Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-12-22
A War Time Christmas.

- w
The incident occurred one December
during the Civil War. The Army of Ten
neSsee was in Virginia, W itching closely
every move on the great chess board OF
strategy. Sergt Montgomery and few
men were ordered to guard certain mar
row pass through the mountains.
Orders were strict to hermit no one to
pass, no matter what the errand. The
tension was high; spies were every
where.
Not far from the picke' post was small
house. part log and part frame. There
lived a young wife and two little girls.
The husband had joined the Confederate
army. The wife was left with two COWS
and some potatoes and corn.
She or her little girls brought the Un-
ion soldiers milk and butter; sometimes
few eggs.
The names of the girls were Mary and
Susie. They said they liked soldiers ;
that their papa was one. and that they
knew he would be glad to see these SOL
dier friends OF theirs il he could only get
off, but he was so busy somewhere shoot
ing at the Yankees that they wouldn't lei
him leave.
One dav as the month was drawing to
a close Susie, the smaller of the two,
ASKED the sergeant why they were always
looking IN and down the PASS 50 close.
"To see ii anybody's coming, little
one" said the grizzled officer; "our or
derS are to shoot any man who attempts
10 90 hy here"
INSTANTLY Susie laid her head on her sis
ter'S shoulder and cried as il her heart
would break. The big sergeant was verv
much embarrassed; he saw he had nut
his foot in it, but couldn't understand just
how
"There, there, grille" he said, don't
YOU cry, we amt going TO shoot any OF
your Deone."
al know YOU amt" said Susie. irving
IN drv her ewes. "but we been alOokin'
for Santa Claus for years an wears an
it's mos time for him TO he along here" !"
The sergeant was dunfounded. Two
days later he rode down the valley to the
army headquarters and sought out the
quqrternaster.
al want two blankets" he said. "big
ones, and warm: ~ pounds Of coffee, A
case of sweet crackers, and some ginger
Snaps if YOU got 'em, and some sugar,
and-let me see-got any canned goods,
nears and peaches and the like O. that?"
The day before ChriStn1S was clear
and bright. The trooners were WALKING
about their campfire, their Guns stacked,
hut within easy reach. The seroeaut was
not there. Pretty soon the little girls
came out from the cabin, hand in hand.
They had hardly reached the camn when
the caDtain ofthe guard suddenly straight
ened IN
"Haltw he cried, "who comes here?"
The soldiers sDrang for their guns and
stood across the trail. Climbing down A
hill bordering the trail was a man with
4 lono white heard and fur cap. He
was laden with parcels.
Susie saw him, and uttered Glad crv,
ran to him and stood between Santa Claus
and the soldiers.
"You Sha'n't shoot him" she shouted;
"vou sha'n't shoot Sa1ta ClauSp
The soldiers grounded arms and laugh
ed until they couldn't lauph anv more.
lust then there was a sound Of horses
roofS on the rocky trail 1t was an uu-
usual thing. there was no joke this time.
The soldiers Straightened IN. ready for
action. Santa Claus dropped his parcels
and griDDed his revolver.
Inq moment the rider was among them.
II was hryh Officer in the Federal army.
and he glared about in angry Surnrise.
"What means all this buffoonerv2" he
orowled. his keen eyes boring through
Santa Claus.
Santa Claus. entirely unabashed. told
the story. omitting nothing. He said the
father of the little girls was in the Con-
federate army and they and their mother
were alone in the mountains; that the
winter had come on them unnrenared,
and he had ordered the quartermaster to
get toqether some things to tide them
over Christmas.
The qold-braided officer looked into
the fearless ewes Of tine sergeant, the men
standing resneCtfully about him. and then
at the hqlf-rlad little girls and their blue
hands and lips.
"It's all right. Novs." he said, "entire-
" all right. OF I couple o. little chaps
O. nv own back in the hills OF Kentucky,
and hope the good Lord will raise IN
friends for 'em same as you folks have
been to these. Good5yW %
Then he rode on down the trail. That
night the Yankees and the little family OF
the Confederate soldier had Christmas
dinner in a cozy little mountain cabin.
Christmas Giving.