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Show oooooooooooooooooooooooooa 11111 1-1 i 'i i I 1 : 1 i 1 1 1 I i i i I i i r MY FAVORITE STORIES By IRVIN S. COBB i ! 1 ! I I I 1 I ! I I I i I 1 : i 1 I I I ! 1 I ! rxooccxxxxxxxooooooooxxxxD (Copyright.) How the Reform Worked When the Union troops under Grant, early in the Civil war, took possession of West Kentucky some dltliculty was encountered in controlling con-trolling the populace, for that end of the state was a hotbed of southern sentiment and most of the young men hud enlisied In the Confederate army. General Grant issued proclamations procla-mations stating that no citizen would be molested unless lie undertook under-took n give aid and comfort to the enemy. In one town In the Invaded district, though, there was an elderly gentleman gentle-man whose sympathies with the southern cuuse were especially outspoken. out-spoken. Whenever word came of a victory for the southern armies his Jubilation was undisguised. The Union provost-marshal, hearing hear-ing complaints from his men of this man's actions and words, decided to make an example of him. He sent a squad to arrest the offender and presently, under guard, the old gentleman was brought before him. "Look here," said the provost, "I'm getting tired ot your behavior. Every fe days I hear that you've been going about again spreading reports re-ports that our forces have been defeated de-feated and bragging about the courage cour-age of the other side. Now then, I've decided to reform you. Either you take the oath of allegiance to the Union right now or off you go to a military prison. Which shall It be'" The prisoner decided to take the oath. After It had been administered the northern oflicer felt that a further fur-ther admonition might be in onler. "Now, then," he saia, "I hope you understand what this thing means? If ever again you utter a word of disparagement for the Union cause or a word of approval for the Con-feoerates, Con-feoerates, and I hear of It, you'll suffer severely, because now you're a loyal Unionist. And if you make a single disloyal remark you're guilty of tjeason." The reclaimed one thanked him for the warning. On his vvay out he stopped at the door. "Major." he said, "they ain't no law ngainst thinkin'. Is they?" "That depends," said the major. "What's in your mind now?" "Well." said the Kentuckian. "I was just thinkin' that them Johnnies certainly did give us fellers h I clay before yistiddy down below the state line." |
