The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-08-29

or NNd'f aiiN 'ttNt.- t.CtN.
Thr Rangers had not been Ion. settled IL
camp. when j, WAS observed thu, li,,lc circle
and associations were slrincing up amon-'
'rcn Of similar ,a>,,. and ctluca'on-am mutu
al attraction and affinity cf minds Of congcn-
ial elements.
Captain Cheshire. from Eastern Texas. had
fitted up large tent for the accormo !at;on
of those who felt piouSly inclined: whence. Oh
a calm moonlight nj Sh,, the melody frsalnl-
singing, scrmo orizing. and PRAYER resoun'led
over the camp. The chief orator, on these
occasions. was an ordcrlv-sergcant, and de-
serves passing notice. The Sergeant was
the tal!est man in the regiment. heinS six
feet nine. in his stockings. and was slim and
straight rs an Indian: long favored, with blue
eyes. and pleasant counterance, and a rose
of huge proportions. Whether he belonged
to the Methodist. Baptist. or CniversaliSt per
suasion. could not hc asccrtaincl from his dis
courses. One thing. however. was certain,
if he was 4 Methodist. there was not much
m'ti"a i'll his eloqncncc. He revcr touched
upon doctrnal points: ard when net holding
/ forth to his congregation. there was nothing
| of the Nar>on III his manner unless il WAS his
general good-nature. and friendly smile. and
word for every one he met. Tile Sergeant
/ declared " he had volunteered to look after
the spiritual interest of the boys. That he
meant 10 serve the Lord: but. if duty rcquir-
ed him to shoot Mexicans. why. he thought
he could do so. ard look to Heaven with a
clear conscience IL was one Of those pi-
ou> soldiers. who could trust in Providence,
but chose to take care of his own parlo-
/ The Sergeant was prominent member Of
/ the " Ea,.Laroo cl,b" This was a neon
light association got up hy the Young biood>
of the regiment. Each member of this club
was called upon. iii turn. either to sing song.
OF tell good story: the forfeit or penalty
for declining was. to take the place Of some
member at his regular turn of suart-mount,
ing.
/ The place of meeting of this club was on
the plain. short distance beyond the limits
ofthc camp. Here they would form circle on
the ground la Turk. with a large cantccn
labeled "brandy." in the centre of the group
This was chriStcned the" Foum Of In
spir0fion." When guard had been placed
around the outside. to keep ont the unini-
;iatcd. the meeting was called to order First
in the programme Of proceedings is the intro
duction and initiation of candidates One is
introduced At time. He IS invited with
much tormalltv. TO take Il seat in the circle.
when the president directs the fount to be
passed to the newcomer The kankaroo,
seated at his right hand steps to the centre.
and. tahin: the cantecn of liquor by the strap.
returns to the side of the candidate. First
shaking it WELL to his ear. to ascertain that it
was full. he slowly draws the stopplc and ap-
plies his nose to the burg. to test the quality
of the contents. Apparently not satisfied with
this inspection. he next places it to his lips.
and throwing his head back as if to see the
moon. takes a long hearty drausht. Slowly
bringing his head forward again. he lets the
clntr"a gradually subsidr upon his lap:
and then. inhaling 4 long breath. rounded
off with an audible smack of approval. pro-
ceeds to pronounce an euloSium upon that
most excellent and extra cognac" and desire,
to know of the president where such good
liquor is to be found"
The candidate for kankaroo honor. is very
impatient, waiting all this time for his share
of the good stuff. But he is doomed to dis
appointment; for no sooner does he reach
out his hand to grasp the cantecn. then the
next right-hand man snatchcs it awav: and
thus. with similar pantomimc az at first. i,
makes the round Of the circle of Kankaroo.
The candidate watches its passage with fca,
and trembling. lest. when it should finally &c,
round to him. his share would be hut small
Already his throat is parched. and he begin.
to"spit cotton" He is actually suffering :
sort of martyrdom. when. at last the vessc
reaches him. IIegreedily places it to his lips
nor stops to taste. till he has imbibcd sevcra
swallows; when, bah. he finds he has bee,
most egregiously sold. He has been drink
ing the brackish water of the lagoon.
The kankaroos, who have been maintain
ing the utmost gravity up to this moment
now give vent to general shout of mcrri
mcnt; and the half-vexcd. halflaughing can
didate is duly proclaimed a genuine Kanka
roo. and called upon for his song or story
Jimmy Byrne-or, as he was more famil
iarly known in the regiment, by the name of
Brian O1.inn-was a character" and goo,
deal of genius in his way. He was also, a
his name indicates, a native of
THE swatest isle Of the ocean"
Jimmy was lively fellow. always full of fu
and frolic, at all times ready with song: in
deed, music seemed to flow spontaneousl
from his lungs. Sometimes, even when on on
regimental drill, he would provoke genera
concatenation of laughter along the line. b
an involuntary troll of a verse of his favorit
song:
Brian O'Iinn had no brccchCs to wear,
I So he got him shccp-skin and made him pair
With the woollv side ont. and the skinny side il
The! re snug par CT hreechcs, says Brian {