TOBEY'S FORTUNE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1256, 16 December 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

TOBEY'S FORTUNE.

Iq 1862, Tobey was a small black boy living ia Hully Springs, which was then a Southern town unluckily placed in the path , of both armies, so that its war record soon became of the most exciting nature, But none had an experience to be montioned in the same breath with Tobey, who had a fortutio in his grasp and never knew it! It was too outrageous for belief, but it is literally true, and this is how it happened— Itwas the 20thof December-" theglorious, glorious twentieth," the people of Holly Springs call it to this day, Tobey, whose other name was Kinkle, was awakened early in the morning by the sound of firing, " Git up, pappy I" he called excitedly, " don't you hear de shootin' ?" Uncle Jim Kinkle, who was snoring comfortably in ono corner of the cabin, under a pile of dingy quilts and spreads, was slow in coming to the surface, "What's the matter, Tobol" he growled, iu sleepy tones, "Fightin's do matter," shouted Tobey, hopping up and down, "Don't you hear de guns ? Come out to de mound an' wake up mammy, so 6he kin come, too," He was off with these last words, and Jim, now fairly aroused, jumped up and .jumped into his clothes in about the length of time it was said to take the wife of" Billy boy" to make a cherry pie, Then he dashed out, head in front, as a bull charges. He was soon with Tobey on top of an old mound, from which there was a good view, -^ " Great gran' daddy!" cried Uncle Tom, as lie looked, "Jerusalem crickets! Pharioh an' all his hosts!" A vigorous fight was going on; the sharp crack of rifles and occasional yells were borne distinctly to their ears, Suddenly a ringing cheer burst from a thousand' throats j a mounted squad tore like a whirlwind across the field, with another in hot pursuit. "Which isrunnin', Tobey/" cried Uncle Jim. " My eyes is gittin' olc, I can t tell tudder from which," " Hooray fur de Ragged Ms I" shrieked his offspring, " Do Yanks is gittin over de ground like skeered rabbits, Whoopee! ain't dis a sight?" By this time Aunt Betsey had waddled to the mound. " Is de worl' comin' to an end ?" she asked, puffing botweon her words like an engine. "No, mammy,' said Tobey, "de worl' ain't comin 1 to an end; but de Fods is whipped out, sho's your bawn," "Look at yo' daddy, Tobe," said Aunt Betsey, " what in de lan' is he doin'!" Sure erfough, what was he doing? H« stopped behind a magnolia tree growing on the top of the mound and had turned his trousers wrong side out. Seeing this a ray of comprehension lighted Aunt Betsey's face, '_' Go 'long wid you, nigger! Nobody's gwine ter notice an oleijiot like you," she said, with such a laugh as to make her shake like a bowl of calf-foot jelly, It must be explained that some days back one of the soldiers had given Undo Jim a pair of blue breeches, and ho had worn thorn proudly, But, like the Vicar of Bray, Mr. Kinkle had no particular principles, and meant to keep on good terms with both sides, To-day the boys in gray had the victory, and should he stand a confessed partisan of the Union, betrayed by his breeches? Perish the thought I He could not change them, however, for in Aunt Betsey's creed no man needed more than one pair at a timel and no sooner had her husband donned the blues than she cut down his old ones and put them on the growing Tobey. Uncle Jim, however, was a man for emergencies, A born turncoat, he readily understood how to turn trousers as well, and when ho stepped from behind the tree it was with snowy legs, and a face beaming with rebel enthusiasm. " I'm gwine to town," he remarked. "Don't you go roun wh*r de fightin' is," said Aunt Betsey. " You'll git killed fust thiug you know," " I reckon de fightin' is about over, ole 'ooman. We have whipped out de intruders on our sil befo' sunup," said Uncle Jim with dignity, " Well, you'll want some breakfas' befo' you git off" "No," smiling mysteriously, " I spec' I kin git better in town dan what you could give me." "Kin I go wid you, pappy?" asked Tobe. " Yes, chile. I reckon you won't never learn no younger." Aunt Betsey, as is the lot of women, had to stay at home, She fried some bacon and roasted an ash-cake, and ate her breakfast placidly. Then she beat up her feather bed and milked the cow and tied the calf; after which she waddled again to the mound, Seeing nothing, she leaned her broad back against the mangolia tree, shut flier eyea, and placidly went to sleep. Suddenly she waked with a start. The atmosphere was heavy. In the distance flames were mounting to the sky. Then a terrible explosion that seemed to make the very earth quiver threw her to the ground. Others followed; the glass in the cabin windows broke into bits; a smell of sulphur tainted the air. Now Aunt Betsey