A Daughter of the Union by Lucy Foster Madison
CHAPTER V
CASTING BREAD UPON THE WATERS
"You must be very tired," remarked Mr. Huntsworth, as the train drew inat the Memphis station. "It has been a long hard trip, and if you'll takemy advice you will stay here for a day or two before trying to go fartheron your journey."
"Oh, I must not," exclaimed Jeanne quickly. "I must get to New Orleansjust as soon as I can. It is very necessary."
"Necessary, eh?" The old gentleman regarded her with a quizzicalexpression on his face. "Why should you be so anxious to see youruncle? You must be very fond of him. Have you visited him often?"
"No, sir," answered Jeanne in some confusion. "I never saw him in my life.He went to New Orleans and engaged in business there long before I wasborn. Father hasn't heard from him for a number of years."
"Then isn't it rather queer for your father to choose such a time as thisfor you to pay him a visit?" queried Mr. Huntsworth keenly. "Now don'tbe alarmed, child," he added hastily as Jeanne looked up in a startledmanner while the color mounted to cheek and brow. "I do not wish youto tell me any of your secrets if you have any. I presume that there arejust and sufficient reasons for you to go or you would not be going. Imerely wished to show you that over anxiety to reach your destinationmight subject you to suspicion. Also tell no one else that you have neverseen your uncle. If you do, others beside myself will wonder why youhave been sent to him at a time like this. You don't mind my tellingyou this, little girl, do you?"
"No, indeed," returned Jeanne warmly. "I am very glad that you did so.Father says that one way to learn things is to listen to older people. ButI will be truly glad to see Uncle Ben. Father has told me so much abouthim. He was his favorite brother, and my brother, Dick, is named for himand for father too. Richard Benjamin Vance."
Mr. Huntsworth's eyes twinkled, and he gave a low chuckle of appreciation.
"My dear," said he, "just answer every one who asks you questions in theway you have me, and you'll come out all right. Of course you wouldwant to see your uncle under those circumstances." Again he chuckledand looked at her approvingly. "She knows that I am her friend," hemused, "yet she will not tell me why she is sent down here. That there issome reason for it I am convinced. A very remarkable girl!" Aloud hecontinued, "Here we are at Memphis, child. What shall you do now?"
"It is so near night that I guess that I'd better go to a hotel," saidJeanne. "That is what father always does first. Then to-morrow morning Iwant to find Commodore Porter. I have a letter for him."
"Porter is down the river with Farragut. I doubt if you will be able tofind him. But we'll see in the morning. The thing to do is to get a goodnight's rest after this journey. Here is a cab for the Gayoso House. Ialways stop there. It is a good place, and overlooks the river. Have youever seen the Mississippi before?"
"No," answered Jeanne trying to look about in the gathering darkness."It's a great river, isn't it?"
"None greater," answered Mr. Huntsworth enthusiastically. "Whichever sideof this struggle holds it will be the winning side. It is the backbone ofthe rebellion, and the key to the whole situation."
"But we hold it, sir," said Jeanne earnestly. "My father says that nowthat Vicksburg is taken it will not be long before Richmond will fall andthen the rebellion will be over."
"Pray God that your father may be right," said Mr. Huntsworth. "But Ifear that he is mistaken. These Southerners are not so easily whipped.Every inch of the Confederacy will have to be conquered before they willacknowledge themselves beaten. The North makes the same mistake as theSouth does. Each forgets that both are of the same Anglo-Saxon blood thatnever knows defeat. I fear the struggle will be a long and bloody one,all the more bitter for being waged between brothers."
"I hope that it will not be long," sighed Jeanne. "I shouldn't like forDick to have to be away much longer."
"Is your brother in the army, my dear?"
"Yes, sir. Father works for the government, mother belongs to The Woman'sCentral Relief Association, and I make socks and hem handkerchiefs forthe soldiers, and----" she paused suddenly, conscious that she was aboutto speak of the object of her journey.
"And you hold fairs to tempt the shekels from the unwary, eh?" completedMr. Huntsworth. "Well, you are certainly a patriotic family. This is theGayoso House, child. It has been the resort of all the noted Southerners.It is too dark for you to see the river, but you can hear its murmurings."
Jeanne leaned forward eagerly. The soft lapping of the water, as it beatagainst the foot of the bluff upon which the city stood, came gently toher ears.
"I wish I could see it," she exclaimed.
"You can in the morning. Meantime, let's get some supper. Here, boy," to aporter, "don't you see that we are waiting to be shown to the dining-room?"
"Yes, sah. Right dis way, sah," responded the negro, his ivories relaxinginto a broad grin. "Glad ter see yer back, sah. We all's mighty sorry terheah dat you is gwine ter go norf, sah."
"Who told you that I was going North, you black rascal?" demanded Mr.Huntsworth. "I've been North. Have just gotten back. Here, take this,and tell that waiter to hurry up with that supper."
"Yes, sah. Thank ye, sah," answered the black pocketing the shinplasterslipped into his hand, with alacrity.
