The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-06
PriivateBrittan' 5
Bath
By ARTHUR A. MURDOCH

Bob Britain, private in the -th Penn
sylvania infantry, was advancing with
his regiment over tobacco field In
Virginia In thin sldrmish line when
a strong force of Confederates issued
from wood beyond and scattered the
Pennsylvanians like chaff. Bob fed
with the rest till the noise was some
distance behind him, and. fearing to be
followed and taken prisoner, he look
ed about him for place in which to
conceal himself. Under some shade
trees he saw plantation house. and
there he went. Hearing sounds that
led him to believe the Johnnies were
coming and spying a well near the
house, he ran for It The bucket was
hung on a balanced pole. Between a
ducking and term In southern pris-
on Bob did not hesitate. and, catch
Ing the bucket. he jumped into the well.
He went down In hurry and when
he rose to the surface, realizing that
the other end Of the balance pole would
give him away. let go his hold. empty
ing the bucket which went up to the
well house.
Even In hot summer weather well
water affords a pretty cold bath. Bob
Skinned up out of 1t and by bracing his
feet and clutching with his fingers
managed to maintain position above
the surface. There he remained for an
hour, when be heard some one above.
and the bucket was lowered. When
1t had been filed and was being raised.
he looked up and saw girls face
bending over the well.
As be had preferred cold plunge to
Confederate prison, so he now pre-
ferred a girl to continued shivering.
AS the bucket passed him on Its way
up he emptied it and proposed with Its
assistance to climb up and trust to
the muscles of feminine enemy. With
one hand on the bucket and the other
clutching tffe stones. getting bis toes
In the cracks, he was making the as
cent when he heard the girl exclaim:
'Lordyi How heavyp
Nevertheless the young soldier main
tanned his hold and slowly mounted to
the well house. The girl, seeing that
instead Of drawing up bucket of wa
ter she had pulled up man. released
her hold. and had not Bob with both
hands caught the top stones he would
have gone back to where he came
from.
Southern girls of that period were
used to startling events, and this one
recovered herself rapidly. Indeed she
caught on to the situation that man
was in danger of falling. into well
and, lending hand, assisted him on to
terra firma. Bob stood before her
dripping and shivering.
"Well, / declarep were her first
words.
Bob said he was sorry to spoil the
water for drinking purposes by max.
ing a bathtub of the well. but 1t was
either that or Libby prison, and from
what he had heard Of Libby it was not
a desirable residence.
Have you heard any soldiers NOV.
ing about hereT be asked, looking
about him fearfully.
There were some OF our boys here
looking for Yankees about an hour ago,
but they've all gone. Are you Yam
kee?"
Eyes. Are you going to give me
awayT
81 don't know. suppose ought to-"
don't"
There was no reply to this. but the
girl didn't look as IL she could turn
over the unfortunate youngsters to be
harshly dealt with, and Bob. encour
aged. asked her If she couldn't find q
more comfortable hiding place than o
well. She said the chicken house might
serve: it was dry and not very clean
but the chickens were all out OF 1t fol-
the time being. and there would be
room such as 1t was. Bob said be
would prefer chicken house to a
prison so the girl took him there tenn
porarily till she could find something
better for him, She said that IL the
member father and brother-kpew OF
his presence on the place they would /,
march him in. Since he had parted