The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-12-19


box car, the object being to get them
away from Grants approaching army,
One Of the boys had stolen case knife
and another had picked up a part of
a rusty file With the file they made
a saw of the knife and managed TO cut
away enough of the flooring Of the
car to let man through During the
night while tho car was stationary
Tom Atherton and another prisoner
named Murdoch dropped through this
hole and attempted to escape. Muir
dock was shot, but Tom got away.
The next afternoon Tom was hiding
in wood near North Carolina plan
tation. II was pine wood with an
underground Of evergreens Tom, over
come with exhaustion, had gone to
sleep among the underground. He was
awakened by shrek. Sitting up, he
saw standing before him q girl who
had evidently been much frightened
Under one arm she held q bundle OF
evergreens aud in her right hand
knife. Tom arose, hatless, almost
coatless and minus the seat and knees
of his trousers. His toes protruded
from one shoe, while the other was
gone entirely.
II surrender" he said, throwing up
his hands.
Goodness graciousr' was the girls
only response.
what are you going to do with me?''
asked Tom.
do with your"
Yes. Being unarmed, I'm at your
mercy, you having that cold steel In
your hand"
who are your
"A Yank escaped from prison. I'm
played out. Nothing to eat for two
days, cold and not enough clothing to
keep me warm might as well sur
render to you as any one. What are
you doing out here with that knife
and those eyergreens?"
Cutting evergreens for Christmas"
Christmas
Yes Don't you know that tomor-
row will be ChristmasT
II don't even know what month IT
Is"
Isn't that awful?"
II wonder If mother and Mollie and
Sue are decorating at home" said
Tom musingly. Il suppose you're a
rebel girl"
"Of course | am"
well, then, you might as well turn
me In at once. l couldn't have gone
through another night in this wood.
I'd be starved by morning"
"All right Come with me-"
The girl pointed the way and, fall
Ing in behind Tom, marched him to
her home. 1t was growing dark when
they entered large plantation house,
and those within were just lighting the
lamps.
GO in there" said the girl, opening
the door of room, "and stay there
TIL turn you In"
Tom remained alone for awhile.
when she came in again and said.
"Come."
Are you going to turn me ing' he
asked.
yes"
She led Tom upstairs and turned
him into room in the center Of which
was a tub of water On a chair was
n suit of clothes. including a pair of
slices
You call this turning me int" said
Tom.
'Yes--for the present"
Tom bathed, put on the clothes,
which fitted him tolerably. and went
downstairs The girl was waiting for
him in the hall.
Well" he said, "I'm ready to be
turned in now. shall give you the
credit for my capture"
THANK you. Go in there"
She pointed TO an open door, and
Tom half expected TO find some one /
beyond 1t with musket waiting for
him. He was much pleased to see a
table with eatables on It,
well, now he said. smiling all |
pver, this Is being turned in in a /
way l like"
Unfortunately for Tom there were T
few good things TO eat in the south at /
the time. but he got the best there /
was>in the house. The girl waited on
him and when he had finished the I
meal said to him:
Tomorrow win be Christmas Fa- /
Their Is fighting your people at Peters /
burg, mother is i'll, and I'm going to /
make as much of Christmas as posi-
Bile for the children l wish you to /
help me, even If you are Yankee. 1t |
will be time enough to turn you in
after Christmas is over"
Considering the pauclty of the re-
sources at hand Tom Atherton passed +
the most enjoyable Christmas Of his
life. After It was all over the girl 1
said to him. evidently with much re-
luctance:
well, as a true Confederate girl I |
suppose It's my duty to turn you in
now"
"All right" said the prisoner, an (
make no resistance"
But Tom remained on the plantation
for months. One day man on horse
back dashed by the house, shouting
"Petersburg's gone up"
i. g.. q \ snasNTf ri