Page 18 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

pay and carrying; large rolls of Confederate money about his
person ; and when, jibst before the raid, lie invested his entire
year s pay in four or five ten-dollar gold pieces, they vowed
he was mad.

T h e Major, however, always met these charges with a
smile. And as soon as his position was assured in the cap­
tured town he proved his sanity.
The owner of a handsome store on the principal street,
over which was a large sign, r‘ Men's and Boys1 Clothes,"
pfieping out, saw a C«nfederate major ride up to the door,

which had been hastily fastened when the light begun, and
rap on it with the handle of his sword. There was something
in the rap that was imperative, and fearing violence if he
failed to respond, he hastily opened the door The officcr

entered, and quickly selected a little uniform suit of blue
cloth with brass buttons.
-l What is the price of this ? ”
■’ Ten dollars," stammered the shopkeeper.
To his astonishment the Confederate officer put his hand in
his pocket and laid a ten-dollar gold piece on the counter.

“ Now show me where there is a toyshop/'
There was one only a few doors off, and there the Major
selected a child’s sword handsomely ornamented, and the
most beautiful doll, over whose eyes stole the whitest of rose-

leaf eyelids, and which could talk and do other wonderful
things. He astonished this shopkeeper also by laying down
another gold piece. This left him but turo or three more of