say de word: we las' night slaves: To-day, de Lord's freemen. sell de pig, we sell de cow, But neb-ber chile be sold. rice-bird mean it when he sing, De eagle when he scream. tink we lub him so be-fore, We lub him bet- ter free. नै A NEGRO'S ANSWER. While the Union soldiers were in the slave States, the negroes, although most of them were at heart with the Union cause, had to be very careful what they said. The answers these negroes would make when asked which side they were on, were often very laughable. You see, there were so many spies around, that the poor negro never could be sure whether it was a Unionist or a Confederate that was talking with him. And he knew well enough that if he should make a mistake, and tell a Confederate he was a Unionist or if he should tell a Unionist he was a Confederate, he might be shot down. One day, a gray-haired negro was seen perched on the top of a rail fence watching the soldiers with great interest. One soldier, thinking to have some fun, called out to him: Well, uncle, are you for the Confederates or the Yankees? ee A smile lit up his weather-beaten face, as he replied: Why, you see, massa, 'taint for an old nigger like me to know anything 'bout politics." The soldier said rather sternly: "Well, sir, let me know which side you are on, any way." The old man kept up his smile for a moment, and then putting on a grave look, which was quite laughable, answered: "I'm on de Lord's side, massa, and he'll work out his salvation; bress de Lord." "BIG BETHEL" AND "LITTLE BETHEL." With Butler at Fortress Munroe, was young Theodore Winthrop, who, when his regiment was no longer needed at Washington, had offered to join Butler's regiment and go to Fortress Munroe. From one of these Contrabands, Winthrop had learned that about two thousand Confederates had encamped at two churches called "Little Bethel" and "Big Bethel." Butler and Winthrop at once began to plan an attack upon these Confederates. Their plan was this; the troops were to be divided into two bodies and fall upon the Rebels at Little Bethel, close around them, and prevent their getting to their companions at Big Bethel. The two lines marched out quietly in the darkness, and came upon Little Bethel as they had planned. But here a terrible mistake took place. Just as these two lines met near the church they fired into each other's ranks, each thinking the other line the enemy. A scene of confusion followed and before orders could be given, the soldiers at Little Bethel had fled to those at Big Bethel, and together they were ready to rain down their hot fire upon the Union ranks. A quick hard fight followed; and Winthrop himself, while mounted on a log to cheer his men, was shot dead. Again there was mourning throughout the North that so promising a young officer should have fallen. The names of Ellsworth and Winthrop have always been held in respect; and for many a day were household words; until the time came when officers and men fell so thick and fast they could hardly be named or numbered, and their losses were known only in the hearts of their own friends, and in their own homes. BETHEL. We mustered at midnight, in darkness we formed, And out, through the mist and the murk of the moon, Through green-tasseled cornfields our columns were thrown, "Column! Forward!" Oh! the fields of fair June have no lack of sweet flowers, |