The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-12-06
the DILEMMA
OF A SOLDIER
A Humorous Episode Of tee
War of the Sixties.

van SdNNSIIDAlS III ~ ~
old Garrett Van Nalkenburgh. wtt
owned Il farm at the time nf the Rev
olu,ion III what is now the middle Ol
New York city. left his millions and
In the ranks went down into Virginia
to help preserve the Union
Arrhie's regiment one afternoon,
ski.mishing through a little aristo'
cratic Virginia town. encountered d
brigade OF Confederatcs, which gave
them a fire that disabled most of them
The rest scattered and ran back as
fast as their legs would carry them,
Archie among the nne Mounting
a pretty white fence that inclosed q
flower garden, he climbed into the
branches Of Il cherry tree. The leaves
as well as the cherries were thick. and
be was we'll hidden. The Confederate
commander. fearing an ambush. order
ed Il halt. leaving his pickets within
a few hundred yards of the fence.
| Night came OH and left the soldier up
| the tree.
Marches had been long and fighting
frequent. Archie was tired. hungry.
sleepy and ragged. In climbing the
tree a sharp broken limb had removed
| what remained of the seat Of his trou-
sers. but he didn't mind that SO long as
he was safe from capture. Finding
two parallel branches near together.
he stretched. himself between them
and Went to sleep.
In the morning the bright sun awak-
enpd him. aud he found that all ap-
rearamp of war had vanished. Direct
Is beneath iliir WAS Il girl plurkins
roses. Unfortunately the girl looked
~ and SAW him.
ST. "is about to shrek when
Are. dropped directly before her.
Dofi."- his bat and bowling very low.
aI was he custom WITH swellS in those
49,. lp said:
Pardon nm for roveting your cher
lias was hungry"
Are vnn one Of nurs" was her first
question. Ills uniform was 81 dilapi-
fa:.i :ilnf she couldn't tell whether 1t
,.@aS Confederate or Federal.
=! aHi un: one of yours" tie replied.
Il w!S!, ! were"
"NHnt do ynu mean?" a..
81 refer rs the cherries and r"ses."
"Oh.."
"1f were "A cherry you could eaG
me. if a rose you could wear n,e in
your hair"
Her fright vanished. What a hand
some. ragged. dirty man!
"You are my prisoner" she said.
Delighted to be made captive"
Il mean it. A single word from ne
would cali Il number of people"
"PieaSe don't speak il"
II order ynu to turn and walk before
me to the house over there"
Archie remembered the missing seat
Of his trousers. He paled slightly.
"Would You mind my walking back
Ward?" I've asked humbly.
"Backward?"
eyes: you look awfully fierce"
The girl smiled. She held her arm
toward him. Il rose in the hand.
"You see" lie said. taking the rose.
'facing you | can disarm you"
tits all the weapon | have. fon
are in no danger. Now turn about and
move forward or Ill CALL"
wont yon please walk before me?'
Certainly not. Do you suppose l
wish to he murdered%"
"And l don't wish to be crncifed."
81 would advise you to do as I say.
Really you are, a very nice. ragged.
dirty Yankee. I like you. and If yon
will do as I say before any one comes
I'll take you home and hide you"
Here were two horns Of IL dilemma
on the one hand. avoidance of going to
Libby prison: on the other. walking be-
fore a pretty girl with an exposed
shirt tail. The blood of generations of
swells revolted at such an ig%nominiOns
situation.
"Never!!" he said at last. g.
"You don't mean that you fear an
unarmed girl? How can you Yankees
expect to conquer our men II you are
afraid of u girlsw
IF YOU were a man you might
march me anywhere. I'm unarmed."
"About face-narch!
81 mutiny. Excuse me. I must mu-
tiny!"
"Oh, o do? Well. IL you continue
to- There. your obstinacy has cost
you your liberty. That's my father
| coming. He'll call out sufficient men
to arrest yon. and they'll send yon to
Richmond. ! can't protect you."
A gentleman came up and. seeing bis
daughter talking with a disreputabie
looking man. knitted his brows.
Father said the girl. there's a
Yankee. He hid in this tree when our
boys drove his people OF yesterday
evening. / ordered him to march be-
fore me to the house. and he refuses.
Take him in charge"
"You march to that house mighty
quick" said the "A .'0r I'll'-
" will Il your daughter will 80 drst."
"Why 500" asked the man. surprised.
"L0ok!!"
He turned his back to the gentleman.
.Carey." said the latter. ign on
ahead.". a,
The girl obeyed the order. When she