St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-12-17

ality, while Philip took his own plate
out and. stood beside him, eating aud
laughing over the morning sales.
Ihad been puzzling my brain about
Tommy's case all the afternoon without
result, but his grateful looks decided
me. Partly by persuasions and partly
by threats I induced his father to part
with him, and took him into my own
family as general waiter. The triae
which he had accumulated was of course
deposited for him in the savings ba:.k,
and / have never seen happiness more
radiant than his when he received his
bank book. He proved to be good tenn
pered, affectionate, fond ii fun, but
reasonably .dilligent, and possessed Of
fair mental powers, as he showed by
his progress during the terms of the
district school. do not know when /
should have been willing to part with
him, but that his parents made his stay
! with me the excuse for impositions
which gradually wore out my patience.
At the end Of two years, Mrs. Stuart
obtained a situ,tion for Linn in another
State, and as the elder McPhelans dis
appeared soon afterward, my. youthful
waiter gradually faded from my memo
ry. -
Our acquaintance was renewed re-
Gently in an unexpected manner. Phil
10 Stuart happened to be with me dur
ing the last great military panic and in
sisted that l should 60 to M-to see
a company Of Irish volunteers set off
for Washington.
"Psbaw, Phil! Think of breakfast
ing at five o'clock in the morning, and
riding twenty miles merely to have
ones heart half broken with the leave
takings Of mothers, wives and children.
If you really want to go, why not go
alone? or, perhaps your uncle will go
with you"
But Phil. was resolutc and I yielded.
l knew I should at the outset. So did
he. His ;@otner said l did. all IN my
them justice, they were uuspoilable by
love whatever might have happened to
them through tyranny.
As*we emerged from the depot, saw
that all the good places were occupied
but minute later, wagon body with
out seats was wheeled into the square
"Let's mount" said Phil.
"No, I shall be too conspicuous.
">s if black dress, gray bonnet
and waterproof can be conspicuous,
auntie," replied my cavalier, half-push.
ing, halfhelping me into the vehicle
We were scarcely arranged before We
caught the tone of the "Star Spangled
Banner" and then there was the glitter
} of bayonets, and the waving of silk and
; bunting, and the steady tramp Of mar
shaled men, and in five minutes the ex
pccted company was in position before
my wagon and presenting arms. look
ed around to learn who the display wa:
intended for, when Phil whispered
Acknowledge the compliment, auntie
IT'S meant for you. Quick it's Tom
5 my McPhelan."
Iobeycd I mechanically, and Captain
McPhelan came forward, as fine spec
2 linen of future soldier as l could de
. sire to see. He was sufficiently tall ant
thoroughly developed in form; his hal
f had deepened in tint to clear chest
!. nut, his honest, fearless eyes shone will
! pleasure, brilliant color broke through
Y the brown hue of his cheeks and glow
ed on his fresh lips, while the light 0
D a generous purpose cleaned through
and over all. %. ~-. .-.f.*
g Il can't thank you enough, ma am,
he said, grasping my hand. 81 waute'
t powerfully to go to Holly Grove but
b couldn't; so 1 wrote to Mr.. Stuart ant
begged him to persuade you to com
e here. felt as ifI must say good-by
but I shouldn't have ventured to asl
y wholly on my own account. I waute<
; you to see my Company. I've raised j
= myself, ma'am, and we've enlisted 70
Y the war. I've provided tor the: oil
q folks; and Rose,-that's MY sweet
p heart, ma 'am-shc was willing I shoul
: go, 50 I thought I ought to. You Sc
g I'm stout and we'll, am, and there
many that 60 that isn't; and then "
( part Of ny family with me- The frs
!: lieutenant, hc's.my cousin ma'am;"-
e I shook hands with the first lieutenau
the second lieutenant, he's NJ
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