The Cedarville Herald, Volume 12, Numbers 27-52

1 The Cedarville Herald W. H. BEAIR PuMllhW. CEDARVILLH ; ! i OHIO. THE CROWS AND THE FARMER. The ttrm-hou*o was cozy an* sweet ss could be; ■ The green, C«u» and orchards ware pleasant to c-ee— Then why, do you think, was the farmer so . glain I ' Els goad wlfo looked out, saying: "Why does he stand Like n stock or * Stone, with the hoe 4a his -hand, When Its supper tlmo, qiatte, snd the cows haven’t como t". The farmer stood thinking: 'There's' nobody knows. . The life a poor farmer Is led hy the crows1 It's much If they leave'mo a morsel to oat, •Twus the peas, and the beans, andthe oats and .the rye; They didn't spare cherries enough for a ple> . ’ And now I'll bo blest if they're not at the " 1 wheat! . >•AndI really bcllovo that boforo X am older They'11come to that scarecrow and light on . his shoulder, Or build them a nest In the crown of his hatl If r live till to-morrow, we'll some of us see— I'll take rha old gun, and hide up In this tree. I've buckshot enough: we’ll try how they like tliatf" How they liked It, however, he was not to . see. Though all the neat morning ,ho hid In the: tree, • Note crow was on band, save one wary old scout, Who crept through the hashes,' flow close-to the ground, . , And took word to the flock: 'The old gentle* man's'round With a gan in his hand snd we’d better dear out! •'When ho puts up a scarecrow we’re certain atonoe, And if wo tvero not we should each be * dunce, That thero's lots of good eating,, and nothing to pay; ■ : But.n man with a gun’s so unpleasant a sight ’I t destroys the most ravenous crow's appo- *• tlte, ■■■■■..■ And when we’re nothungry, praywhy should wostayT'* —Margaret Vsndcgrift, In St. Nicholas. A Story of the Late War. B Y B E R N A R D S IO S B Y . Author of “ Loy»l at I>aat,**” My L»dy Vaataa- Uc," "Kusn’a Ora&t Secret,* "FeU Among Thtevee,” Etc. Copyright, ltqi. feyA. N. Kellogg Newspaper Ce. CHAPTER XIII.— CONTINUED. : Thut night Charlie Fulton slept a t a plantation close to Murfreesboro in s small, dark, low-ceiled room, whose gloomy aspect ivos increased by lin heavy antique furniture and old-fash* ioned presses, carved in the grotesque taste of the la s t. century. Morning dawned cold and gray, but with its first gleam he sprang from hi» b t i ead yon to the narrow casement. The sight be­ llow riveted the galling thought that lie / was indoed s prisoner, and that the ad- f ventures of the preceding night were so t a hideous dream. A sfjuudron of dragoons, who seemed to have passed the night beside their horses, lay Stretched or seated in all the picturesque groupings of a bivouac; some already tip and stirring; others leaned half-list* |cssly upon their elbows, and looked about as if unwilling to believe that their rest was over; while some, stretched in deep slumber, woke not with the tumult around them. Having dressed, he walked np and down the narrow room, tortured and' agonited by sad reflections. Suddenly he saw a group of horsemen arrive a t whose approach the pickets were on the alert and the guard a t the gate pre­ sented arms. The sound of voices be­ neath him informed him that the party ■occupied the room below- his own; so he strained h k ear to catch the ewrent of tlieir murmured conversation. The next minute his door was unlocked AtaS an officer entered, , bowing ycjitely M he ndvaaoed into the middle of the roOna. "V/li; yonHava the goodness to follow Sis this way?” Charlie had barely time to ask into Whoso presence ho was about to be ushered, when, with a matte of strange meaning, he opened a door and Cntm*- odueed him into a spacious apartment. Although he had seen a t least a dozen horsemen arrive, there were hut three present. One of these, who sat a t a small table near the window, never lifted Ids head on his entrance, but as­ siduously continued his occupation. The otic , however, on whom Charlie's attention was especially concentrated . stood with his back to the open fire­ place, sternly contemplating his ap­ proach. “What is your rank, sir?” he asked, in a tone of command. “Captain of infantry.