knew the world was coming to an end! Falling on her knees, Bhe prayed fervently that Tobey and Jim and hewfilf, and "ole Mars' an' ole Mis' an' do chillen an 1 Mars' Abram Lincoln an' Jeff Davis an' all good Christians and miserable sinners might he brought inter de fold," And she was still pouring forth this all-em- . tracing prayer, when night came, bringing son and husband home. Their day had been very eventful. They had found the town in an uproar, A certain ■wild young cavalry officer, with a name like that of a novel hero—Earle Van Dorn-had galloped into Holly Springs with his reckless brigade, before the soldiers in camp were awake, to their utter confusion and overthrow. Not much blood had been shed, but all the Federals were captured, disarmed and released on parole, Holly Springs—the pretty little wicked rebel town-was out of -.its wits with joy. Already in fancy the ■sanguine Southerners saw Grant bound hand and foot, and the Confederacy a queen ' among nations, Handkerchiefs and tiny flags —starred and barred—waved from every window. Houses were thrown open to chance guests ia grey, and as few had time to enter, the gateways wer crowded with children, Matrons and maids, laughing, weeping, shaking hands, asking a thousand questions, stopped only to regale their friends with the delicacies most enjoyed by these sons of ifihivalry—buttermilk and onions. Toward the middle of the day the foundry Mdings and the school-house wer# jjred. These held army stores that could not to} taken away—delicate eatables for the hospital, boxes of medicine, barrels of flour, coffee, sugar, tea, whiskey, brandy and wino; so it was4etermined to destroy tbem, rather than leave them /or the benefit of the enemy, The people of Holly Springs had Ifnown by this time what it was to suffer actual wrong, and they could but feel a pang on sseeing £fw fire lick up what would nave tai life-Mood to bo many, The black

' ; . I population found it too much to endure, and for oneo, taking the initiative, they set an example, followed by all who had strength ' for the vonture; and so they hurried from ' all parts of the town with whoelbarrrows, bags, and baskets, and rushed, as it seomed, ' into tlio very heart of the flames. Thoy 1 would come back laden with whatever came ' nearest to hand, and perhaps some angel | of the Odd watched over them, for not a life was lost during their perilous work, Tobey and his father had their share in all ! the excitement, Undo Jim skipped around , in his white trousers like a patriot on an '. electricniaohino, and shouted "Hoorayfor Van Dornl" louder than anybody; and when the robbing or saving of the foundry ' stores began he was in his element, He went halves with a man in town who owned a go-cart, and together they worked like ' Trojans, Tobey soon escaped from his father's eye, spurred on by his own ambition, He knew that firearms were stored somewhere in the building, and he determined to fit himself , out in a way to strike terror to the heart of every other hoy in the villiage, He ran up tho stairs, though the smoke curled about him and littlo daggers of flame were striking with wavering menancc at the steps, Running through a passage he tried to dash into a room where he fancied he should find what he sought, but the door was locked, Daunted for an instant, he looked about him wondering what to do. At this instant the thunderous explosion of the powder shook the building with frightful violence. Tobey fell, stunned, deafened, and frightened half to death, When he picked himself up he saw that a window leading into the locked room was shattered into fragements, and, with a spirit worthy of blue blood, he jumped through. It was the paymaster's room. Some one had evidently loft it in a hurry, some one who had tried to save the money just received for payday, as the chests were open and their contents partly gone; some one who had remembered to look tho door as ho fled. Tobey was greatly disappointed. What a stupid thing to find nothing but boxes filled with green pictures, and not a sign anywhere of a pistol or a bayonet. The little boy had never handled any money, never seen any, I might almost say. The crisp, new bills looked pretty, and with a sudden remembrance of his mammy's fondness for pasting ■ pictures on the cabin walls, Tobey thrust a handful into each pocket and stuffed out the bosom of his flannel shirt with as many as it would hold, When positively driven out by the heat he bounded down the stairs, the last living being to leave the doomed structure, and worth more than when lie entered it, As night fell, Van Dorn galloped out of I Holly Spring as hurriedly as he had entered, J The town grew quiet, the people dispersed to their homes, Aunt Betsey at her prayers, as I have said, was surprised by the return of the wanderers, both in a state of radiant joy. Aunt