The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-09-19
PUBLISHED EVERY
Volume rs.

nanus. lOOkeu at ntDseit IN tnc picOco' 'VoA'
ing-glaSs that stuck in the window de-
6ant look, that said he was not afraid OF all
that nose-took his hat down from its peg
behind the door, and in spite OF the bristl'
ing resistance Of bis hair. crowded 1t down
over his head, and started for his supper
And as he walked he unused aloud, as was
his custom, addressing himself in the second
person. "Hopeful, what do you think OF it?
They want more soldiers, eb? Guess them
fights at Donelson and Pittsburg Lannen
bout used up some O. them ridgments. by
Jing" (Hopsful had been piously brought
up. and bis emphatic ordinations took a
mild rorm.) "Hopeful, 'xpect you'll have
to 90 an stan In some poor feller's shoes
'Twon't do for them there blasted Seceshers
To be killin' of our boys, an no one there
to pay 'cn back. It's time this hers thing
was busted, Hopeful, you ant pretty. an
you ant smart; but you used to be mighty
nasty hand with shotgun. Guess YOU II
have to try your hand on old Borcy's (Beau-
rcgard's) chaps; and If You ever git bead
on one. he'll enter his land mighty shortly.
What do you say to goin'? You wanted to
go last year, but mother was sick, an you
couldn't: and now mothers gone to glory,
why. show your grit an So Think about
it, any how"
And hopeful did think about it-thousht
till late at night of the insulted dag, of. the
fierce fights aud glorious victories, OF the
dead and dying lying out in the pitiless
storm, of the .dastardly outrages of the rebel
fiends-thought of all this, with his great
warm heart overlowing with love for the
dear old "Banger," and resolved to CO.
The next morning he notified his "bOss''' Of
his intention to quit his service for that Of
Uncle sam. The old fellow only opened his
eyes very wide, grunted. brought out the
stocking. "a striped relic of the departed
Frau Kordwaner.) and from II counted out
and paid Hopeful every cent that was due
him. But there was one thing that sat
heavily upon Hopeful's mind. He was in a
predicament that oil of us are liable to fall
into-he was in love, and with Christina,
Kerr Kordwaner's daughter. Christina was
a plump maiden, with round rosy face, an
extensive latitude OF shoulders, and gem
eral plen.itude and solidity OF figure. All
these she had: but what had captiyated
Hopelul's eye was her trim ankle, as 1t had
appearod to him one morning, encassed in a
warm white yarn stocking OF her own knit
ting. From this small beginning. his heart
had taken in the whole Of her, and now he
was desperately in love. Two or three times
he had essayed to. ssll her of his proposed
departure; but every time that the words
were coming to his lips, something rushed
up into his throat ahead Of them, and he
couldn't speak. At last, after walking
home from church with her on Sunday even
ing. he held out his hand and blurted ont
"well, good.by. We're OF tomorrow. !"
"OG. where?"
"I've enlisted"
Christina didn't faint. She didn't take
out her delicate and daintily perfumed Hoa-
choir. TO hide the tears that were not there.
She looked at him for moment, while two
gry,t real tears rolled down her cheeks, and
then-precipitated all her charms right into
his arms. Hopeful stood 1t mantully-rather
liked il. in fact But this is u tableau that
we've no right to be looking at; 50 let us
pass by how they parted-with what tears
and embracrs. and extravagant protcst.tions
OF unJying affection, and wild promises o'
eternal remembrance; there is no need ot
telling, for we all know how foolish young
people will he under such circumstances
We older heads know all about such little
matters, and what they amount to. o, yes,
certainly we do.
The next morning found Hopeful, with
dozen Others, in charge Of the lieutenant.
and on their way to join the regiment. Hope
ful's lrst experience Of csmp-liie was not a
singular one. He, like the rest OF us, at
frs, exhibited the most energetic awkward
ness in drilling. Liz, there's. of us, he had
occasional attacks Of bome-sickness; and as
he stood at his post on picket in the silent
uisht.watches, while the camps lay quietly
sleeping in the moonlight, his thoughts
would 20 back to his lar away home, and
the plentiful charms Of the iair haired Chris
tina. So he wen, on, dreaming sweet dreams
of home but ever ACTIVE and alert, eager to
learn and earnest to do his duty, silencing
all selfish suggestions Of his hear, with the
simple logic of pure patriotism.
"HOpefal." he would say. "the Dangers
took care o. you all your life, an now you're
here to take care OF il. See that you do it
the best you know how"
II would be more thrilling and interesting,
and would read better, II We could take our
hero to glory amid the roar OF cannon and
muskets. through storm Of shot and SHE'LL
over a serried line Of glistenins bayonets'--
But strict truth-a matter Of which newspa'
. per correspondents, and sensational writers,
generally seem to have very misty concep-
8 tion-lorbids Ii.
Ii was only skirmish-a bush-wackins