Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-07-09
How Rags Found the
Uniform.

IL was worn aud soiled, but on the
cuff was " G. O." carefully erased and
as carefully restored with ar. ~ IN
derneath in letters evidently etched
with rsd-het nail. "Miss Jane tfor,
though q grandmother, she was still
Miss Jane in southern fashion Of
address," ] said, holding cut the
glove, "this looks romantic. Hasr' /,
storys''
The dear old lady laid down her knit
ting and peersd over her glasses, then
she laughed heartily; "That glove?
Well, IT certainly has history, and
very funny one, and this is the very
sort Of day for storytelling.
Q when Mississippi seeded, father
and my brother Dick both joined the
LIST Volunteer Regiment, father ne col
onel and Dick az captain. Mother was
lefs for us girls, and Nanny aud Lucy
and Daddy Jim took care of us all.
Dell was twenty. She had beenSnamed
for mothers chum at college | was
two years younger, and ten years after
me was Bessie, the greatest monkey
that ever was. Bess had mongrel
puppy she was devoted to, and what
mischief she did not get into her head
Rags was sure to think out and drag
his little mistress into.
/ "We managed 10 get on fairly well,
for our lit town seemed out OF the
line Of March, and we saw few soldiers
Confederate or Federal. One day there
was the cry that the Yankees were
coming, ano regiment marched into
town and camped by the creek at the
foot of the hill. We next heard that
| the vacant house adjoiHiag us had
been 'requisitioned, as headquarters
for the officers. or course we peeped
| through the windows as the colonel
and hisotlicers rode into the next yard
but we had no idea of even speaking
to any OF them, for we were red-hot
| Rebels.
I'VE were just finishing supper last
night when the bell rang and Nanny
Lucy came back, hereyes as big as
saucers, to report to mother that two
of dem Yankee of'cers was touring for
you Mother went to the parlor and
Dell and | listened in the hail, all ex-
citeReht. After long time mother
came and called Us She said the two
officers were lieutenants, the twin sons
Of her old schoolmatc for whom Dell
was named, and that one was Gsraa'
after mothers name, 'Geraldloe.'
"We expected just TO meet and
speak 10 the men; but Gerry Gordon
took possession of us az once, called
mother Aunt Gerry and us girls by
our own names. He was harum
scarum boy, full Of life and fun, and
the quieter twin, Albert, followed HIM
everywhere. Morning, noon and night
those boys were ct our house, till
NJ army Lucy used to say they for
sure eluttered around under my feet
like passed. of young puppies.
"They showed grandma new game
of solitaire, petted mother, taught Dell
and me rollieking college songs aud
glees, and filled our country ears with
stories of the theatres and operas OF
New York. As for Bess the child SEEM
ed to think they were her especial
property, andN she and Rags were
never so happy as when In rotnp
with them.
"After while Gerry begged mother
to let him bring bis captain over to
call, backing his request by telling how
awfulIy blue and homesick the poor
fellow was. Capt. Andrews came, and
on one ex cuse or another all the other
officers formed the habit Of dropping
in to see US and we had gorgeous times
with them ii they were Yankees.
"We would dance learning new
dances from thenll, pop corn, make
molasses candy, aud sang. Dell aud [
knew lots of Rebel songs, and we sang
them with a vim. We even put the
hottest Rebel words we could compose
TO Yankee Doodle and used to sing
them 10 our own great delight, the Of
ficers singing with us, they using their
own Yankee words. Whenever we
heard o. a Confederate victory, we H.
Illuminated by putting tallow-dip can
dies in every window.
"Once when We had heard Vt one Of
Lees grand victories we were llumin-
ating With the dips, when Gerry sug-
gested that we should light hugh
pile Of leaves Daddy Jim had raked
together and have a bonfire instead.
We were sill young and we forgot they
were Yanks aud We Rebs' celebrating
Confederate victory. 20 we joined
hands and danced madly around that