Betsey heard their account of the day with many comments of wonder; but when a full coffee sack was thrown down beside her she merely folded her hands and said, " Bvcss de Lord!" And who wouldn't have said the same thing who for two years had been drinking coffee made of gober peas and sweet potatoes! They feasted royally that night, and when supper was over Jim climbed the magnolia tree and tied the sack of coffee securely to its branches; the bag of flour he hid under the house, and in every rabbit hole iu the mound he packed a can of fruit, " What is you up to now, Jim ?" said Aunt Betsey, "Never you mind, old'ooman; tain't no fool head on dis nigger's shoulders," In fact, Mr. Kinkle's wit seemed preteruaturally sharpened; and the event proved his wisdom, The next day Grant's army came pouring into Holly Springs, and the men were detailed to search every house in town for stores that might have been saved, It was done thoroughly; those who had gained treasures lost them as speedily, and were warmly thanked by the jolly soldiers of Uncle Sam for their exertions in tho cause of the government, They called on the Kinkle family. Jim met them at tho door, a clay pipe in his mouth, his trousers blue, his sentiments loyal. "Me got anything, gen'lemen?" lie said, in a tone of great surprise. " Why, lor! I was sick in bed with the rheumatiz all day, an' wouldn't a-been able ter hav' acted like dem harem-scarem niggers in town of I had a-wanted to, Tobey here, lie went in, an' somebody gin him an old powder flask, an' a can o pineapple, We done eat de pineapple las' night; but I know Mr, Lincoln wouldn't begrudge dat much to a good Union nigger like me," This eloquence was not convincing, and the soldiers made a pretty good search, But they did not think of looking under the house, nor up the trees, nor in the rabbit holes, So Jim saved his prizes, and held his head very high all the rest of his life in consequence, Tobey said nothing about the pretty green pictures; he kept them for a rainy day as it were, when Aunt Betsey should be cross, His night dress was exactly the same as his day dress; so the bills rested safely where he had placed them, and nobody suspected what a walking bonanza he had become, Van Dorn's raid was on Saturday. On tho Monday following, Tobey was hanging about the smoking pile that had been the foundry building, when two officers rode up aud looked sadly on the ruins, "There's no use lamenting,"said one of them at last; "letus light our cigars and go," The other felt in his pocket mechanically. "I have no matches," he said; "have you i." " No, but we can light them from the fire —so much good it can do us, at least! Here, boy I fetch me a coal, - ' Tobey neared the smoking heap cautiously, It did not seem possible to get a coal, but he could get the gentleman a light by twisting up one of his green pictures for a spill. He bad strong hopes of receiving a dime in return, He took out one of the bills, twisted a long lighter and stuck it in the fire, It blazed quickly, and he ran with it to the officer, who took it, lighted his cigar, blew it out suddenly, and cried: "What the dickens is this ?" "Look, Foster," as he spread out the remnant, " a greenback bill as I'm a captain! Here, you little scamp! how did you come by this ? Have you any more ?" "Oh! yes, sir!" said Tobey in all simplicity. Then he told the story of how he came by them, the officers listening like statues of attention. When he had finished they turned and stared at each other, pulling their moustaches very hard, Then the captain said mildly, " Come to the camp with l»eaud I'll give you somo better pictures, These are all alike. You may just hand them over to me/' Tobey relinquished the bjjls, pot so crisp and fresh as they were, but worth quite aj much, while his captors grew almost speechless with astonishment as they saw the value jibe notes represented, They were careful not to enljghten Tobey, however, as to the value of his treasure trove, and he was sent off completely happy' wjtb ft sifyer dollar and

a pile of illustrated newspapers, Unele Sam got his own again, for the officers were honest and loyal gentlemen, As for Tobey -he nover know that for two whole days ho had been rich enough to buy out Holly Springs, or to found an orphan asylum, or to run raco horses, or to own a yacht, or to start a daily papor, Aunt Betsey never knew -Jim Kinkle never knew, or, I fear, like certain old heroes in Roman history, they would have died of mortification. Tobey to-day thrives in the ignoblo state of a barber, supporting his mother, who has grown too fat even to waddle, and his father, who Is almost too lazy to breathe, He is industrious, honest, popular, and gay—but what might ho not have been had his lortune stuck to his fingers until ho had found out its value.-SnEitwoOD Bombr, in Our Continent,