Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-09-17
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Letter aSiEa Letter"

"a Letter as Is . Letter"
THr Boston Post has the following Mark
Taplsy species ofletter Dated Camp Gun
powder, Army Of the Potomac) from one Of
its correspondents" DEAR MEssEs. EDIToRs,
Billy Briggs and EtiIl remain in the army.
The other morning was standing by him in
ourtent. Hand me them seabbards, Jimmy,
said he. 'Scabbardsr = said I looking round.
Yes, boots, I mean Billy arranged himself
in his scabbards-a dilapidated pair Of fashion
able boots-and stood up in a very erect and
dignifed 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 I. IF they were only as tough as that
beef and vice versa, it would have been bet
ter I say, Cradle be looked out, where
are you ? Cradle was a contraband, genu-
inc darkey, with foot of extraordinary length
and extra heel to match, giving him queer
look about those extremifies. What do you
call him Cradle for, Billy said l. that's s
queer name. What would you call him
Jimmy? If he amt cradle, what's he put
on rockers farY Cradle appeared with a paiI
of perforated stockings. It's no use said
Billy, looking at them. Them stockings viii
do to put on a sore throat, but they won't dc
for feet. It's humiliation for a man like me
to be without stockings; man may be bald
headed, and it's genteel, but to be barefoot
ed is ruination. The sleeves is good, too he
added, thoughtfully, but the feet are gone.
There is something about the heels of stock
ings and the elbows of stove-pipes in this
world, that, is all wrong, Jimmy A supply
of stockings had come that day, and werejust
being given OUT; a pair Of very large onesfeI
to Bnly'ElOt. BiTly 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 a young gorilla,
certain and he was about to bestow them
upon Cradle when soldier in the opposite
predicament made an exchange. Them
stockings made me think of the Louisiana vol
unteer 1 scared so the other day. said Billy.
'How's that7' said I. He was among our
prisoners and saw big pair Of red leggings
with feet, hanging up before tent. He new
er said a word till he saw the leggings, and
then he asked me what they were for. Them,
said I, them is General Banks stockings
He looked scared. He's big man, is Gene
raj Banks, said I; but then he ort to he, the
way he lives. 'How?' said he. Why,
said I. his regular diet is bricks buttered with
mortar The next day Billy got present o.
pair of stockings from lady; 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 and w for my heath
en- name. How kind They came just in
the right time, too; I've got such sore heel
for it's a fact. Jimmy, that if there's anything
in life worse than unreqnited love, it's sore
heel Orders came to fall in Billy was
90 oveioyed with his new stockings he didn't
keen the line very we'll Steady, there.
growled the sergeant, keep your place, and
don't be travelling around like the Boston
Post Office. We were soon put upon donble-
ouick. After few minutes Billy gave 8
proan. What is it. Billy?' said L It's al
m with them said he. I didn't know what
he meant. but his face showed something very
had had happened. When we broke ranks
Billy hurried to the tent, and when I got there
he stood. the very picture Of despair. with hi'
shoes off, and his heels shining through hi
stockings like two crockery door-knobs.-
Them new stockings of yours is breeeh-load
ing, amt they, Billyr said an unfeeling volun
teer. Better get your name on both ends
so you can keep them together, said another
Shoddy stockings said third. Billy wa
silent; saw his heart was breaking, and
said nothing. We held council on them
and Billy, not feeling strong-hearted enougl
for the task, gave them to Cradle with direc
tions to sew up the small holes. I came int
the tent soon after, and he was drawing a por
trait, with a piece of charcoal, on board
That's good portrait of Fremont said I
he looks just like that; that's the way h
parts his hair, in the middle. That isn't
portrait of Fremont, said Billy; 'it's ma
OF the United States; that line in the middl
you thought was the upper part in his hair, /
the Mississippi River Oh + said I. I saw
him again before supper; he came to me
looking worse than ever, the stockings in hi
hand. Jimmy, said he, you know CAV
them to Cradle and told him to sew up tn
small holes, and what do you think he's done
He's gone and sewed up the heads It's
hard case, Jimmy said I; In such cas-
tears are almost justihable.