Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-01-22
MisttIlanu.
THE
MAN WITH THE UMBRELLA,

Amongst the many grave thoughts
and sad reflections that must haunt
every mind in this trying crisis of our
country's history, there are the broad
est CLEANS of mirth, the brightest
streaks Of humor, lighting up the dark
est pictures. 1t is well to grasp these,
to keep up the healthy balance Of the
mind by weighing them against the
depressing influences now surrounding
us. Strolling through the ward Of
one Of our military hospitals, man
attracted my attention by the genial
glow in his eye. and the peaceful ex.
preston Of his lip, among the pale
contracted faces around him. / stop
ped involuntarily.
You are wounded 7" said, seeing
the large box that inclosed his leg.
Yes, sir. pretty well cut up. Lost
one arm, you sec," and he pointed to
the bandaged stump" but the doctors
think they can save my leg.
"What do you do lying here all
day :" | asked. Have you plenty to
read 7"
"Well, yes, sir, there's a plenty Of
books but you see ! was hurt in the
head, and the doctors don't like me to
look steadily at any thing long"
But" l cried, astonishcd, show
did you contrive to get hit in SO many
places at once 2"
We'll, it was not exactly all at
once. You see, we were ordered to
kneel and fire, and shot took me in
this knee that was up. 1t hurt
some, but eased it down till / was
on both marrow bones as neat as .
parson, and peppered away at 'em
as if it was as handy as saying ones
prayers. won't say. sir" and his
face grew earnest, THAT / didn't
whisper God care for me- as knelt
in the same way knelt long ago at
my mothers side. WE'LL" and his
face lighted up again, was hard at
work, when crashing ball took off
my arm here above the elbow l
thought was ont of work for that
day, but one of the boys lay beside
me with his leg off. and he offered to
load and bold the mnsket up if I'd
aim and pull trigger So / pegged
away at the rebels till a rascally
fellow cut me in the head, then went
down; but held oat as long as /
could, like the man with the umbrella"
His eyes danced at the last sentence
in very tempting way to lover of q
good story.
What man with the umbrella ?" I
asked.
"Well, it was when we first went
out, sir, down on the Baltimore picnic,
as they call it now, though there was
little thought of picnics or any other
pleasure when we started from home.
II amt exactly fair to make fun of q
fellow, and then call his name, SO I'll
just say his was Smith-it's good
sort of name, and has served men
before when they wished to hide their
right one Smith had q dainty way
with him that was all his own. He
handled his musket as if it was made
of spun glass, and be was afraid Of
breaking it, and he ground arms az If
the cobblc stones we're tender feet with
violently infamed corns. However,
we got along with him pretty we'll
till starting time. Then Smith was
discovered to have long slim bundle
done up in newspaper. In vain the
corporal took notice of it, aud or
dered it thrown away every time he
passed. Smith concealed it, and we
were off. Some of the men noticed
that Smith walked rather peculiarly,
but many of the men were too full of
bad liquor, and this stiffness in Smiths
gait passed nnnoticed. 1t was not till
we reached the cars that il was dis
covered that Smith could not sit down.
A favorable moment occurring (it was
qnite dusk, ! saw him draw forth
from the leg Of his trowsers the long
slim bundle, aud tie it fast to his mus.
ket.
"Soon after our arrival in Balti-
more, we were ordered out for dress
parade, and knew we were 10 march
through the streets to awe the natives
by a sight Of our military grandeur.
Smith was radiant. He had white
shirt with bosom aud dickey, his
hair smelt Of pomade. and his face Of
scented soap. His white gloves were
Of fine kid. and his boots Of patent
leather. The day was cloudy, and
The whole sketch is true in incident, hut
tins is fact proved by witnesses. >