Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-11-06

HOW "A SOLDIER CAME HOME.
The Loss of a Confedcrate's Diary =
in New York. d
A Sidewalk Nap.
In Two Parts.
(Part Two.)

A Sidewalk Nap.
How long mapped can't say, but
was awakened by push in the side,
and in answer to the question Of this
corporal made the same statement
as did to the guard. Way is your
parole?" he said. quickly produced
1T. He took it under the dim lamp
on the corner and scanned 1t over
and over. At length he said: ~ CESS
dis yer paper am all right" but to
satisfy himself he said he would go
with me to the house. ..-.
A good, sound rap on the door was
answered by an old lady, who hur-
riedly raised the sash. and inquired,
"Whose's there?" "Its me. Bennie,
Bennie -" ..s.. ....
Great laws alive, Bennie; is that
you? Why, you ain't dead?" re-
piled that l thought not, but felt
very much alive. "Why, child" she
said, "since the Yankees came. into
the city they have stopped shelling."
Which l thought very natural. $50
your uncle and Aunt Jane have
moved back down town to their old
home, on Wentworth street." I
thought to myself, when will all
ever get straight? From this COLO
guy the corporal must have felt q re-
lief of assurance as to the genuine
ness of the parole, for l never be-
lieved that he could read a line Of 1t.
He very pleasantly bid me good
morning, but told me very likely I'd
be overhauled again. l was not,
however. My walk to Wentworth
street was without further incident.
1t was now bright daylight, but
rather early, l thought, to disturb
my uncle and family. So 1 did not
hurry. On the way l met groups Of
hilarity. i suppose rejoicing in an
ticipation OF the forty acres and a
mule they were to get, which, how
ever, they never got. In due time l
reached my uncle's but found no one
astir; SO entered the gate and quiet
ly seated myself on the piazza, and
awaited the first sound that would
tell me that some of the household
had risen. In few minutes the
sound of footsteps was heard; SO 1
raped gently and my dear Aunt
jamie appeared.
''Why, Bennie, my dear son, can
it possibly be you, and where did you
come from; did you drop from the
clouds? I'm SO glad to see you
alive. And you poor, dear mother Is
so grieved; for, you know. you have
been reported dead long ago.
know she will be glad and happy
now, for she has been almost broken
hearted" All this time / noticed
Aunt jamie scrutinizing me curious
ly. At length she said, But. my son,
pray tell me where did you get that
Yankee coat?" The expression made
blue coat" thought, for l had pre-
dicted in my mind the comment it
would occasion the moment I donned
1T. 1t didn't take long to give a de-
tailed account as to how l came by 1t,
and how those brass buttons had
worried me. well, they shan't wor-
ry you any longer" she said; and In
due time she removed them and sub
stituted horn buttons, which added
much to my relief.
My dear old uncle and the chill
dren were delighted to see me, and
he wouldn't hear of my leaving for
the home of my parents until I had
sufficiently rested to attempt the
trip, which had to be made on foot,
ninety miles distant, on account of
the railroad having been torn up by
Sherman when he passed through
and laid waste the country. MY
anxiety to reach home to see my
dear old mother and father, and re-
lieve their minds, was SO great that
at the expiration or two days I de-
termined to make the start; for what
was ninety miles to a Confederate,
who had marched hundreds OF miles
through ice and snow, a prisoner,
barefooted and half clad?
The March.
Aunt JAMIE made a bag or sort of
a haversack, in which she stored
enough edibles to sustain me on the
trip, which l calculated would take
about six days, considering my weak
condition. Everything in readiness,
] prepared for the parting that /
hated to make from my dear rela-
tives, but there were others whose
hearts yearned for nv coming, and
| must hasten to cover the distance
that separated us. AS souvenir /
gave Aunt jamie the little Testament
with the Confederate battle flag
stamped on 1t, which was given to
me at Fayetteville, N. c., by a sweet
and patriotic young lady, who visited
us while as prisoners with Sherman.
Bidding all goodbye, and with their
wishes of Gods blessings upon me
for safe journey, l started out with
a light and happy heart for Home.
Sweet Home" AT Line street sta
ton of the old South Carolina Rail-
road / struck the track and my long
journey had commenced.
My first days walk was without
incident until the afternoon, when a
little beyond Ladson Road station,
where the Blue House road crosses,
| was Intercepted by Capt. Fox and
his men, who peremptorily demand
ed that | give an account OF myself
! tried to convince them that l was a
na Sn1o 70