Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-04
W. ID. WALLACHl
ga LETTER As Is A LETTER

The Boston Post has the following Mark
Fapley species Of letter dated Camp Gum
powder, Army Of the Potomsc) from one of its
correspondents:
"DSa, Msssrs. Editors Billy Briggs
and still remain in the army. The other
morning was standing by him in our tent.
Hand me them scabbsrds, Jimmy said he.
'Scabbardsn said I, looking round. yes,
boots, mean Billy arranged himself in his
scsbbards-a dilapidated pair of fashionable
boots-and stsod up in q very erect and dig
ni6ed manner. Chose boots Of mine, don't t
think were any relation to that beef we had
for dinner to-day, Jimmy said be. NO.
said I. IF they were only as tough as that
beef, and Vics Csrsa, il would have been bet
ter Il say, Cradle he called out, where
are you? Cradle was our contraband, gen.
uine darky, With q foot of extraordinary
length and extra heels to match, giving him q
queer look about those extremities. What do
you call him Cradle for, ,Billyn said I; that's
queer name what would you call him,
Jimmy? If he amt cradle, what's he put on
rockers for Cradle appeared with pair OF
perforated stockings 1t's no use, said Billy,
looking at them. Them stockings will do to
put on sore throat, bat they won't do for
feet. It's humiliation for a man like me to
be without stockings; a man may be bald
headed, and its genteel, but to be re-footed
is ruination. The sleeves is good, too he
added thoughdully, but the feet are gone.
There Is something about the heels Of stock
ings and the elbows Of stovepipes in this
world, that is all wrong, Jimmy A supply
of stockings had como that day, and were Just
being given out; pair of very large ones fell
10 Billy's lot. Billy held them up before him.
Jimmy said he, those are pretty bags to
give little fellow like me. Them stockings
was knit for the President or young gorilla,
certsin, and he was about to bestow them
upon Cradle when soldier, in the opposite
predicsment made an exchange. Them
stockings made me think of the Louisiana
volunteer scared so the other day. said Bill
ly. 'How's that p said /. He was among our
prisoners, and saw big pair of red leggings,
with feet, hanging up before tent He never
said word till he saw the leggings, and then
he asked me what they were for. Then"
said /, "them is General Banks stockings"
He locked scared. "He's big man, is Gene
raj Banks" said I; ''but then he ort to be,
the way he lives" Glow? ?" said he "Why,"
said /, ''his regular diet is bricks buttered
with mortar. The next day Billy got
present Of pair of stockings from lady; q
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 init
ais, too; .'B'' for my Christian and "W'' for
my heathen name: How kind They came
just IN the right time, too; I've got such q
sore heel; for Its fact, Jimmy, that if there's
anything in life worse than unrequited love,
it's a sore heel Billy was so overjoyed
with his new stockings be didn't keep the line
very well. Steady, there growled the ser
geant, keep your place, and don't be travel
ing around like the Boston Post Office We
were soon put upon double-quick. After q
few minutes Billy gave groan. What is it,
Billy said I. ITS all up with them,' said
he. / didn't know what he meant, but his
face showed something very bad had happen
ed Waen we broke ranks Billy hurried to
the tent, and when got there, there he stood,
the very picture OF despair, with his shoes off,
and his heels shining through his stockings
like two crockery door-knobs. Them new
stockings OF yours is breech-loading, amt
they, BiilyP said an unfeeling volunteer.
Better get your name on both ends so you can
keep them together said another. 'Shoddy
stockings said ,hird. Billy was silent;
saw his heart was breaking, and said moth
ing. We held a council on them, and Billy,
not feeling strong hearted enough for the task,
gave them 10 Cradle with directions TO sew
up the small holes. I came into the tent
soon after, and he was drawing portrait, with
a piece Of charcoal, on a board. That's q
good portrait Of Fremont said I !; 'he looks
Just like that; that's the way he parts his hair,
In the middle, That isn't a portrait of FIRE.
mont said Billy; its q map of the United
States; that line in the middle you thought
was the upper part of his hair, is the Missis-
Eippi River '0h - said l. saw him again
before supper; be came to me, looking worse
than ever, the tockings in his hand. Jimmy
said he, you know gave them to Cradle and
do you think he's done He's gone and sewed
up the heads. 'It's hard osse, Jimmy
ssid /; Sin such case tears are almost justii-
able