Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-29

The Boston Post has the following good
natured, Mark Tapley species of letter from
one of lis corresnnndents;

natured, Mark Iapley species OF letter from
one of its correspondents;
CAMP GUNPowDER, Army or THE PoToMAc,
November, 1861.
DEAR MEssRs. EDlToRs-Billy Briggs and
still remain in the army. The other MORN
ing l was standing by him in our tent
Hand me them scabbards, Jimmy" said he.
"ScabbardsP said |, looking around, "Yes
boots, / mean." Billy arranged himself in
his scabbards-a dilapidated pair of fashion,
able boots-and stood up in a very erect and
digni6ed manner. "Those boots Of mine, |
don't think, were any relation to that beef
we had for dinner to-day, Jimmy" said he.
NO" said l. "If they were only as tough
as that beef and Oice Usrsa, it would have
been better"
~ say, Cradle" he called out; "where are
you" Cradle was our contraband, genu-
ire darkey, with foot of extraordinary
length and extra heels to match, giving him
q queer look aboutthose extremities. "What
do you call him Cradle for, Billy ?" said /;
"that's queer name." "What would you
call him, Jimmy; if he amt a cradle, what's
he put on rockers for 2" Cradle appeared
with pair OF perforated stockings. "It's
no USE" said Billy, looking at them, "Them
stockings will do to put on sore throat
but they won't do for feet. It's humilia-
ton for a man like me to be without stock
ings; man may be bald. headed, and it's
Renteel but to be barefooted is ruination.
The legs are good, too," he added, thought
fully, "Dut the feet are gone. There is some
thing about the heels of stockings and the
elbows of stovepipes in this world that is all
wrong, Jimmy"
A supply of stockings had come that day,
and were just being given out; pair of very
large ones fell to Billy 8 lot. Billy held them
up before him. Jimmy" said he, "those
are pretty bags to give a little fellow like
me. Them stockings was knit for the Presi-
dent or young gorilla, certain" and he was
about to bestow them upon Cradle, when a
soldier in the opposite predicament made an
exchange. Them stockings made me think
of the Louisiana volunteer l scared so the
other day." said Billy. Allows that2" said
|. HE was among our prisoners, and saw
big pair Of red leggipgs with feet hanging up
before the tent. He never said word till
he saw the leggings, and then he asked me
what they were for. "Them P said |; ''them
is General Banks stockings He looked
scared. Hes big man, is General Banks"
said i "hut then he ort to be the way be
lives" "How ?" said he. "Why," said |,
'his regular diet is bricks buttered with
mortar"
The next day Billy got present of pair
Of stockings from lady-a nice, soft pair
with his initials in red silk upon them. He
was very happy. Jimmy" said he, 'Just
look at them;" and he smoothed them down
with his hand-"marked with my initials,
too; B' for my Christian name and w for
my heather name. How kind They came
just in the right time, too; I've got such a
sore heel for it's fact, Jimmy, that if
there's any thing in life worse than unre-
| Quilted love, it's sore heel" Orders came
! to 'lall in" Billy was so overjoyed with
, his new stockings he didn't keep the line
very well. STEADY, there p growled the
sergeant; "keep your place, and don't be
travelling around like the Boston Postoffice." !"
We were soon put upon the double quick.
After few minutes Billy gave a groan.
"What is it, Billy ?" said 1. "It's all up with
them" said he. don't know what he
meant, but his face showed something very
bad bad happened.
When we broke ranks Billy hurried to the
tent, and, when got there, there he stood
the very picture of despair, with his shoe.
off, and his heels shining through his stock.
ipgs like two crockery door knobs. "Then
amt they, Billy 2" said an unfeeling volun
teer. "Better get your name on both ends
80 you can keep them together" said another
"Shoddy stockings" said another. Bills
was silent; l saw his heart was breaking
and said nothing. We held a council OF
them, and Billy, not feeling strong. g.hearteC
enough for the task, gave them to Cradle
| with directions TO sew up the small holes
came into the tent soon after and he wa
drawing portrait, with piece of charcoal
on board. "Thats a good portrait 0
Fremont" said /; "he looks just like that
that's the way he parts his hair in the mid
dle." "That isn't portrait of Fremont,
said Billy; "its map of the United States
that line in the middle you thought was tn,
part in his hair, is the Mississippi River"
"OhP said l. saw him again before sup
per; he came to me, looking worse than evel
the stockings in his hand. Jimmy" said
be, "you know gave them to Cradle, ant
told him to sew up the small holes, and wha
do you think he has done? He's gone ant
sewed up the heads" "Its hard case
Billy" said ]; sin such a case tears are al
most justifable."