*’was the Sullen reply. - “Whit WnS the Federal force under arms yesterday?’* . “1do tiotfccl able to give you any in­ formation, air, m t o the number or movements of our artay," Fnlton said, respectfully, y*t firmly. ••The devil! Bo you know to whom you or* talking and what you are say- tag, sir'.' bmith, da yon hear tha fol­ low?” “Yes, sir,” the other replied. MAa& if you will permit me to deti w ith h£tfl 1 will have the Information oat of bins before he is ten minutes older, General Bragg.” “Ah, you rascal, I believe you,” the superior smiled, graciously; 'font I ’m not going to trust him to your gentle catechism.” “Had you dispatches?”he added, turn­ ing to Fulton, who preserved an obsti­ nate silence, on Beeing, which he ad­ dressed the officer who had brought the prisoner iu: “Were any dispatches .found on him when he was taken?” “Ho, sir; nothing was found on him exceptthis looket,” ' “Ah!” Baid Bragg, gazing a t the beau­ tiful features of Mary LascelleB. “An­ other of my Lady Fantastic's hapless victims—take the prisoner back to his quarters.” - , “Come along,” s a il good-hnmneed officer, as he strode fioaatfitf races, with Charlie following. ■ “Have they gAwa you way grab to-’ day?” he asked, as iStey roaoLed tSaa prison chamber. “Not a bite nor sup; bu t I am not hungry,” Was the doleful confession. “Pshaw, man! cheer fep—I’ll go below and send-you something,” and, true to his word, his departure was quickly fol­ lowed by a. substantial meal, which Fulton,' notwithstanding his troubles, did ample justice to: Then come a clatter of arms and stamping of horses without,, and Charlie saw the squadron on the move. ’ “By Jove! you are in luck, my boy,*** manly voice cried, as his door opened, and the officer who had commanded his guard the previous night made his ap­ pearance, “How so?” Charlie asked, wearily. “Why, there’s no batch of prisoners to semi to limbo, so I’ve orders to con­ duct you to a recruiting station a t Mur­ freesboro, where you won’t get half bad quarters, I can tell you. The General, too, is well impressed with you, and means to let you down easy, bo keep a stiff upper lip and hope for better fort­ une.” < Fulton’s next quarters were in a. large, roomy building, which had once been a private residence of no mean proportions, but which was now occu­ pied by the military, partly as a recruit­ ing office and partly as a hospital for a few convalescent officers, whose wounds for the time incapacitated them for act­ ive service. His chamber faced the grounds of. a handsome mansion, ten­ anted evidently by persons of position in society, for Charlie spent many a weary hour watching gay groups of ladies gathered on the broad verandah, or tolling with the needle on soldiers’ supplies in the handsome rooms, the windows of which were falmost always open. He had been offered a parole, and hod refused, a decision which did not lower him in the estimation of his generous captors;! And now the gayest season'm all th« year in the South was approaching, the Cliristmn* holidays,, and Charlie could see tha t his fair neighbors were making lavish «ssslag festivities, Charlie happened to mention this to a young officer, who often lingered after » visit of Inspection to chat with the prisoner. “Bali! My dear fellow, it isn’t only for the holidays they’re decorating, but ton igh t that pretty girl in blue, leaning on the pillar yonder, is to be married by Bishop Folk. I allow they’ll have a gallant fling, for President Davis him­ self has conie to grace the fe&tivitios with his presence.” “I t doesn't seem to me a time for much rejoicing,” Fulton said, moodily. “Never a better,” was the gny reply. “McClellan whipped a t Antictum, Sher- a s n a t a dead-lock liefore-Vicksburg, Bosccrans on the eve. of a retreat, and Nashville as good as ours again!” “There’s many a slip *twlxt the cup aad the lip,” Charlie ventured. “But nob when the cup is held by the firm hands of heroes,” was the decided answer. That