The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-10-24
PEMBROkES
LAST BATTLE.
For The Household by E. Crayton McCants.
A Story Based on the Fight at Rivers Bridge Dur
ing the War Between the States.

heel, tottered and fell, plunging face
foremost into the dank weeds and
rolling heavily into the foul, loath-
some water that sapped the edge of
the road.
It was already night, the great
owls were hooting in the cypress
brakes and the darkness was gather
ing. We left him there with men of
ours to keep him company. When
morning came we were crossing
lower down-reaching northward to
Join hands with Grant-but the man
at the river bridge had won his point
and his comrades were far beyond
our reach.
x X
It was two years ago, l think-or
three, perhaps that | grew weary
of the town and the garrulous same
ness of an old mans existence. am
country bred, yon know, and long
for the smell Of the ripening fodder,
the far blue stretch of the hills and
ring of my horses iron shod hoofs on
a hard-beaten, winding road. So l
went forth that autumn, with no
companion save my beast, pursuing
an old mans vagrant fancies and
sleeping myself in the mellow, kindly
sunlight.
It was mid-afternoon of my third
day out, think, when breaking from
the shelter of the forested highland
| entered more open country. My
horse was tired, and l, too, was tired
and hungry; so when a friendly turn
in the road brought into sight an old
gray house, some barns and a dozen
White-washed cabins, turned in for
rest and refreshment. The house l
found to be closed, but from the
rear there came out presently an old
negro to receive me.
Light, boss, Tight he said
heartily. MAS Lemule he amt
here, an Mis- Sally she amt here
nuther. But I kin ten to you-an,i
an ter you hoss. Light, boss, and
come right in.
All this time he had been fumbllng
with a big brass key, and now, with
a flourish and bow. he swung the
great double door of the house open
before me. Then stepping to the
broad piazza, he called out Justify as
one with authority:
''William Henry! William Henry!
You come yer an tex dis gemmun's
hoss. An tell yer nav to fry one er
dem ar chickens. 1'spec de gemmun
hungry
The place was a fine old country
seat, very picturesque and very COM
manding, as it looked out over the
broad sweep of rolling farm land.
"Whose is this?" | asked, indi-
eating the house, as my entertainer
seated himself humbly on the high.
broad stoop.
MAS Lemule's sah-Mas' Lemule
Pembroke's. He in Columby now
in de legislature. You'se hearn tell
O. him, / reckon"
NO." said l, 'more's the pity.
Tell me about him.
The old man sat silent for a mo-
ment. "Dar'd be a heap to tell,
he remarked rehectively. eve wuz
boys together, me an Mas Lemule
an we wuz sojers together. I
hepped i'm whip the Yankees"
''Indeed!' I replied. You
whipped them, did you? Now, | had
an idea that the thing was a little the
other way-that the Yankees had
rather the best of it..
Again the old fellow was silent.
''Hit mout be, he said presently.
Somebody sot desc triflin' niggers
free. don rightly know how hit
did fn'ly turn out. When | fotch
Mas Lemuel home l kinder lost
track. But" he added firmly, 1--WE
whipped 'em while l wuz dar."
You brought your master home?
Was he wounded?" l asked.
HE was plumb nigh kiltv' the
negro answered sententiously. "Yas,
sir nigh bout kilt. But l doan'
know whedder he'd a-got Mis- Sally
er not eff it hadn' a-been fer dat.
''Hit wuz dis way, ye see," he con-
tinued after a pause. Away back
yander fore freedom come, old Cum
nel Chamblee, he live jes over dar
whar yer see dem tall chimbleys. De
Chamblees was our nighes' neigh
bors, an we waz thick wild dem an
dey was thick wild us. An Mis- Sally
she was de Cunnel's iii GAL
AN after while, when dey dun
growed up, Mas Lemule he fall in
love wild Mis- Sally, an de Of folks
dey laugh an rub dey hans an say
what nice match hit gwine to be-:
But bime-by, when he ak huh, Mis-
Sally she sorter laff an say she doan'
know so we'll bout dat; she amt
ready for to ma'hy yet, an she doan'
lax Mas Lemule nohow. Den Mas
Lemule git ve'y vex-he been so sho'
Mis- Sally gwine ma'hy imam go
off way down to Charles'n to see he
cousins.
"Purtv soon arter dat, dis yer war