Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-04-17

Of Hearts
And the Result of Their
Meeting
By ARNOLD HORTON

Lie SOluleE DOy VI 1oO1-OO was very
different parsonage from the white
haired. wrinkled, tottering old man Of
the present day. Bob Meriden entered
the Union army at eighteen and came
out at twenty-five. When he was mus
tered into the service he was a rosy
checked boy with perpetual smile on
his face To look at him no one would
have thought that he was going south
to stand up to be shot at Yet the
only time when he looked serious was
at being ordered north on recruiting
service. He was afraid he would miss
a fight.
But this was in the beginning of it.
The enthusiastic young men Of that
period got quite enough of fighting be-
fore they were through with campaign
ing, and those who struggled with dis
ease and wounds had a harder time
still. But this story is Of the earlier,
reckless. devil may care period when
the youngsters who went into the war
felt that they were off on picnic.
Bob Meriden was as full of the ro-
nance of war as any soldier in the
northern army. He had read stories or
spies and their doings and was espe-
cially ambitious to do secret service
work. So he told his captain that if
there was any call from headquarters
for volunteers to go south for informa-
ton to let him know. One day Bob
was notified that such service was re-
Quired, and if he cared to undertake 1t
he was to report in person at head
quarters. He lost no time in doing so,
and the general after looking him over
said to him:
"Can you talk like a southerner?"'
Reckon" was Bob's reply.
"Let me hear you say New York"
"Nieu Yauk.''
II expect you'll get on in that re-
spect. Have you ever done any secret
service work?"
mo, general"
The general was silent for a few
moments. He realized the dangers
the boy was about to meet and hesi-
tated to send him. He told Bob that
he ran a considerable risk of being
hanged and advised him 1ot to under
take the job. But the young soldier
begged to be permitted to go, and the
general finally consented. Bob was to
proceed south to the Confederate lines,
note the positions and numbers of the
troops and secure such other informa-
tion as would be valuable to his COM
mander.
That evening after dark the spy,
dressed in a suit of "butternut" and a
faded straw hat, presented a pass at
the picket line for Abner Shock. He
was permitted to go forth and after
walking few miles. in order that he
might not be found near the Federal
lines, went into bivouac in a wood.
In the morning he was awakened
by the sun shining through the trees
and, sitting up, looked about him. The
birds We're chirping in the trees, the
air was balmy. Indeed, the scene was
as peaceful as any the young man had
ever experienced. 1t was difficult for
MIN to realize that he was between
TWO armies, whose business it was to
slaughter each other, and that if he
were known to be a Union soldier in
disguise he would be swinging off
from the limb of tree
Arising from his earthly bed. he
made his way to the turnpike and
walked southwark. Coming to farm
mousse. he asked for a breakfast and
received some corn pone and cup of
chicory in lieu of coffee. Being asked
where he came from and where he
was going. he said that the Yanks had
destroyed his fathers farm and he
was going down to enlist in the Con,
federate army.
After breakfast, for which he paid in
Yankee shinplasters Of the period, he
took to the road again. He had not
gone far before he met slip of a girl
walking in the opposite direction. She
was a country girl of the better class
and quite pretty. Bob, who had seen
nothing but men since he came to vir.
g1n1a, was not minded to let this young
creature go by without a word with
her. She was carrying a basket on her
arm containing eggs and butter, and
Bob. by way of opening conversation,
asked her if they were for SALE She
replied that they were not, but he was
~ N1pSAty " hCiP uAluSGll NE udu no
use for either at present and declined.
Then they sat down beside the road
and began to chatter like magpies
The girl, much to Bob's surprise, told
MIN that she belonged to a Union fam
lily; that they were all being treated
very badly and that she would like to
go north to Harrisburg. where an aunt
or hers was living. But she feared she
would not be permitted to pass through
the Union lines and wouldn't know how
TO travel if she were. Bob asked her
Where she lived. and she said her home
lay within the Confederate lines not
1ar below. She was taking the butter
and eggs she carried to a house she
pointed out. What she would do next
she didn't succeed in making clear to
Rob