The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-05-28


had been opened. mo, amt sick,
Chloe. Nevah was feelin' bettah.
Run along to yoah own maw, now"
answered granny, as she closed the
door. The childs bare feet could be
heard clapping against the ground as
she ran away.
Cutting and buttering a few slices
of bread and making another
pot of tea, granny handed them
to the man, who still remained
in the hole. He grasped them eager
ly. When he had finished eating
granny persuaded him to come to the
bed, where she dressed his wounds
by candle light. Her patient became
unconscious during this time. Gran
ny wrapped him in blanket, forced
him to take some tea and rubbed
his arms until nearly morning. Thus
she worked for two days and nights,
the man remaining asleep all of this
time, except when awakened for
some dainty granny had prepared.
Three weeks passed The mans
wounds had healed splendidly. A
bullet remained in his left arm and
gave him some trouble, but he de-
termined to leave for headquarters
in spite of his nurses objections.
After much trouble in getting horse
all preparations were made to leave.
He thanked granny again and again
for having saved his life and prom
ised she should hear from him again.
In answer to her question about him
self he said:
MY name is Crawford Floyd. l
am one of party of six who were
sent out by Grant into the Confed's
country to learn what they could for
the use of the Northern army. Three
of us were captured in a skirmish
at Pond Fork and taken to the tenn
porary prison at Apple Valley, where
two of my comrades were shot for
attempting to escape. l Jared better,
however, and got away after being
shot in the arm. The men knew |
was spy and sent a detachment out
to hunt me down. was nearly
caught. One night l slept in the
little house over the hill. Nobody
lived there, because the place is sup
posed to be haunted, as you told me.
was in great danger of being recap
tured and knew that meant death, so
determined to tunnel underground
for few days in order to get the
beasts off my track. In my sack I
had quarter rations for a week and
a half. The second night 1 began my
work, digging with the dagger you
have seen. 1t was slow, hard work,
and I often suffered for air and
drink, but after nearly giving up in
despair, happened to break through
the floor of your house, my good an
gel Tell nobody what has hap
pened until you hear from me again,
which will not be long, 1 hope. The
war'll soon be over now. God bless
you and good-by."
The soldier rode off in haste.
Granny stood watching him until he
was out of sight. "Whew-w. A
no'the'n spy. Bet this hyah niggah
gifts ketched yit," she said to herself
as she hobbled into her shanty.
"Oh, Granny, Granny-y-y! Don
yer know this hyah day am Deeah-
ing Granny was awakened by little
urchin who cried thus in a shrill
voice. The old woman rose and
dressed slowly Presently she threw
open her door and, squirting her
eyes in the bright sunlight, said, re-
provingly: f'Desecration Day! Wat
yo' mean by sech thing, boy?
nnvoh hard n fhO q tho -
Locke! Locke, Granny the
boy went on; "yondah comes a man
on hoahsback.'' Shading her eyes
with her hands, Granny looked where
the child pointed and saw a man,
covered with dust, riding black
horse. whose sides were flecked with
foam.
The man sprang from his saddle
and, leaving his horse in the road,
ran up the short path to where the
old negress and the boy stood.
Frightened, the pickaninny ran away,
but Granny waited for the man to
speak.
miss Granny" he asked, lifting
his hat.
"Evalene Harriet Browns ma
whole name, sab, but roun' hyah rs
called Granny" came the answer as
Granny placed her arms akimbo and
looked searchingly at the new ar
rival.
"Oh!, beg your pardon, Miss
Brown" said the man, making low
curtesy. IT am from Major Craw-
ford Floyd. to whom you rendered
service some time ago. He has
charged me to deliver this tride as
a little token of the high esteem he
has for YOU" So saying, he handed
Granny, who was thoroughly sur
prised, a neat little package, which
she took without answering.
The words were scarcely spoken
before the man had mounted and was
riding away The old negress looked
at the package with a smile. WON
dab watts in thah?" she said, as the
package was laid on the table and
slowly united. The sight which met
her eyes made her jump. Before her
lay circular piece of gold, the first
she had ever touched. Taking it to
the door, Granny turned it over ane
over, chuckling to herself. Slowly
and tediously she spelled out the in
scription on the back, which read,
Twenty Dollars"
That night the piece was placed
with avtrofoa oora a., ~ IA 49, -