Rockingham post-dispatch., 1922-11-30
QUARREL OVER A THANKS.
GIVING TURKEY.

front of a pretty farmhouse, oc-
cupied by a near relative of the
Rebel General Ashley, who COM
manded a body of cavalry in
1861 and who was killed in West
ern Virginia. He was the bold
est of all the Southern horsemen.
He trained his horse to leap a
five barred gate, he could pick a
handkerchief from the ground
while his horse was upon a rein.
He was dashing, brave, and gal
liant, and a great favorite with
the Southern ladies who called
him the brave Cavalier.
After the battle, my friend
and visited the farmhouse our
appetitewere keen, and we want
ed dinner. | found the owner at
the door. Can l obtain dinner
for myself and oats for my
horse?" was the question.
Eyes, sir, | reckon, that is if
my wife is willing. She don't
like Yankees very well. Besides,
the soldiers have stolen all our
poultry, with the exception of
one turkey, which she is going
to have for dinner"
Roast turkey in Old Virginia,
after weeks of hard-tack and
purls, was a dinner worth hav-
ing.
please tell your wife that al
though am a Yankee, | expect
to pay for my dinner"
A conference was had indoors,
resulting in an affirmative an
swer to my request. A friend
was with me. The cloth was
laid, and a little colored girl and
boy brought in from time to
time the things for the table. At
last; there came the turkey, done
to a nice brown, steaming hot
from the oven, filling the room
with a flavor refreshing to a
hungry man after the events of
the morning. The hostess made
her appearance, entering like a
queen in sateliness and dignity
Her eyes were jet. They shone
upon us like electric flashes, her
greeting was a defiance. Seated
at the table she opens the con-
yersation.
Il should like to know what
you are down here for, stealing
our chickens and niggers?" II
was the first gun of the battle
rifle shot without any skirmish
ing. She had opened battery.
Your union soldiers, YOU
thieves and ragamuffires, haS
stolen all my chickens and tur
keys, and / had to kill this one
to save it, and you have run of
my niggers. | should have los
this turkey if | had not aimee
pistol at the soldier who wa.
about to take it. | threatened
to shoot him, and the cowar(
sneaked off!
"Our General do not permi
depredations upon private citi
zens when they can help it, bu
thre are thieves i'm all armies
was the reply.
20, yes; it is very we'll for yov
to apologize but you are al
thieves. General Geary's men
when they were here, stole al
they could lay their hands or
and so did Blinkers, and so d
McClellan's. You want to stea
our niggers. We never shoul
have this war if you had minde
You business, and let our niger
alone"
Il am not aware that we stol
your negroes before the war
but, on the contrary our fre
citizens of The North were kid
mapped and sold into slavery
South Carolina began the war b,
firing on the flag, it was the dut,
of President Lincoln to defen,
it.
Lincoln. old Lincoln. He
an ape. | would shoot him if
could have the chancew Tha
would be a tradegy worth writ
ing up for the paper. You woul
immortalize your name by tn
act. You would go down to his
tory. The illustrated paper
would have sketches of the thrill
ing scene," said my friend wit
provoking good hun1or.
Yes, you would do just as you
have done for twenty years
get up lying pictures and storie
about the South. You are a pacl
OF liars, you think you are crush
ing us, but you won't never
sss;v;eAsl s.sve. We will fight till the las
Il -