La Junta tribune., 1913-06-28
aard duty At Mrs. on

4 -
ed" We polished our boots. busted
our clothes and went To the houss
designated. On ringing the dooi
bell female voice from within in
quired who was there and what ~
wanted. After telling her she said
Go around TO the kitchen door, We
did 80 and We saw the happiest look
ing Southern women We had seen II
long time. for they had unbounded
confidence In old Abe's blue coats
They told Us how they had been an
noyed by prowlers and camp follow,
ers. rattlinK their windows and
pounding on the doom which they
mad barrtcsded. They offered W eth
er the kitchen or dining room or both
while we stayed. but declined both
offers Seeing 4 small shack about
tairty feet from the kitchen door.
/ said. Can't you give Us that build.
ing7" why" said the younger wo
man. that II the niger house. !" 20.
WE'LL" said. Il guess that won't poi
son ux. Cant you fire those mig.
gers out and give It To US, Tell
them to take out everything except
the bed stead. table and stove and
then have them sweep II out" Those
women looked at me and each other
In perfect amazement and seemed to
say. Did you ever. no. never. these
men are Lincoln Niger lovers. sure.
Now. II ! had explained to these wo-
men my reason for declining their
kind offer. they would not have been
so surprised. knew that. AS pet
ty officer. would be held strictly
responsible for the misconduct of
these men. and one OF them ! could
not trust He was a petty thief
and often said he though, II no harm
to steal from rebels.
had several interviews with the
younger lady in the house. She was
about eighteen yeras old and ! was
twenty-three, that Is the age OF ado
lescence when the young man begins
to look around for a suitable life
partner. She was quite pretty.
but not well educated She used such
expressions as these. "You'ns. we'ns.
right smart. right peart. tote. and
other words not found In Webster's
dictionary. II | was In love with
this young lady, took It light and
the agony was soon abated and pass
I'd away as pleasant dream. One
thing about her very much liked.
che did not mop. Now. will have
to explain that word. One day ]
Was on picket here and five women
from the hiliy country came to the
picket post riding horses In single
file. The first one showed me their
pass and as found II all right. ]
passed them into Ia. city Each one
Of ,h.s. women had small stick
about five inches long and about tn.
sir. Of an ordinary lead pencil pro
,ruding from their mouth. ON the
end of these sticks a small rar
was tied with a thread. then this
rag was mois,oned with spit. then
stuck into and rolled abou, In a
snuf boz and with this they mopped
their teeth and gums. then the stick,
rag and all was left In their mouths
to suck. II was most filthy and
disgusting habit Very few. n any
women here do 1t now Ny qusndam
flame did not mop. therefore. sh"
was "A lady and all right
Hot Springs is about sixty mile,
sou,h~cs, of this place. have been
there. v~s also there ftf,y years
ago The population then was about
twenty-five souls who lived In six OF
Eight small shacks We camped on
the bank OF small stream made by
the waters of these springs Then
We wen, IN bathing. after whfsh W.
bathed our horses. The permanent