Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-01-25
SERVE YOUR ELAGl
BY woEoorE, AUTHOR OF ''wHIFFs FROM NJ
NERRsCHAuM.',


walls; brave Anderson with his little hand
fsl Of men, CALAMITY responded; the tele-
graph, IN the confused and haEy style IN
which Il always muddles everything il takes
hold Of, filed the air with inconsistent and
impossible rumoTs; the proud flag was wrap
ped In the smoke and flames Of the burning
fort; Gno, az q elimination Of the frst act Of
the worlds greatest drama, the ominOus
words, uFort Sumter surrenderedl" flashed
along the wires, thrilling the great heart Of
the nation, firing the blood OF enthusiasts,
ambitious youth; quickening tho steady
pulse Of mature msnhOodj starting aresh
the sluggish current in the veins Of the old
man, who had lived long under that brigh,
banner, and now for the first time saw it
trailing at the feet Of treason.
What followed then has already been writ
ten in the record OF time, as well as in the
memory Of all who witnessed it. The fierce
anger OF insulted loyalty; the grand uprising
efan outraged people in Its sublime passion
the spontaneous offering OF lives, fortune and
sacred honor upon the altar of patriotism,
have been ehronioled, and passed into his
tory.
Charlie Marsh sat at his little table, bis
book spread before him, his study-gown
wrapped about him, his pipe lit his smok-
ing-cap jauntily perched upon the back of
his head. He had trimmed his lamp, and
eat down to prepare for to morrow's recita-
ti0n but the wild excitement caused by the
Presidents cali for seventy-6ve thousand
men was abroad and made study impOssi-
bic. After several futile attempts TO collect
his shattered thoughts, and concentrate I
them upon what old Cicero had to ay in
disparsgement Of Mark Antony, he closed
the lexicon with slam, re6lled his pipe,
moved his chair round BY the window and
set down to think about it. And out there
upon the campus, that lay quietly sleeping
In the moonlight there arose q vision Of the
leagusred fort, the starving garrison, the
circle Of batteries growing up sround il, the
oOWardly attack, the final cspitulstion and
lowering Of the flag. There appeared q
vision Of the sure and terrible retributiOn;
the mArshaled hosts advancing with firm,
determined tread, bearing before them that
starry emblem, that the ordeal of battle
might purify It Of the stain left there By
tEsasons foul hand.
Through the open window came the sound
Of the drum and FIFE stirring, IS no other
music can, the fighting blood that came to
him from Revolutionary aires; and throw.
ing his smoking cap out Of the window,
By way Of emphasis, he exclaimed: "By
JoveIn (students have habit Of swearing
By the neurological dsities; it smacks OF
the scholarly Il am goingw Knocking
the ashes out Of his pipe, he went to bed to
dream Ct drums snd trUmpets, banners and
brass buttons, gunpoWder, grim and gal
liant deeds; and through all, fair face
locked down on him with smiles Of pride
and encouragement.
The next morning be enlisted, and then
telegrsphed home to ask his fathers con-
sent. The only answer was, GoP and he
went. His mother was dead, his father
and sister, and the owner Of those soft,
stsrry eyes that smiled on him in his
dreams, lived far away and there were
none but his college friends to bid him
goodbye when the day for his departure
cane, and he Was ready 10 start leaving
not without lingering regret the old dog
cared books, the study gown and smoking
cap, Of all his luxuFies taking with him
only his dear old meerschaum. No wonder
that he was silent and thoughtful, as the
long train slowly moved OF, amid the
oheering Of the men, the waving Of snowy
handkerchiefs, and the fearful fareWells of
loved ones. For with ell his eagerness
and enthusiasm, he had thought well Of
the step he was taking, the personal risk, |
and the possible duration Of the war. He |
knew, too, that there were dear ones at |
home who would think of him often; 8 |
sister who would catch all the flying ru-
mors, and beWilder her little head with |
masked batteries and reeonnoisanees in |
search Of tidings of him; father, whose |
sympathies would be more than ever en-
listed, now that his only son Wss.
His company vas attached to regiment, /
and they went into camp. Fortunately, |
their colonel was not q mere splendor Of |
gold lacs and crimson sash; he was man |
Of military education, earnest in the cause, |
and determined 10 make soldiers Of his /
men. So Charlie soon tasted the sweets |
Of a soldiers life, the hard bread, and /
harder board to sleep on, the WoOlen shirt |
aud ponderOus brogan; and the old visions /
Of graduation, and literary renoWn, that |
came to him in his little chamber, as he /
sat smong his books, gave way to dreams
Of glorious deeds in battle, the thunder Of 1
cannon, and the clashing of swords. And
letters came from home, from sister Car
rie, full of anxious inquiries as to his
health, and questions about how he looked,
how he liked it, etc ; ending with wicked
little joke about Fannie B., and her
hiFtation with q lieutenant Of the Home
Guard. In reply, he told her that she
might possess her soul in peace in regard
TO his health, for he was "tougber'n
billed owl ; he described his uniform, vo-
luminous 10 troWser, and scanty in coat
tail; attempted mildly joeose remark in
reference to Fannie's Irritation, and made
q melancholy failure. Beside the manual
Of arms, the culinary manual was thought
Of, and one day Charlie was taking les
son in dish.washing, when merry ripple
Of laughter caused him to look up from
his task. To his surprise, he saw the pa
ternal Marsh blandly smiling on him, with
sister Carrie on his arm, conTulsed with
Rirlish laughter at Charles awkward en-
erey. The old gentleman afterWard made
The acquaintance Of the colonel, and while
they we're discussing the war news, Char
lie was busy answering Carries many
questions, telling her sn about those two
eheyrons on his arms, and endesvoring to
impress her with the dignity snd RESPONSE
bility sustained By the third corporal
And then the package was opened, and the
toiIet-oase and needle-bOok brought out;
ana the cakes, confectionery, jelles, and
other delicacies go well adapted to the frail
stomach Of 8 soldier. Last Of all came q
littls something wrapped in tissue paper.
HHsre's something said Carrie, that
Fannie sent you to remember her by. You
haven't forgotten Fsnnie2' As if those
violet eyes we're not always haunting him
on guard, washing dishes, drilling, eve
FyWhere.
But Why don't you look st it, say it's
pretty, and send her your cOmpHments2" 2"
Just then the drum beat.
HTime for dress prrade |" exclaimed
Charlie, and be rushed into his tent to
equip himself -,