night his friend was with hhn again, when the revelry was a t its height. The evening, though in Decem­ ber, was mild, and in the crowded rooms of the meunion must have been almost sultry; at burnt H seemed so, for tae bilodvAndwhutowx were flung up to their tt'snOei height, affording the tw o young xa-r uo jodbiarrupted view of the ball-room. “See that tali, stately man lead for­ ward those two pretty girls to dance— that is President Davis—that foes fel­ low in black is the bishop—but, Boor* • a a , p ian , what is the matter? T o t l n pale as death itself 1” “Look!” Charlie cried, clutching hi* neighbor's arm convulsively. “WfcaSta that they are dancing on—tha# tMagp-— that eprpctowliat is it?” “ I t is the Northern flag, my boy. the star and stripes, they arc trampling under foot!” was the exultant boast. will strii.e ■«!,>!»on the right with ivy left.” Tbfi dawn of the 31st was wrapped in & fog: and Bragg, eager to secure the advantage pf striking first, dashed furiously on the Federal right, of which two divisions fell back, losing their guns and leaving many prisoners be­ hind. But Sheridan's brave fellows stand like a rock beaten by the waves: and by tbis tremendous effort'Rosa- crans is enabled to form his line afresh, on which, from the cedar-brake* they had won, the Confederates hurl them­ selves with gallant recklessness. Four times they charge: four times they are repulsed when the cry i*» “Brecken- ridge comes with seven thousand men,” and twice again they rush to the at­ tack, but Northern firmness stands' the shock of Southern dash, and before they can again re-form, night in pity draws a mantle o’er the scene. OnNow Year’s day both armies rested from the conflict. On the 3d, Bragg made some demon­ strations to find out what Buell meant to do, and why he bad not, as he so fully expected, sounded a retreat. He soon learned to his cost. The Northern General had made his position a citadel, from which he -could rally and ■trike a t any point, or break the fury of his charging foe. On this in vain the gallant Confed­ erates advanced, only t o fall bock with broken ranks discomfited. But now the men of Texas come’with • rage that nothing seems to stay. In vain the shower of grape pours on that unflinching host. See Colonel Robin- eon, with the colors in his hondB, dash through the abattis and springupon the embankment, calling an- his men to fol­ low! Even his enemies, con scarce for­ bear to cheer the daring feat, or sigh when they see the gallant figure thrown lifeless down. And now the muskets of the Fighting Fourth crash their leaden hail upon liis men, burning to avenge- his death; and, bleeding and torn, they fall back fighting to the very last. Down pours the rain on the terrific carnage and the shattered Southern hosts fall back on Murfreesboro. And where is Frank Besant all this while? Fighting a t the head of his company during th‘e heat of the fray you may be sure, but now sadly bend­ ing his steps to a clump of trees, under which a group of officers is gathered round a central prostrate figure, over which Doctor Saunders is stooping, while the rest anxiously await his de­ cision. “Not necessarily mortal,” he says a t lost, with a sigh o f relief. . The wounded man is borne tenderly to the field-hospital. “Who is it? Who is it?” ask several, as the mournful cortege passes them. “Colonel Fulton of the Fourth—shot through the lungs,” is the sad answer. . lint Frank and his comrades have another duty,before them ere they can lay their wc'Siy hones to rest on that eventful night. “Boys,” the Major had cried, “there ifostba body of Colonel Robinson. Shall CHAPTER XIV, ItOi FROD1GALSOMREXtJUXS The Stone river is a sluggish stream, bordered by cedar-brakes, which flows With muddy Waters through a swampy country four miles from Murfreesboro. On the 80th of December its placid hanks are bristling* with the armed men of two great force*—on its loft, Rosecrans with fifty thousand warriors; on Its right, between it and the city, Bragg with as many more. BoMcrafis