"I think I never saw so many negroes before," remarked Jeanne, lookingabout the dining-room. "Where do they all come from?"
"You'll see a great many more before you go back to New York," respondedMr. Huntsworth. "The South literally teems with them. If the race onlyknew its power it would not leave its battles to be fought by the North.A while ago I said the Mississippi was the key to the rebellion. I wasmistaken. It is dar-key."
Jeanne laughed merrily.
"My dear child, did you see the point?" cried the old gentlemandelightedly. "That is indeed an accomplishment! Now my daughter,Anne, is a good girl. An excellent girl, but she not only cannot makea pun, but neither can she see one when it is made. I have a littleweakness that way myself."
"We used to, Dick, father and I, to make them at home. But we did it somuch that mother stopped us. She said that it wasn't refined--I am surethat I beg your pardon," she broke off in great distress.
"There! Don't take it so to heart," laughed Mr. Huntsworth good-naturedly."I know that it isn't just the thing to pun, but
"'A little nonsense now and then Is relished by the best of men.'
"Then, too, we have the example of the immortal Shakespeare. But I won'tindulge again before you, my dear."
"Oh, but I like them," cried Jeanne. "I think mother stopped us becausewe did nothing else for a time. But she used to laugh at some of themherself. She did, truly."
"Well, well, of course if you enjoy them that is another thing. Perhapsyou can tell when a boy is not a boy."
"I can beat any sort of a drum but a conundrum," was Jeanne's quick reply.
"My, my, but I shall have to look to my laurels," exclaimed Mr. Huntsworthin mock alarm. "That was very bright."
"It's Dick's," confessed Jeanne blushing. "He is so clever. He couldalways think of something good to say."
"You think a great deal of Dick, don't you?"
"Yes, sir; we are very proud of him. And his Colonel has complimented himtwice for bravery," and Jeanne's eyes lighted up with pride. "He went atthe first call for troops. I'll never forget the day he asked father if hemight go. 'It's our country's need, father,' he said, standing there sobrave and handsome. 'No Vance has ever turned a deaf ear to that, sir.'And father said, 'My son, if you feel it your duty, go, and God be withyou.' O, you should see Dick, sir," she continued, enthusiastically."There is no one quite like him."
"Perhaps I may some day. I should like to very much. I do not wonder athis bravery since every one of you are so devoted to the cause. Now, mylittle girl, you had best retire. I am sure that you must be tired."
Jeanne rose instantly and, bidding him good-night, was shown to her room.She was up bright and early the next morning, and, dressing quickly randown the stairs
The Gayoso House fronted upon a wide esplanade which extended alongthe bluff in front of the town. Blocks of large warehouses and publicbuildings bordered the esplanade on the same side as the hotel. The citywas beautifully situated on the Mississippi River just below the mouth ofthe Wolf River, and located upon what was known as the fourth ChickasawBluff, an elevation about forty feet high.
Below the bluff ran the river, and far to the right was what had been anaval depot established by the United States but used until the recentcapitulation of Memphis by the Confederates for the purpose of buildingvessels of their own. To Jeanne, accustomed to New York City, Memphisseemed very small indeed. It was in reality a place of about twelvethousand inhabitants and considered a flourishing little city, beingthe port of entry for Shelby County, Tennessee. At one time it was themost important town on the river between St. Louis and New Orleans.
But if the girl was disappointed in the size of the place, the beauty ofthe surroundings made up for it. She gave an ecstatic "Oh," at thesight of the broad esplanade with the noble river washing the base ofthe bluff which jutted out into a bed of sandstone that formed anatural landing for boats. Several steamboats lay at anchor and Jeanne'sattention was drawn to them by the singing of the blacks as theyhurried to and from the wharf loading the steamers with freight. It wasa weird plantation refrain in the minor key. Jeanne had never heardanything like it, and she listened intently as the song grew louder andlouder as the enthusiasm of the blacks increased:
"Ma sistah, done you want to get religin? Go down in de lonesum valley, Go down in de lonesum valley, Go down in de lonesum valley, ma Lohd, To meet ma Jesus dar."
Over and over they sang the refrain, and the girl was so interested thatshe did not hear Mr. Huntsworth's approach.
"Well, what do you think of the South?" he asked.
"I like it. Mr. Huntsworth, just listen to those negroes sing. Isn't itmusical?"
"They call them niggers here," said Mr. Huntsworth smiling. "Yes; theirsinging is melodious. I have always liked to listen to it. Sometime inthe future, I fancy, more will be made of those melodies than we dreamof now. When you go down the river you will hear more of it. Some oftheir songs are very quaint. Do you know that we will have to see GeneralWallace to obtain a permit to go into the enemy's country?"
"General Wallace?" repeated Jeanne. "Why?"
"The town is under martial law with General Wallace in command. I havebeen wondering what will be the best for you to do. To come with me toCorinth, for we can go there without difficulty, or for you to stick tothe river route as you had intended. I have learned that Vicksburg is notin our hands after all. Its capitulation was a false report. Farragut iswaiting for Halleck to send troops to occupy it and is still keeping upthe bombardment."
