DECIDES TO VISIT MURFREESBORO' AND MEETS WITH ADVENTURES.
"MOTHER," said Mr. Josiah Klegg, Sr., suddenly laying down the County paper, and beginning to polish his spectacles with his red bandanna, "do you know what I've the greatest mind in the world to do?"
It was an evening in February, 1863, and the family had been sitting for some hours after supper around the bright fire, engaged in various occupations.
"No, father," said Mrs. Klegg, looking up from her knitting with such interest that she dropped several stitches. The girls stopped their sewing, and turned expectant eyes on their father. When Mr. Josiah Klegg, sr., announced that he had a great mind to do anything, that thing stood in imminent danger of being done. He was not given to ordinary schemes, still less to idle speech. He thought slowly and doggedly, but when he had arrived at a conclusion there were 200 pounds of solid, stubborn unchangeable Indiana farmer behind the conclusion.
"What is it, father?" asked Mrs. Klegg, making an automatic effort to gather up her lost stitches.
"I've a good mind to go down to Murfreesboro' and see Si," responded the father.
"Why, father!" gasped the three "wimmen folks."
"Go down there among them gorillas?" ejaculated Mrs. Klegg.
"And John Morgan raiders," echoed Maria.
"And Secesh soljers, butternut brigands, rebel rascals," added Tilda.