Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-22
William Brswn and his Tract
[Mackerel Brigade (washington) Cores N York
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r The women of America, nv boy,
are credit to the American eagle, and great
expense to their husbands and fathers, but they
don't exactly understand the most pressing
wants of the soldier. For instance, a young
girl, about IS years Of age, has been sending
ten thousand pious tracts to the Mackerel
Brigade; and the consequence is, that the air
around the camp has been full of spit-balls for
week. The tracts, my boy, are very good for
dying sinners and other Southerners, but I'd
rather have Bulwer's novels for general read.
ing. William Brewn, of Regiment Five, got
one Of them the other day, headed, "Who is
your Fsther!" The noble youth read the ques-
tion over once or twice, and then dashed the
publication to the ground, and took some to-
bacco to check his emotions. THAT brave
youths father, my boy, is disgrace to his spe-
cies; ne has been sinking deeper and deeper in
shame for some months past, until at last his
name has got on the Mozart Hall ticket.)
saw that William didn't understand what the
tract really meant, and so 1 explained to him
that 1T was intended to signify that God was
his father; The gifted young soldier looked at
me dfeamily for moment, and then says he
" God is my Father" says he. "Well, now
1 am hanged if that amt funny; for whenever
mother spoke Of dad, she always called him
the old deyil!'"
William nsser went to Sabbath school, my
boy, and his knowlege of theology wouldn't
start a country church.
Wishing to find out if he knew anything
about catechism, asked him, last Sunday al
ternoou, If he knew who Moses was
Yes" says he, 81 know him very well; he
sells old clothes in Chatham street.
went over to Virginia yesterday, to review
bsrdan's Sharpshooters, and was much aston
ished, my boy, at their wonderful skill with
the ride. The target is a little smaller than
the side OF barn with hole through the GEN.
ter exactly the size Of bullet. They set this
up, my boy, just 900 yards away, and Ere at in
turn. After s. itty Of thSn had fred, went
with them to the target, but couldn't see that
it had been hit by a single bullet. remarked
this to the captain; whereupon he looked at me
pltylngly, and says he
" Do you see that hole in the bull's eye, just
the size of q bullets''
allowed that did.
"Well," says he, "the bullets all went
through that hole,"
Now don't mean 10 say that the captain
lied my boy but it is my opinion-my private
opinion, my boy, that if he ever writes a work
OF fiction, it will sell
La Mountain has been up in his balloon and
went 30 high that he could see all the vay to
the etult OF Mexico, apd observe what they had
fer dinner at Fort Pickens. He made discov,
cries OF an important character, my boy, and
says tnat the rebels have concentrated several
NSOPS - Aene7sos- n reporter OF the tribune
asked him If he could see any negro insurrec-
tons; and he said that he did see some black
spots moving around near South Carolina, but
found out afterward that they we're some ants
which had got into his telescope.
The Prince de Joinville's two sons nv boy,
are admirable additions to Gen McClellan's
staff, and speak English so well that can
almost understand what they say. Two Arahs
are expected here TO- o-metro& to take command
OF Irish brigades, and Gen. Blenker will prob
ably have two Aztecs to assist him in his Ger
man division. Yours, musingly,
ORPHEUs c. KERR.