ha* Said: “I will mass my1 strength on the left, and crush the enemy** right.” Bragg ha* reechoed the words; “I cot.. EOBINSON, WITHCOLOBSINHISHAXD, CALLIHOOHHISMENTO HOLLOW. it he said we left that gallant fellow's corpse upon the field without a soldier's funeral, or sign to mark the spot he fell?” “No, no,” came from a score of throata So they dug a grave and laid th e hero in it—a touching incident, though his only requiem was a salute fired by the hands of Ills enemies. At the heudof the grave they placed a rough board, with rudely-painted characters, which read: ''IJEUS LIESTim BODYOV COLONEL ROBINSON, •HO FELLATTUBBATTLEOF stomb asvaa, CLOnlOCSLT t . bamho Tim SECONDTEXAS fUKSMENT. HEWASBURIEDBT union sor.omaa, nr Hr.cooNiTioN or s n Kanomr.” That night they slapt upon the battle* idMd. j Now, It must not b» suj^piard that ] Charlie Fulton’s absence from hiapoaft ] Hxil not caused consternation cscong his I OKX*radM and intense distress to bis }fathtr. None, however, bu t Major Hopkia* and Frank Besant bad attrib­ uted NTsaioious motives to his disap­ pearatm*, and you may he assured that they lccitt tkalr own counsel, jealous of their comrade’* honor and mindful of their ColeiAi, Wbon heart they knew would he la a3nfc If id* boy fell into dis­ grace, so it Vwegenerally accepted that he had riddeA farther than was prudent and had fallen into the toils of the en­ emy. But the Major and Frank had drawn the Worst!: aonclmions, especially when the latter learned from the pick­ et* the direction the absentee had taken when he started on the journey from whiehhe had never returned., Besant ttapad against bop*)ml Hopldns vowed that be had sold himself body and soul for a pretty face, and bad gone ore*’ to th* enemy. “He always had pTeposterou* idea* of Southern chivalry,” th* Major said, “and it only wanted the witchery <4 this woman to tip the scale of hi* un­ balanced mind and land, him headlong in ruin,” a supposition the younger man had not the courage to controvert. I t can readily bo imagined, then, how hi* heart beat with renewed hope when on the afternoon of the 3d, while » fearful' storm’was raging, which will never be forgotten by those who shivered 'neath its blasts, an old colored man crept into camp, anxiously in­ quiring for him. He bore a letter written on a crumpled leaf of paper and inclosod in an empty rifle cartridge- shell, which the wary messenger had carried in his mouth for security’s sake and wliich he gravely assured Frank he •vvould lmve swallowed if he had been caught by the enemy. . Hastily unfolding it, Besant read the penciled lines: '■F iuend F rank .' i bare been for some weeks a prisoner. This morning they moved me from Murfreesboro to a mill four miles down the river from your camp. Wo are only under a guard of eight men and a sergeant.. besides some invalids, who won't count in » scrinunago. You and a dozen boys of the Fourth might readily effect u rescue if you. tlituk mo worth the risk. Bragg has given or­ ders for a retreat at daybreak, so if youdon’t hurry it will be all up with your unfortunate friend, CKAnLiis F ulton .” fiewarding the faithful negro beyond his wildest expectations, Frank hurried .to the Major with his glad tidings, but to liis surprise his senior evinced no especial signs of gratification. “You are a little too sanguine, Frank, my boy,” he said, gravely, “but though we are relieved of the pain of believing' the young man is voluntarily absent from-our ranks, the Onus yet remain* on him to prove how innocently he fell into captivity. You see, now the Colonel is wounded, the command of the regi­ ment devolves on me for the time being, and, considering the responsibilities of my position, I do not for the life of me see how, if you brought him bock, knowing what I do know, I have any other alternative than to place him under arrest and court-martial him.” “Oh, Sir, sarely you woald not pro­ ceed to such extreme measures!” “I am afraid I should*, Frank, and, if I did, it would go far to kill his poor father, who now