St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-11-24
BUYING A kECRUIT.

The slanting afternoon sunshine
drew lines Of moving gold across the
velvet grass at Central Park-the air
just touched with a keen soapcon of
coming frosts, was full of October sweet
ness and the full tide of metropolitan
fashion was rolling down the drive,
while Jervis Bayne leaned against a
rustic iron chair at the juncture of two
broad roads, and surveyed the "turn-
outs with critical eye
"Heigh h-ho!' sighed Mr.. Payne,
drearily, "it's rather tiresome work
standing here, and not seeing a soul
one knows. It's a dreadful oorc not
having anything to do with ones SELF!
l wish l was a rooe-dancer-or a po-
iceman-or one of those chaps in blue
overalls, pcgging away at the stone
wall on Fifth Avenue. l wish Why
halo, Maurice Alny, this is never
you p
For stylish little carriage with one
gentleman drying in front, and SOL
emn servant with folded arms occupy
ing the back seat, conjointly with a
r>,lvet- topped crutch, had dashed close
up to him with sudden check.
"Whom else should it be ?" demand
cd q a-clear, merry voice slump mp
quick these horses aren't feathers to
hold in; and l feel quite conscious
that two months in bed don't make a
fellow any stronger than he was be.
fore! Are you all right? Then here
goes"
"But Almy." stammered out the as
founded Jervis, II thought you were
laid up tor all winter"
"Not I; it takes more than a chance
bullet-hole to use ME up"
"But your foot"
"Oh, it's healing up all right. A
little painful yet; and I rather imay-
inc it will take more than two months
Of practice to convince myself that a
crutch is better than foot. However
-" =
II suppose / may call you Major al.
my now." said Payne, lightly touching
the glittering insignia on his compan.
ions broad shoulder. Almy's brow
contracted.
"Maior Almy, off duty for the rest
of his life ! Oh, if I were but the low.
est private in my regiment, to be able
to strike another blow for the cause ]
honor! See here, Jervis Payne! what
are you doing at such a time as this
Why don't you enlist ! Come ! go in
my vacant place r.
Jervis Payne sheok his head with a
calmness that was cxquisitely irritating
to the enthusiastic young officer.
1--WE don't look at the thing in the
same light, Maurice" ...,.
"Jervis Payne, don't give me reason
to suspect that you have joined the
crew Of Copperheads! Remember I'm
strong enough yet to pitch you out Of
the carriage~
Payne smiled.
"Gently, Almy we shall both have
our necks broken if vcu drive in tha,
har-hazard style!'
"Then am to suppose you don't
care silver tor the country?" u.
"Oh yes;I love my country well
enough" yawned Payne. "Don't ]
pay my income tax, and give quarter
to every old impostor that comes along
with an army. blue suit and a mile:long
lie about the hospital he has just been
discharged from? Of course I'm pa.
triotic enough, and all that sort Of
thing but that's no reason I should 90
and butt my head up against JEFF. Da.
vis's cannon - .3-
"And you call yourself citizen Of
the American Republic p
II take that liberty"
""And avail yourself unblushingly o.
the privileges Of q Government which
you are unwilling to uphold?'
"Hold on there there are two sides
to that argument if you please. How