The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-12-07
BEDFORD, PA, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 7, 1860

I tile minister as brother Mugglns, and in short,
! for aught / know, was IN fair way to become
an exemplary citizen, If not true Christian
Thus matters stood in July, Ammo DominI, one
thousand, eight hundred and sixty, when | re-
ceiRed note flom Bubbles, an ambitious young
! acquaintance Of mine, informing me, that ia
view of the critical exigency Of the times, and
the "impendlng crisis" IN our national affairs,
it beloved every lover of liberty and true friend
! OF his country to organize for active work in
the campaign just opening, and as the country
would be vastly benefited by my (Muggins'l
intellectual and physical services, was press
Ingly invited TO attach myself TO the 'Stentoriaa
Worm Fence Club of which ne was Presf-
dent aud geueraIsSimO. | lost no time IN seek
ing the rendezvous, which was a large building
over dridking saloon. | was furnished with
lager beer ZOuave cap and oil cloth cape, and
pole with coal-oll lamp at the top, and was
drawn up IN line with hundred other patriots
aud put through the manual of exercises, which
consisted Of movements by flies of Iour, six and
eight, in open order, at the distance of ten feet
apart, which was explained to me as intended
to magnify our numbers In presence OF an enc
my, practising 10 blows from the shoulder, and
.
the whole varied by different species OF wells,
groans, cheers and 'ticers," the most successful
10 the last uamed drill receiving the post OF
honor in pacades and at public assembages.
My first nights experience may be thus
summed up 'WaS diverted, then felt entnusi-
astic, then grew patriotic, then became belinger
ent passed through the ordeal OF the drill with
satisfaction to myself, and received the post OF
honor for the loudest yelling. This excited the
envy OF my comrades, 10 conciliate whom, ]
stood treat for the party. Went home found
my wife alarmed at my long absence. Made
all right by pleading business engagements as
the cause Went to bed dreamed OF nothing
but politics disturbed by the glare OF torches,
cheers and groans, Next day had several Wis
its lrom my comrades Of the club, with whom,
for fear of being thought mean, drank and
talked politics. Thus the first week was passed
amid the excitements OF controversy by day and
heavy campaign work by night, when the fol-
/ lowing Sabbath found me physically disabled
to endure the monotony Of the sermon, and
spiritually incompetent for the instructions OF
the Sabbath school. My wife for the first time
went to church alone. improved her absence
by recruiting my exhausted energies at the near
est bar.
- =
ones, except as the campaign neareo It's concft-
SION. drills and parades were more frequent, Of
ten continuing through the greater portion Of
the night, and taxing the physical strength 10
the utmost requiring frequent internal arpca-
tions OF stimulating medicines TO keep up
strength and Enthusiasm The last week Of
the campaign found our club sweled 10 the
number OF Eve hundred, less they boys who had
,..t.z. t,.l r.. 10
the splendor of our outfit and parade, aud the
prospect OF free drinks. By reference to my
diary, | find that up 10 thus time | had drilled
flly times paraded over FIVE hundred miles Of
street, wIhou, reckoning frequent trips to the
interior on special trains wore out twenty-five
pair at shoes, three CapeS by the friction OF the
! lamp pole, burnt up six caps, and consumed ten
/ gallons of oil IN my single lamp. | had lost
| during that period three hundred and sixty
! hours Of sleep, spent all my surplus change 10
paw for drinks, flags and other decorations had
! frequent family jars on account OF late hours,
lost nv pew IN church and my class in the
Sabbath school. Am minus three teeth, the re-
! suit of a street encounter with political oPpo-
! nent have cracked voice, the result OF over
exertion in cheering and last, though not least,
have disagreeable hankerng after "brandy
smashes'' and "gin cocktails" aad mysterl-
Gus affinity fu drinking saloons and their asso-
Citations.
To conclude the long story of my suiferings
l have lost my stuat OF as confidential clerk
and he many letters have written to the man
have done so much to elevate remain unan-
swered. / am ready for rebellion
Yours Indignantly,
PETER MUGGINS.