The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-11-09

., @rr Yusf LEssos II DRILLING.
-. JnIv 80 vas alnsst overhead = he
heeysns. drinking up ths watsr froa the ut
lie brooks, and fairly scorchin4 ne snort
1ysse Il Tie pastures. 1he cattle isfs fseo-
n n thu meadow and stood knee-desp N
tie pond, where The thick shadows OF the
goad feli oses Il. Il uss far too warm 20
vofk. or even % play, % the boys Who bad
been stapding all the morning With their
6sh;np.,i lines dangling over the railing OF
the bridge. pus % their hooks and threw
,h,m.eISee down 10 the cool shade Of the
CID eIns on the bank. They made very
pretty picture ~ they lay there, with their
shirt collars unbuisoned, and their moiss
hair pushed back from their flushed faces.
One Of them, Willie Downes, had apicsos-
isi newspaper 10 bis pocket, With large en-
cravings Of the eonpan,es OF soldiers at
Washington, their camp grounds, rags, ana
cannon, and the uniforms they wore. he
spread the paper on the grsss, and began
exp.aisisg ihs pictures 70 his companion,
Archie Morris.
.H vss only old enough" said Willie
earnestly, 81 should enlist for soldier. IL
would Be so grand 20 90 and SIGHT for the
eounssy, and defend our liberties. Don's
you wish you were man Archer"
s.Yes," ssid Archie, 81 should like to be
. man, bat mother says We need not wait
till that time to be brave; Ne can show our
courage now"
81 knov,n said Willie; sscousip Lyman
Joined the company, and be is only three
year. older than ], but then be 10 - tall -
father, every biz"
"Thss vssn's what mother meant" said
Archie; "shs said good soldier must be
ready to undertake any duty, and II took
great deal more courage to do little disa-
greeabis things than to march up 10 the face
81 an enemy to bastle. Then she said the
first duly Of soldier was TO learn to obey
orders. and that is just what We boys are
de.ng."
Willie looked good deal dissatisfied,
and did not seem to like this view OF the
matter; but just at this moment somebody
cane to the door Of one Of the white Gotta
ees jus. below the bridge, and called,
awhile! Williew He did not stir, but
went on examining the paper.
sSomebody called you, Wil!ie," said
Archie, looking toward the houses.
''lt's only mother" replied Willie: "she
wants me to 20 Of some errand, and am
not going out in this hot SUM-"
Archie looked at him . moment in aston
ishmens, and then asked, "But what will
che say when You go homs?'
"O,' said Willie, carelessly, "shs Won't
know that heard her, for did not turn
my head bit."
'.shs is going to the spring for water"
sad Archie, still watching the house; 81
would scorch my face to blister before
Ill h., tne A.
"Pooh !" said willie, "that's nothing
she is SO used to being over the hot stove
that she don't mind it much"
just then woman with baby in her
arms came to the window Of the other cot |
tags and called Archie.
"Ay, az ~ said Archie, springing up, |
And swinging bis hat towards the house.
"Don't 90 yet, ArchIe," said Willie;
'.ust wait till We finish this paper; it |
won't make any difference"
''Pm learning to obey orders" said Ar.
phie; "besides know mother wants ma
10 take care Of the baby while she gets din
,er."
81 do hate baby tending; it's girl's work.
,aid Willie.
$50 is cooking and wnshing clothes, but
The soldiers have to do both. Right about I
face !" said he shouldering his fish pole, aud
starting for home, tiny company has re-
ceived marching oroers."
"Just in time, Archie" said his mother,
placing the baby in his arms. ~ see my
volunteer means to be on hand whenever
lis orders come"
Now, Archie really disliked tending baby
'ery much, especially on such warm day,
then it took all his patience and ingenuity
% amuse his little brother, made unusually
retful by the heat. But one glance into
he heated kitchen, where his mother was
busy over the glowing stove, made him
link himself very fortunate to be uble to
remain in the sitting room, with closed
,l,nds and open windows. But baby was
1ot at all pleased with the darkened room.
He would not sit on the floor and roll Ar.
sh'e's ball; he would not laugh at all
Archie's antics and grimaces he wanted
10 be carried, and carried be must be.
"Coms on them" said Archie, tossing
him to his shoulders. Snow Pm on o
forced march from Washington to Texas,
and this is my knapsack and blanket.
Heavy load--hos weather-mercury I'D to
500 degrees in the shade-whole army of
secessioners running away from us-bound
to get there before morning-band strike
up Yankee Doodle"--and be commenced |
rapidly pacing the room, whistling Yankee
Doodle, to the baby's great qualification.
just as he was beginning to fnd it pretty |
hard work, the door opened, aud his sister
Sarah came 10 from school. "Turu GU,
and relieve guard" said Archie, dropping
the baby into her lap, aud throwing himself |
full length on the carpet.
"fou're full Of your war nonsense" said
Sarah. laughing.
90, weli," said Archie, "anything to
amuse baby and keep a fellow pnnI.nn.