lies in a very critical condition. I guess we had better let this young fellow paddle his own canoe for a time—a dose of Libby prison wilt go a long way to ameliorate his high- flown sentiments on Southern chivalry.” “That is not spoken like Major Hop­ kins.” . “Nor is it spoken by Major Hopkins, but by the acting-Colonel of a regiment, whose fair fame shall never be-stained while- I command. If my own dead son were here alive to-day, and be had done what Charles Fulton lias, I would order him under arrest without an In­ stant’s hesitation.” ■ Frank was awed to silence by the Major’s earnestness. “You see, Besant,” the older man' continued, “I am in possession of facts concerning which you know nothing.” A spark of intelligence flushed in Frank's bruin. n “And your informant, sir, was Jamas Lawson?” he asked eagerly- “ If so, what then?” “Only, sir, th a t you are condemning Aman of honor on the word of as base » scoundrel ns ever lied to forward his niscruble ends,” was the hot reply. “That may be, but even an inveterate l!»r may speak the truth, if i t suits his purpose.” “Granted, Major; but are-you quite sure that the tru th did suit his purpose in this instance?” For reply the Major took from his pocket-book a torn piece of paper, on which was some writing in pencil: and handed it to his subordinate, with the remark: “I am committing no breach of confi­ dence in showing you this. Do you recognize the hand that penned this treacherous scrawl?” Frank read the lines eagerly; they contained a brief but succinct descrip­ tion' of Buell’s position a t Nashville, were addressed to Miss Lascelles, and were signed, “your devoted friend, C.F.” Frank's eyes blazed with trinmph, “Do I recognize the hand-writing, Major?” lie cried excitedly. “ Indeed, I do! I sec James Lawson’s ear-marks on every upstroke and down-stroke of' this villainon* composition. Why, the pitiful rascal has not even taken the trouble to disguise the characters.” “Yoii are sure of this?” “Well, you shall judge for yourself; sir,” Frank declared, taking a letter from his pocket which contained an ineloSurc. “Here is a note Lawson wrote to a lady friend of mine a t Mel- tonburg, containing such a libelous ac­ count of my conduct that in sheer dis­ gust she sent it to me,* as she says, to put me on my guard against the fel- ! low’s vindictiveness.” I t was a study to watch the Major's face as he compared the two docu­ ments, Turning to an orderly he said, stern­ ly: “Go to coinpany F and tell the offi­ cer on duty to send Private Lawson un­ der guard to me a t once.” In a few minutes, during which both officers maintained a moody alienee, the messenger returned. “Private Lawson, sir,” b* ssJd, salut­ ing, “ is reported missing. Ha was fifed on this morning by the sentry's* hews* seen making for the enemy’* lin**, bat •scaped unhurt.” ftO » « DMttORM*.? HOUSEHOLD BREVITIES. —AH fresh meat should be po tto boil' fasho t water, but for *o&Pto cold. —Butter in small quantities may bo made by stirring the cream In a bowl; and this is done every day by some goal bousekec'pers, who prefer butter mad* of sweet creatn, and are willing to pc:- form this extra labor that they may have it fresh daily. J —Bcriy Pudding.—Three pints blue­ berries, five cups flour, ono pint molas­ ses, one teaspoon soda, one-half tea. spoon salt,one-half teaspoon cinnamon. Boil in a buttered mold or pail three hours. Half of this receipt is enough for a small family.—Boston Budget —A cure for bunions is said to he the pouring of as hot water as the pationt can bear, from as- great .a height as possible, upon the ap;*x of the swelling, The greater the eleva­ tion of the kettle from which the water Is poured the niore effectual the rem-' edy. —For fruit sherbet crush a quart of fresh fru it to a paste, add the juice of a lemon and two pints of water, as pre­ ferred. Let the mixture stand for an hour,, then strain to remove seeds; add granulated sugar to taste, and stir un­ til dissolved. Pour over cracked ice iu tumblers, and drink when quite cold.