"But a boat could get through, could it not?"
"Yes; I think so. Davis guards the stream above Vicksburg while theCommodore holds the lower part. I'll talk with General Wallace about it.Meantime after we have had breakfast you can walk along this esplanade,and see something of the place. You will not get lost, will you?"
"No, indeed," laughed Jeanne. "I came from New York, you know. I shouldbe able to get around a little place like this."
"Very well, then."
Jeanne donned her hat and wandered along the wide esplanade viewing thecity, the river and the surrounding country. She walked on and on untilfinally she had wandered some distance from the hotel and the buildingswere growing farther and farther apart when she was startled by a groan.
Looking about her she beheld a young fellow of about twenty-one years cladin the blue uniform of the United States lying upon the ground. Withouta thought but that one of the soldiers was suffering Jeanne sprang tohis side and knelt beside him.
"What is it?" she cried. "Are you hurt?"
"Just faint," murmured the young man in a weak voice, and the girl notedwith surprise the Southern accent. "I'll be all right in a moment."
"Smell this." Jeanne thrust her bottle of smelling salts under his nose,and began to chafe his forehead vigorously. "There! You're better now,aren't you?"
"Much better." The young fellow struggled to a sitting posture and smiledwanly. "What a good little thing you are!"
"Well, I like soldiers," said Jeanne. "My brother, Dick, is one, andwhenever I see a soldier suffering I always want to do something for him.You are fighting for us, you know. Are you sick?"
"No; but I have been. I just came out of the hospital a few days ago, andI am not so strong as I thought."
"You should go home and stay until you get well," said the girl with aquaint assumption of maternal authority.
"Home! I have none." The young man's brow darkened. "If I were to go to myhome, I would be spurned from its doors."
"But why?" cried Jeanne.
"Listen, and you shall hear, child. I am a native of the state ofLouisiana. I was educated at West Point, and when the war broke out hadjust graduated. You know the conditions under which we are entered, do younot?"
Jeanne shook her head.
"We are to serve the country four years for the education given, so whenthe war came I felt it my duty to give those four years. I went to myfather and told him so briefly. 'Never darken my door again while youwear that uniform,' he said. 'You are no son of mine if you side in witha horde of miscreants sent to invade the sacred soil of the South.' I toldhim that it was my duty. That I had but just graduated and that my honordemanded that I should repay my debt to the government, but he would notlisten. So I left him."
"But have you no friends?" asked Jeanne, her face aglow with compassion.
"Friends? No; they fight on the other side," was the bitter reply. "Andwhat do these Yankees care for me? They don't realize what I have givenup."
"But we do care," cried the girl. "My father and mother just lovesoldiers. Oh, if you would only go to them they would care for you. Dogo. Will you?"
A smile lighted up the young man's face as he noted her warmth.
"I wish all your people were like you," he said. "It would not be so hardto do my duty then."
"We are all just alike," said Jeanne. "My father would be proud to haveyou honor his house. And you are an officer, too," she added, glancing athis epaulets.
"Only a lieutenant."
"Well, it doesn't matter what you are since you are a soldier. Have youa pencil and paper?"
"Yes; why?"
"I want to give you my father's address. You will go there, won't you?"
"My little girl," the young man's voice was husky. "I couldn't do that,you know. Why, it would be monstrous to intrude upon them."
"No; it would not," declared Jeanne. "I wish I were going home. I'd makeyou go with me. But won't you go? Truly they would welcome you as ifyou were Dick, my brother. And if you don't go, I'll always feel as ifsomething had happened to you just because you had no place to go. Youhave done a great deal for our side, you know."
"Well, I'll promise," said the soldier a little wearily, as if it werebeyond his strength to prolong the argument. "Where do they live?"
"In New York City," and Jeanne rapidly penciled the address.
"Then it is utterly out of the question. I can't promise you."
"I know," said Jeanne quickly. "You haven't any money."
A flush passed over the Lieutenant's face.
"Soldiers never do have, Dick says," went on the girl, taking out herpurse in a matter-of-fact way.
"No--no, I--I can't do that," groaned the soldier. "Merciful goodness, hasit come to this? That I should receive charity from a child!"
"It isn't charity," cried Jeanne hotly. "You can pay it back to my fatherif you like. I want you to get good and strong so that you can fight forus again."
"I'll do it," exclaimed the young fellow impulsively. "A few weeks' restwould put new life in me. And I'll be your soldier, little girl."
"Will you?" cried Jeanne delightedly. "That will be most as g
"Every bit," declared the Lieutenant rising. "God bless you, child. Suchwarm hearts as yours make life seem worth the living after all."
He raised her hand to his lips. Then as if afraid to trust himself tospeak further left her abruptly. Excited and happy Jeanne ran back tothe hotel where she found Mr. Huntsworth waiting for her.