The Bee, 1892-12-22

How delightful I Do tell us about him who was he The only true heroism that ever came under my immediate notice said the little woman was dis displayed - played displayed by a hero of ebon hue a strongyoung Hercules who though rough and untaught possessed a grand nature Yes assented the sentimental major Often among the humblest flowers we find the rarest odors And resumed Mrs Gray among the busy workers with hardened hands and toil stained faces we find great hearts During the late war she confined my father and brother were in the army and the overseer being drafted into service my mother my sister and myself were compelled to leave our beau beautiful - tiful beautiful home in the city and go up the river to the plantation to man manage - age manage as best we could the affairs of that place Our people were trustworthy and kind so we had but little trouble A few weeks after our arrival at the plantation our hearts were saddened by the death of a much loved servant Rachel was hrMie5irehadnrsedtti mothers older children and we were all very much attached to her Rachel died suddenly of heart trouble the physicians said and her little children were cared for by a good old granny Albert the husband of Rachel was a field hand and a reliable man Of what time do you speak This was in the spring of 1864 The transmississippi department was under the command of the Confederate General E Kirby Smith The struggle east of the Mississippi river had drawn from us the chivalry of the great south southwest - west southwest the sons of Arkansas Mis Mississippi - sissippi Mississippi Louisiana and Texas were scattered from Gettysburg to Vicks burg and a diminished force com composed - posed composed of the fathers and husbands was left to meet the gathering foe that threatened with Gen Steele at Little Rock and Gen Banks at Alexandria La The conscript bureau had gleaned the fields of the last of the bearded grain and nothing was left but the flowers that grew between the boys too

returned No not yet When do you expect her Dont know Im hired to chop wood and work around the place and not to listen to the news of the family Will the hanging be public As public as out of doors can make it Do you think therell be many people present Oh certainly People look for amusement during the holidays I must say that you are cold blooded And why shouldnt I be why shouldnt I hate every man thats unfortunate Why should you is the ques question - tion question Because I served a term in the penitentiary What had you done Told the truth What they sent you to the pen penitentiary - itentiary penitentiary for telling the truth Yes they asked me if I com committed - mitted committed the forgery and I said that I did Oh you are a satirist Well I must go and split a piece of knotty wood Fires must go even if Christmas does come I suppose you can take care of your yourself - self yourself to day and as for to morrow why the sheriff will have to take care of you He passed out and a merry voice was heard The prisoners blood leaped Ruth had returned All smiles and airs of gayety she en entered - tered entered the corridor and she was not alone the sheriff and the jailer were with her Mr Alfreds she cried I have brought you a Christmas present Here is your pardon Open the door said the sheriff Before Alfreds swimming eyes the iron bars were shadow lace work Come on into the sitting room said the girl and she led him out He sat in a rocking chair A long time passed before he said anything And have they discovered my innocence he asked No she answered Let me tell you what I did I made all the jurymen and the prosecuting attorney and the judge and hun hundreds - dreds hundreds of other people sign a peti

this declaration was not admitted as evidence Alfreds was handed over to the grand jury and was as everyone expected indicted for murder and imprisoned to await the action of the circuit court The jailer in an obscure village is often a leader in society and the jailers daughter is naturally a per person - son person of much moment Old Lias Springer had during many years been jailer in Norton and his daughter Ruth had declined several good offers of marriage She was exceedingly bright of countenance and it was the mysterious boast of the neighborhood that she could parst anything I say mysterious for parsing was a vague mystery to many people who were glib in re repeating - peating repeating this commendable brag Ruth from the first momenfof Al freds imprisonmentshowed a sym sympathetic - pathetic sympathetic interest in him He had dreamy eyes waving chestnut hair and was therefore innocent In the afternoon when the jail corri corridor - dor corridor was lighted by the sunshe often placed her rocking chair near the door And sitting there talked to him while she sewed Would you let me out if you could get the key he asked one day She pretended to pout Why should I Youd run away and then Id not have anybody to talk to But if I stay here to talk to you I shall be hanged Yes but a woman would rather talk to a man even it he is to be hanged for it than not to talk at all WhaJ art odd little creature you

Shrebcpote as hit air by dis plant ashin Albut aint kcerin mistus kaze de big white gates up yander is wide open waitin fer Albut an Lawd Rachels cr standin jest in inside - side inside Boys he cried turning to the multitude assembled under the oaks on the lawn Boys mind mistis an do right an be bidderble Be honest boys Dont go to cuttin up no disregyardable capers and pranks Jest whirl in an up an make dc crap fer mistis Nebbcr mine de cotton but ten do cawn Plow deep boys en dont let de grass git de upper hand of de crap Move on there Move on boys commanded their leader Goodby mistus Far well chil lun cried Albert Gawd brcss mistis In those turbulent times there were no established mail routes in our country indeed the receipt oi a letter was quite an event For two months we heard nothing of our men then one ran away from Shreveport and came home more dead than alive One of the hun hundred - dred hundred who had gone from our planta plantation - tion plantation twenty two had died Albert had been detailed on hospital duty and before another month had passed he too had given up the burden of life Good faithful Al Albert - bert Albert Though he lives neither in song nor in history his was as grand a heroism as was ever recorded his Rachel waited just within the big white gates and waited not in vain

Then a new order came and the men slaves were impressed and sent to the shops as laborers and teamsters in the various depart departments - ments departments to fill such places as they could in order that for every slave so employed a soldier could be re relieved - lieved relieved and go to the front The burden of feeding and clothing the army devolved upon the women of the South Cheerfully and with untold sacrifices did they do their part Our people did not escape the impressment law Excuse me but whom do you mean by our people chirped the beauty from the hammock We called our slaves our peo pie responded Mrs Gray with a smile They were impressed into service and sent to Shreveport to work Among the men was one who had been married only a year he objected to leaving his wife and baby Jake was his name While they were discussing the question

The stockings both large and small And see that the little baby Has the biggest one of all Then fill them to overflowing With goodies and books aud toys And let all the house make merry Like a parcel of girls and boys Tis cruel to spoil the beauty Of innocent dreams of youth To say they shall have no fables Dut only the naked truth And needless it is to Ill them There are neither fays nor elves For soon enough ay soon enough They will find it out themselves Then heres to a merry Christmasl And long life to Santa Clausl And may he be held in honor As long as time lasts because He is ever a precious symbol Of the spirit that rules above And children learn that Santa Claus Is another name for Love TWO CHRISTMAS GIFTS

mudder to let old Albert go Use your own pleasure Albert at last consented my mother De Lowd bless mistus he cried as he hastened to the quarters De Lawd sabe mistus echoed Uncle Gabc waving his hat as he leaned on his crutch They left us that afternoon 100 tall strong sons of Ham of vary varying - ing varying ages from twenty to forty five Albert said my mother I must tell you before you go that in Shreveport men die at the rate of fifty a day Often the death rate is greater The fever is terrible She looked up into his face hop hoping - ing hoping by this last appeal to discourage his going