— N. Y. World. —Grape Catsup.—-The juice of twelve pounds of grapes; boil well and skim. Sugar, eight pounds; vinegar, one quart (pure cider); block pepper; one table­ spoonful; cayenne pepper, one table­ spoonful: mustard, one ten-cent box; cinnamon (pulverized), two ounces: cloves (pulverized), one ounce; salt, one.*: teaspoonfuL Boil thoroughly; bottle and seal.—Demorest’s Monthly. , —If you want to send ihilkoff.in bot­ tles; with a basket of dinner or a travel­ er's lunch or for the baby’s lea, first put into the bottle if, one pint, two tablespoonsfuls of lime water, or if a quart, four tablcspoonfuls. I t will keep sweet, even in hot summer weather; and if you will wrap the bot­ tle in a wet cloth and then in a dry one, it will keep cool Into the bargain. —Sconsa—Take cooked, or uncooked scraps of meat. Cat into very small pieces and put into a stew pan with the bones- (chopped), pepper and salt, a good quantity of onion, double the quantity of raw potatoes and cold water to cover. Simmer gently for. about three hours Remove the bones, and serve the sconse very hot. A profitable way of using up cold m e a t— Detroit Free Press. —Water Souchy.—Plaice, flounders, or any fresh water fish are good for a souchy. Boil the fish; stand aside the 'best1 looking and boil down one or two to pieces i.a the liquor, of which there should be about two quarts; boil in it also a bouquet of parsley. Pulp the fish which is boiled down, and chop the parsley fine. Return them to the liquor, heat the fish in i t and serve it in a deep dish accompanied by tbiu slices of brown bread and butter.—Boston Her­ ald. .—Axlblieious way of. serving ice cream is to fill watermelons with thatdelicious dainty. The fruit must be cut in halves, and the seeds taken out before the iced cream is put in, and a piece of the pulp should accompany each helping oi cream. Another novel idea is to cut a ripe pincnpplo into n ea t little round slices, on each of which is placed a spoonful of iced cream/ This cannot be conveniently eaten without a dessert knife, but is a delightful combination in very bot weather.—Boston Budget. REARING CHILDREN. Firmness t.lie Grand Essential in Their Management. Hood says of his “Irish Schoolmaster” that he “spoiled the rod and never spared the child.” Of the two, perhaps it . is better1to spoil the rod than the child, bu t it is not necessary to spoil either. FirmnesB is the grand essential in the management of children. Nothing un­ reasonable should be required of them, bu t that which is reasonably required should be rigidly exacted. The rules laid down for their government should not be harsh or severe, but they should be like the laws of the Mcdes and Per­ sians—absolutely imperative. No “coaxing ways” of the cunning little creatures for whoso good they are framed should ever induce a parent to violate them, o r to waver in their en­ forcement. No promise made to a child Should ever be broken or evaded. Boys and girls know how to^observe, and are more prone to imitate the weaknesses and vices of their teachers than to emulate their virtues. If you break faith with them they Will fib to you, justifying themselves to their little consciences byyourexamplo. They will tell you as much if you push them hard. Never, therefore, attempt to terrify them by threats which you do not in­ tend to execute, or to stimulate them by promises of reward which you havs no thought of fulfilling. A doting, over-indulgent mother i* the most crnel enemy a child can have. The Insane kindness of snch mothers has ruined thousands Ofsons and daugh­ ters who, under proper management would have been a comfort aud a credit to their parents. Compromises may sometimes be expedient in politics—al­ though th a t is doubtful. If any Whole- Some principle 1* waived o r sacrificed; hn t in family government they are al­ ways unwise. All ibis, It may be said, ta so ten* th a t i t is trite ; yet, in view o* the lawlessness of the children of this generation, i t cannot be too often reib ' seated.—It. T . L*dg*e,