Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-07-08
Johnnie
an0 Eudie
A Story Told by Vet to His Grand
children on Memorial Day
BY r. A. Mitchell
Copyright By American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

round you'd tell us a story about the
war in which you took part. Come;
we're all ready"
Every well. my dear; suppose I'll
have to keep my promise"
A girl of seven perched herself on
the broad arm of piazza chair; Tom
my climbed up on one knee, Billy on
the other and all waited eagerly for
the story. which | began as follows:
when was a soldier boy in the
Federal army--l was nineteen years
old at the time I'm going TO tell you
about-we were lighting in Virginia.
One day the gcneral-we'll call him
General BUNDLE"
General Bumblebee;" asked Billy.
"Yes. General Bumblebee. II you
like. lie was a real general. but what
I'm going to tell you happened so long
ago that I've forgotten some Of the
names So I'll make 'em up as go
along. Well. General Bumblebee sent
for friend of mine. a very particular
friend. and he looked like me too"
what was his Manner asked Tom
my.
His name? Why. his name was
Johnny Spy"
That's funny name. Call 'em all
by those made up names"
Johnny Spy went to General Bum
blebee's headquarters. and the general
said to him:
'Corporal-Johnny was a corporal
your captain recommends you as a
good man to go down into the cnemy's
lines to secure information Now. the
southern general-what shall we call
him?"
"You give him his name. grandpa"
"we'll call him General Gobble."
Turkey Goblet"
Eyes; Turkey Gobble IL you like. Cen
eral Bee told Johnny Spy to go down
dressed up like somebody else so that
the Confederates wouldn't know him,
look about, find out what they were
going to do and come back and tell the
general.
"The next day a farmers boy with
a faded straw hat on his head and
rough clothes and driving a COW got
mixed up with the Confederate pick
cts
Il know who that was" said the
girl. Alice THAT was Johnny Spy"
You're right. Johnny told them
that his home was back OF their lines.
and they let him 20 through. But aft
er be got In the rear of the picket line
somehow Johnny and his cow got sep
arated and were not seen together any
more.
"There were great many peddlers
following the armies on both sides
who carried baskets full OF cheap
watches and jewelry that they sold to
the soldiers at high prices. The morn
ing after Johnny came into the Confed-
crate camp one of these peddlers was
going about selling watches and scarf
pins"
"Was he johnny" asked Tom.
"Yes: he was Johnny"
"Where did he get his watches and
things?'
From another peddler. You see.
the general had given him plenty Of
money. and he bought Il whole basket
full Johnny persuaded n family to let
him stay with them awhile and so0p
found ont that they were Union peo.
pie. For awhile he pretended to be
very bitter against the north. but there
was young girl In the family that
johnny took shine to. and after
awhile he told her that he was n I'm
ion soldier In disguise. You see. he
wanted her TO help him get informa-
ton"
what was her name?"
"Her name? Why. reckon Wen
call her Eudoxla"
That's the funniest name for a girl
ever heardr exclaimed Alice.
Its the name of a Roman empress
who lived ut Constantlnople."
"Does she live there now?"
mot very likely. since she relgned
some 1900 years ago. The house this
Union family lived in was right in
among the Confederate camps. and
Johnny Spy and Eudoxia found out a
good many things for Johnny to tell
General Bumblebee when he got back
1t was an awful risky thing TO do. for
II they caught Johnny they would hang
him up by the neck till he was as dead
as the Empress Eudoxia."
whats Eudoxia's short name?" ask
ed Alice "Eudle?"
Eyes. indeed. Eudle. I'll call her
that after this Eudie was very much
worried for fear the Confederates
would find out that Johnny was a
Union soldier. and. sure enough. one
day Johnny found himself In trouble.
You see. be had been within the Con.
federate lines before. and one OF the
soldiers recognized him-that is. the
soldier thought he did. but when he
had seen him Johnny was dressed as
curate. So the man wasn't certain.