Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1882 — A BRAVE HUSH BOY. [ARTICLE]

A BRAVE HUSH BOY.

A Story of Kentucky* In the month of May, 1864, a boy of 15, with’a small bundle under his arm, might have been seen walking wearily over a rough Kentucky road. His hair was brown, his eyes were gray, and there was a good-humored expression on his broad Celtic face, for our hero was an Irish boy, who had gone out into the world to seek his fortune. “Where wiM I sleep to-night?” thought Pat Roach, for that was his name. “ Last night I slept on the ground, and it’s stiff I was this morning.” At this moment his eyes fell upon a large and imposing mansion, on a little eminence to the right “ Maybe they’ll let me sleep in the barn,” he thought. “Anyhow, I’ll give them the chance.” He turned into the fror.t gate and walked up to the front door ai-fl knocked, for there was no bell. The door was opened by a colored woman. “ Well, child, what do you want?” she asked, not unkindly. “Can you let me sleep in the barn?” asked Pat. “What does the boy want, Chloe?” risked a young lady, who had just entered the broad hall. “ He wants to sleep in the barn, Miss Jennie.” The young lady came forward and looked pleasantly at the boy. “ What is your name ? ” she asked. “ Pat Roach, Miss.” ‘ ‘ Where are you going ? ” “To seek my fortune, Miss.” “ Haven’t you a home? ” “Yes, Miss, but there’s more of us (han father can keep, and I’m the oldest. So I’m going out for myself.” “ Where did you sleep last night? ” “On the ground.” “ That was a pity. You didn’t enjoy it, did you? ” “ Not much,’’answered Pat,shrugging his shoulders. “But it was cheaper.” ‘‘ I suppose you haven’t much money ? ” said the young lady, smiling. “Not a cent, Miss.” “Have you had any supper ?” “Yes, Miss, I've had a cracker.” “ You must still be hungry ? ” “ Try me and see,” said Pat, drolly. “ I will,” said the young lady, smiling. “Chloe, take this boy into the kitchen and give him a good supper.” “ And may I sleep in the barn afterward, Miss?” . “ No, but you may sleep in the house. C.iloe, let him occupy the little back room on the second floor.” “Thank you, Miss,” said Pat, gracefully. “It will be a fine thing to sleep in a real bed again. ” Chloe was well disposed to second the benevolent intentions of her young mistress. She gave Pat the best meal he had eaten for months, and drew out the boy’s story, which Pat was quite ready to tell. In return she told the boy that the estate was owned by Mrs. Stanton and her daughter, who were left wealthy by the late Mr. Stanton, who had died during the last year. Beside herself there was a man-servant, but ho was lying sick with a fever. “ You’d better hire me,” suggested Pat, “while he’s sick.” “Yon can’t do a man’s work, chile.” “ Try me and see,” said Pat. “I can ate a man’s supper, anyhow.” “ You’re right there, honey,” said Chloe, showing her teeth. A little after 8 o’clock, Pat, being fatigued with his long tramp, went to bed and was soon fast asleep. Mrs. Stanton and her daughter sat in a room on the second floor, one working and the other reading aloud, when the daughter approaching the window de scried to her alarm a company of men, ten in number, approaching the house. At this time it was not uncommon for small roving bands, passing themselves off as Confederate soldiers, but really only robbers, intent upon plunder, to scour the country, forcing their entrance into lonely houses, ana carrying off whatever of value they found. Now it happened that Mrs. Stanton, who had recently received a large payment, had no less than two thousand dollars in Northern greenbacks in her house, and these she feared would be discovered in ransacking the house, and carried off. This money was uppermost in her mind and that of her daughter. “ What shall we do with the money, Jennie ? ” she asked in a tone of distress. “ Where can we hide it?” “ I know of no safe place. The house will he thoroughly searched.” “But I can’t afford to lose it,” said Mrs. Stanton in dismay. “ Give it to me, mother. I have thought of a way of saving it. There may be some risk about it, but it may do.” From a bureau drawer the mother took a roll of large bills, and with trembling hands delivered it to her daughter. ” “What are you going to do, Jennie?” “ I will tell you afterward. Now there is no time.” The young lady summoned Chloe, briefly explained her purpose and proceeded to the room occupied by Pat Roach. Pat awoke, on being shaken, and stared in surprise at his visitors. “ What’s wanted?” he asked. “Are you an honest boy? Can I trust you ?” asked the young lady abruptly. “ 1 never stole a cent in my life,” said Pat proudly. “ I will trust you, then,” said Jennie, briefly. “ There are some robbers approaching the house, who will carry off ail they can find. Now we have $2,000 in the house.” “Two thousand dollars!” ejaculated Pat in amazement. ‘ ‘ Yes. The only place they won’t think of searching is in your pocket. Dress as quickly as possible and put this money in your pocket.” “Yes, Miss; what will I do then?” “These men will probably stay all night. Early in the morning—before sunrise—you must leave the house and stay away till 10 or 11 o’clock. Chloe will give you some food to take with you. Do you understand ?” “ Yes, Miss.” “By 10, probably, those men will be gone, and you can bring the money back.” “Yes, Miss. I’ll bring it back faithfully.” Loud knocks were heard at the door, and the two hurried away. Opening the front door they confronted the troon of marauders. ‘ ‘ What do you want at this late hour?” asked Jennie. “ Supper and shelter for the night,” answered the leader. “ Who are you, sir ?” “Capt, Jones, pf the Confederate

