew
| he meant get your house In order
/ before that Tears sprang to my
| eyes, tears of gratitude. tears OF re-
lief. I would have sprung up and
| gone to him and shaken his hand. had
/ I dared to get up. oh sir, thank
/ you, thank you.' I murmured, and
reached him a couple Of roses off the
| bush that grew beside me, the parent
! of that bush" The woman in black
I pointed to the creamy roses on the
| soldiers grave.
"He came and took them from me,
| bowed low, aud mounted his horse.
| Then saw Bennys feet sticking out
from under the rug, Benny, for whom
| they were searching. And 1 knew
that that officer had seen them, too
I'd been literally sitting on Benny all
that time-making I bench Of him"
"Oh, he did see them. grandpa told
No he did," broke in Helen. and he
told me how sorry he felt for you. ana
! said he kept the roses 4 long time, a