The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-08-11
TALES OF THE SECOND RELIEF,
BY THE CORPORAL.

wood boys it's so cold can't get wink
of seep!' exclaimed our Sergeant, as he
arose from the ground in dismal windy
night, last November.
We were an outpost OF the Army OF
the Cumberland, Co. I, old Eighth. Oue
after another crawled out from their blan
kcts and getting as near the fire as posi-.
bic, with our teet in the embers, the sol
>diers' only solace. the pipe 10 mouth. -
We prepared to while away the weary
hours till dawn, in telling stories, sole re-
course to drive away those knawing pangs
of hear, and home sickness, when we
think Of the loved ones snug in bed a
thousand miles away.
81 cay, Yank, teltus how you came to
enlist" said Charlie W, the wse of the
Company, to a long legged, eadaverous
specimen, who passed by ,ha. cognomen
VANK's STORY.
"Wa'al boys, l don't keer if do, if
you'll all take your turns at it. You see
had lived in St. Louis, long time, bat
suppose you all know that am no pike,
didn't, eh. Wal haint, cum all the
way from the old Pine State. You see
when | was quite small, about fourteen,
| TUX a trip III coaster to New York,
that's good many years ago but | work
ed along the rivers, drove team on the
canal, till at last / brought up in St. Lou.
is. l liked it and concluded to stay. l
TUX to the river and followed it as dish
washer, cabin boy, waiter and texes keep
er till at last | got to be Steward and |
saved more of my money too, and you all
know a stewards berth was q mighty
good lay.
Wal boys, l am leetle over thirty
years old, and thinking it about time tina,
got hitched on to somebody, | thought
would quit the river and settle down
for life. | aIlus used to stop at Marin
William boarding house, had made it my
home nj Oh on to ten years. The old lady
alus said | were like a SOD to her, and
she used to be telling me after every trip,
| that if Id get hitched, she'd refurnish
! the east front room and let me and my
wife have it, but let On as if | never
had sich an idce.
| Wa'al, just after Louisiana seeded,
our boat hauled off, and thought l might
as well quit for good, for there was no
telling when we'd next get to New Or
! leans. So looked about for some good
business to 90 into, but there want much
show, times had got awful dull, every
one in St Louis was skeered to death
there wait many things that would pay,
but everybody had furniture to sell, SO
many leaving, aud concluded to go into
the secoud hand business. Well, things
went on mighty hard for some time,
bought mighty cheap, and though | didn't
sell much, | thought it pretty safe in,
vestment.
Ididn't mind mitch about Union or &c.
cesh, but tended to my own affairs.
Well, after the Camp jackson fracas, |
was busy dustng off lot Of chairs, when
in walked lady, dressed all in black, she
had on thick veil and could only see
her eyes shine through, she asked me 10
mighty small, pretty voice, If bought
fur iture. told her did when knew
the parties, for you see, boys, we had to
be mighty sharp them times, SO many
SCI sp'o ttiiiSs Iipiu hOAoSo ''i~
were left in charge Of
"Oh,' says she. "it's all right, my
husband was killed at Camp Jackson aud
| am obliged to give up house keeping.
Can you call and see it this afternoon, at
-, Gray Strcet7'
"Certainly, marm, I'll be there pune
tual,' says I With tina: she left. Now
boys, felt kinder struck up, hadnt
seen her face, but she had migl ty ways
with her, bat something didn't seem ri ght
about it. didn't like the street, for |
was tolerably well posted about the city,
howsom dcver, | went, it was a small
house and seemed pectab|e enough, she
met me at the d or, and my eyes, didn't
she show fine, black dress, white collar
and cuffs, and such black eyes. Now
boys, if there is a soft spot about me,
black eyes are bound to fnd it, well, they
went through me just like two gimbletts
and felt sorry | come, and rather weak
too. Well, she led the way and show ed
me around, the whole lot was io good or
der and must have cost about seven hun
dred new. l did not calculate to offer
more than three hundred, but she talked
so oice, it was all her dear husband left
her, and she did so wish | would give al
that | could afford, so offered four hun.
dred and she concluded to take it, and
could move it the uext day, but this dld
not suit me, wanted to get better &C
quapted, and as she happened to mention
that the rent had been paid quarter III
advance, | proposed that she remain as
long as she wished, in possession, aud q:
| had need of my money just then,
would pay her one hundred down and the
rest in iustalIments till she got ready te
leave; this suited her and gave me The
chance wished, to visit her on business
Take my advice, boys, never pay wi
dow in nstalments, plump it all down a
once, and fee, like Joseph, or you are
gone up; any way, l was, for every time
l paid the money more Of my heart wen
with it.
She had wit enough to see which va,
the wind was and gave me a leetle modes