“ Why are you away from the main army, sir?” “ That’s my business,” answered the so-called Capt. Jones, impudently. “If you insist upon entering, you must, but we object to turning our house into a camp.” “ Can’t help it, Miss. It’s one of the necessities of war. File in, men.” Chloe was obliged to produce from the pantry all the cooked food in the house, and the men did justice to it Jennie Stanton remained up, feeling in no humor to go to bed. When the repast was over, Capt. Jones said: “ Miss Stanton, I learn that you have a large sum of money in the house. We must have it” “ What, would you plunder us?” asked the young lady, indignantly. “We don’t take it for ourselves. It is for the cause,” said the leader, hypocritically. “You may as well bring it at once and eave thfe trouble of a search. You can’t deny that the money was paid you last Monday.” “I don’t deny it,” said the young lady, intrepidly, “but it has already passed out of our possession.” “I don’t believe it,” said the Captain, looking very much disappointed. “Then you may search the house,” said Jennie, outwardly bold, but inward.ly trembling, lest the money should be discovered. “I will.” said Capt. Jcnes. “Of course, where such a large amount is concerned, we cannot trust the word of any one.” “Very well, sir, proceed. Chloe, go with these gentlemen.” She slipped away to inform her mother of what she had done, and put her on her guard. In the course of the search they came to Pat’s room. “ Who sleeps here ?” asked the leader. “A poor Irish boy, who asked for a lodging.” “ Let me see him.” The door was thrown open, and Pat stared at his new visitor. “What’s your name, boy?” asked Jones. “ Pat Roach.” “ Do you live here ?” “No, sir; the ladies let me sleep here to-night. They gave mp a good supper beside.’’ “ Where are you traveling?” “I’m seeking my fortune.” “ Are these your clothes ?” “Yes, sir.” To Chloe’s great alarm, Capt. Jones took up Pat’s poor garments, and thrust his hands into the pockets. But she need not have been alarmed. Pat had taken out the bills and put them under the sheet upon which he was lying. Only a cent was found in the pockets. “ You are not very rich,” said Jones. Pat laughed. “If I was, what would I be seeking my fortune for ?” he answered. “ There’s nothing here,” said Jones, unsuspiciously. The search continued, and a few articles of small value were discovered, but the great prize was not to be found. Capt. Jones concluded that Miss Stanton was right after all, and contented himself with what he had found. About 4 o’clock in the morning Pat was called by Chloe, who gave him some provisions in a paper, and let him . out. “ You’ll come back? ” “ Never fear,” said Pat. About 9 o’clock Jones and his party, after an ample breakfast, left the house. Still Mrs. Stanton felt nervous and anxious about the money. “Jennie,” she said, “that boy will never come back. ” “I think he will, mother.” “It was a crazy idea trusting a poor Irish boy, whom we had never seen before last night, with so large a sum. ” “It was the only thing we could do, mother. If we lose it, it will be no worse than having Capt. Jones take it” “ Two thousand dollars will be a great temptation to a boy like that. ” “ Mother, I like the boy’s face, and I will stake a great deal on his honesty.” “When you have lived as long as 1 have, Jennie, you won’t be so ready to trust a stranger. Why, the boy is only a tramp. ” “ Even a tramp may be honest.” Mrs. Stanton sighed. “Depend upon it,” she said, “we shall never see the money again.” Two hours passed. It was after 11, and still nothing was to be seen of Pat. The young lady herself grew nervous. After all, perhaps her mother was right. But at half-past 11 there was a knock at the door. It was opened, and there stood Pat. “ Have you got the money,” asked Chloe, breathlessly. “ Every dollar of it,” said Pat promptly* What made you stay so long ? ” Pat explained that he had met Capt. Jones and his men, who made him black all their boots, and thus detained him an hour. Foj this service they gave him a $5 Confederate note, which was far from being an extravagant remuneration for his labor, depreciated as it was. “ He didn’t think I had such a pile of money in my pocket, ” chuckled Pat. ‘‘ I could have paid him better for blacking my boots. ” “ Did you come here directly after you left him ?” “ No, Miss. I didn’t dare, for fear he would suspect something. I came as soon as I could. Here’s the money, and I’ll bid you good-by. ” Jennie said a few words to her mother. Then she turned to Pat. “How would you like to live with us?” she asked. “ Tip-top !” answered Pat, promptly. “Then you shall do so. You shall not be wholly a servant, but we will see that you are educated and prepared fora good position hereafter. You have shown yourself worthy of confidence, and will find us not ungrateful.” So Pat found a home and friends. He had sought his fortune and found it. He is now a prosperous and thriving man, and has been able to provide for his parents and help along his younger brothers and sisters. Had he abused the confidence reposed in him and carried off the $2,000, it is hardly likely that his future would have been as bright.

Just as soon as any conviction of important truth becomes central and vital, there comes the desire to utter it—a desire which is immediate and irresistible. Sacrifice is gladness, service is joy, when such an idea becomes a commanding power. — lngersoll. As for instance, when you miss the nail and hit your thumb a whack with the hammer, there comes to you a conviction of the important truth that there is a good deal of hurt in a thumb, hit by a hammer, and your idea to express your ieelings about the dod rotted gol darned son of a gun of a hammer becomes “a commanding power.”— Texas Siftings. A Georgia politician went to Washington in search of an office. Deceived by the flattering promises held out to him, he telegraphed home: “Things are working; will be home in a few days.” Not long afterward he again telegraphed home: “ Things have worked ; send me $25 to get home.” People wfio snore are supposed to sleep heavily, yet experience has proved that a ehrili sound like the chirp of a bird will wake them. Don’t kill the birds, the pretty birds, that fly about your door, for think, oh, think, how oft they stop your next,-floor neighbor’s snore. The farmers of the South are unanimous in pronouncing mixed farming a great success, while exclusive cotton planting is apt not to pay in the long rnn,-~/>sfrQ« JVetj /Tew.