The Idyl of Battle Hollow: (War of the Rebellion, 1864)

NO, I won’t — thar, now, so! And it ain’t nothin’, —no !
And thar’s nary to tell that you folks yer don’t know ;
And it’s “Belle, tell us, do!” and it’s “Belle, is it true?”
And “Wot’s this yer yarn of the Major and you?” Till I’m sick of it all, — so I am, but I s’pose
Thet is nothin’ to you..... Well then, listen ! yer goes :

It was after the fight, and around us all night
Thar was poppin’ and sbootin’ a powerful sight ;
And the niggers had fled, and Aunt Chlo’ was abed,
And Pinky and Milly were hid in the shed ;
And I ran out at daybreak and nothin’ was nigh
But the growlin’ of cannon low down in the sky.

And I saw not a thing as I ran to the spring,
But a splintered fence rail and a broken-down swing,
And a bird said “ Kerchee ! ” as it sat on a tree,
As if it was lonesome and glad to see me;
And I filled up my pail and was risin’ to go,
When up comes the Major a canterin’ slow.

When he saw me he drew in his reins, and then threw
On the gate-post his bridle, and — what does he do
But come down where I sat ; and he lifted his hat,
And he says—well, thar ain’t any need to tell that —
’T was some foolishness, sure, but it ’mounted to this,
Thet he asked for a drink, and he wanted —a kiss.

Then I said (I was mad), “ For the water, my lad,
You’re too big and must stoop ; for a kiss, it’s as bad —
You ain’t near big enough. ’ And I turned in a huff,
When that Major he laid his white hand on my cuff,
And he says, “ You ’re a trump ! Take my pistol, don’t fear !
But shoot the next man that insults you, my dear.”

Then he stooped to the pool, very quiet and cool,
Leavin’ me with that pistol stuck there like a fool,
When thar flashed on my sight, a quick glimmer of light
From the top of the little stone-fence on the right,
And I knew ’t was a rifle, and back of it all
Rose the face of that bushwhacker, Cherokee Hall!

Then I felt in my dread that the moment the head
Of the Major was lifted, the Major was dead ;
And I stood still and white, but Lord ! gals, in spite
Of my care, that derned pistol went off in my fright!
Went off — true as Gospil ! — and strangest of all
It actooally injured that Cherokee Hall.

Thet’s all —now, go long. Yes, some folks thinks it’s wrong.
And thar’s some wants to know to what side I belong ;
But I says, “ Served him right ! ” and I go, all my might,
In love or in war, for a fair, stand-up fight;
And as for the Major — sho ! gals, don’t you know
Thet — Lord ! — thar’s his step in the garden below.