Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-04-01
WILLARD's HOTEL, !
MAsHINGrnN. Ang. 20. 1S62


LOVELY CoNscRIPT Permit me to congrat-
ulate you on the lucky circumstance which
gives you the salary Of thirteen dollars per
month and three dollars fifty for clothing; a
chance to study geography in a manner at once
sound and certain a chance to 60 up the ladder
Of Fame and become immortal; a chance to eat
mule meat and hard tack, and 10 drink commits
sary whiskey worth so cents per gallon. l
also congratulate my country. | know you can
do all these things, and more. There may be
some things, lovely Conseript, regarding the
" mighty pomp and circumstance Of war on
which you would desire a friendly posting. A
few of these am happy to notice.
In the first place SLEEP. Repose is a great
study-the ancents reduced this to a science,
and the example Of Socrates is one show
ing how a good thing may be carried too far
His last sleep was too much for him. | an GER
tain you can excel the famous philosopher, for |
know you con stand any amount Of repose. Do
not sleep IN n hemlock swamp, or on picket. or on
a late supper. | would advise a preparation for
sleep. lie up your clothes and hide them Sc
cure in the shelter Of tent. or the freedom Of
some well regulated straw stack, and after ut
tering your "now lay me-" incline yourself
with a gentle slope calculated to induce water to
seek your feet
-4-AAAs AuAS NAfAkA-E - hNsAEItu 10 I'M
prove your muscle, and to the universal request
TO the Great Commissary Of Subsistence, Give
US this day our daily bread,'' you may add
such samples Of refreshment as may occur to
You, as 20 steal a chicken or a pig. This should
enjoy the warm attention Of a fire composed Of
equal proportions Of garden fence and Old doors.
3d-Money. Get It First from the Pay
master, never letting any vile sutler have a
chance ut your hard earnings. 2i-By method
Of S e,u.ation. After pay day amuse yourself
with a quiet game Of draw" and should YOU
hold your kIugs aud one ace, invest ''your pile, 3"
and see how your energy viii be awarded. p.
s. Don't hold your aces too often. Having
your sleep and food and money. you may COM
pare yourself flyorlbly to the Hotel Flunky
Boy, and all you may now desire viii be some
assistance in marching. On a long march stag
gle; ask aivice Of Surgeon or his assistant, get
IN OF behind an ambulance; borrow a stray
horse and coniscIte hin for -FOUR comfort; cut
of the tails Of your coat ani say you are
mounted cavalry; creep under "a hedge. and re-
member Your sleep-you might sing a few lines ::
"There IS rest mr the weary
Vow. my brave hero, | congratulate You. l
shake your hands and sry famous things 10 YOU.
| see you through the thick smoke Of battle and
Meerschaum pines And when the mild, fair
evening Of peac shall come, We viii " st under
the shade Of cur vine ami NJ tree or " John
Hodges stoop.' and swap lies about this cruel
war. Our stories wIl De chaste-of men who
chased Us and whom We chased. You shall
then be a Congressman. viii be- a contractor.
Under that partnership cur country viii be no
where. hear the s0bs that follow YOUR depart
ure, and the thanksgiving which heralds your
return. Who would not be a cons;ript2 Don't
all speak at once. Poetry, prudence and prin-
ciple might urge that ! request YOU to remember
the cir. you leave behind. Return 70 her and
TO Us, covered, not with aeas, but with glory
Be prudent, be active, be galius. Forget not
our dag, and remember NY kind interest.
Yours.
$500 YOLUNTEER VETERAN.