Miss Dexie | Page 3

sister
Annie's home. I wish she would come north, but that cannot be
expected while her husband is in danger. He has command of an
important position, but Sherman is sure to dislodge him, and I fear the
result will be disastrous. But I see you have something else in your
mind at present, so what is it that you wish me to do, mother?"
"I want you to leave the country, Clarence. I cannot bear the thought of
you being drafted to fight against my home and people, and your own
natural affections should cry out against uniting with the slayers of
your kindred."
"Oh! this cruel, cruel war!" cried the son's wife. "We are indeed a
divided family, for my brother is with Sherman near Atalanta, fighting

against my husband's people. Oh! Clarence, do as your mother wishes,
and let us leave the country, for my heart will break if you are drafted!"
"You must leave at once, if at all," said the mother; "even a week's
delay may be too late, for the neighbors boast that before the month is
out I shall see my son march away to Washington! I would give every
dollar we possess to help the southern cause, if what they threaten
should come to pass!" she added, in an angry tone.
"Well, mother," replied the son with a smile, "my patrimony is too
precious to run such a risk, and as I am not very anxious to shoot
anyone, or be shot at either, I will do as you wish, and let you live in
peace. I feel confident that a few months will end the struggle, or my
decision would be different; but where do you wish me to go?"
"Go!" her countenance softening at once. "You can decide that for
yourself; as long as you are out of the reach of the Unionists, that is all
I ask. So, go to Halifax, if you like!"
"Very well, mother, to Halifax I'll go, but you do not seem to have the
welfare of your only son very much to heart, after all, by the way you
speak."
"Nonsense! Clarence, you know my heart better than that! I mean that
it matters little where you settle, so long as you are out of American
territory until the war is over."
"Oh! Halifax will suit me very well, mother. Ever since I can remember
you have threatened to send me to Halifax; so now I'll go, and I do not
believe I shall find it a place of torment either. Nelson, who was in
partnership with me when I was in Augusta, has moved his family there,
and I may join him again in business. He is buying up horses and
sending them to headquarters. What! you surely would not object to me
making some money out of the Unionists?" he asked, in answer to his
mother's quick look of surprise.
The discussion lasted some time, but to the relief of the son's wife they
decided to return home the following day, that her husband might have

an opportunity to settle his business in time to catch the first boat to
Halifax.
Becoming aware of the hostility which prevailed among the neighbors,
on account of Dinah's presence at the farmhouse, Mr. Sherwood
proposed to take her with them to Halifax as their hired nurse. He had a
kindly feeling for the good, old woman, who was such a faithful and
partial nurse to him in his boyhood, and he could not help seeing that
she was less kindly treated than formerly, and to his surprise his mother
consented to the plan. Dinah made no objection when the matter was
laid before her, for like many colored women of her age she had an
intense love for children. This love had grown stronger during the years
there had been no children at the farmhouse to lavish it upon, and the
short visits that the grandchildren made at the farm were red-letter days
to Aunt Dinah.
Mrs. Sherwood found her cares much lessened with Dinah installed as
nurse. The care of children was always a wearisome burden to the
rather indolent mother, so the irksome duties were readily placed on the
willing shoulders of Dinah.
While Mrs. Sherwood awaited her husband's directions, her brother's
wife appeared one day, bearing the sad announcement that Charley had
fallen in the last battle; and though Mrs. Sherwood had been expecting
this from the first, her grief was more distressing to witness than that of
the afflicted, sad-faced wife.
But there had been no hope in Mrs. Sherwood's heart since her brother
had bidden them farewell, and marched away with his comrades; and
her fears being realized, she was more anxious than ever to leave the
country that might yet claim