The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-11-09

tinueds swinging his arms gleeiully apout
aud shutting bis bare feet as if contem-
plating breakdown.
.Silence 7 reared the Major. who acted
as presiding officer. at the same time
knitting his brows fur,ously to couceal
the laughter which almost cboked him.
|"Silence, or I'li7commit you for con-
tempti' aae s1agEo5 ,55 aass
Soneuhat startled by the vehemence
of thisibjunction thelitilefellew remained
silent, aud taking off his cap. commenced
strokiog his mat of head IN a serious
| manner. which was more comieal than
his mirth. 4 mo4l ssGefgh aH
"Well, my friend" I resumed, "where
do yoi come from 2" 90
"No whar OBJ late, mass'r. Use been
sleepin' out recently. Yer see Use awful
cuss, is. Yah! yah! Use" 81
"Silence y exclaimed the judge.
"Sarliu, sartin, mass'r. Yah yah y
''Whe do you belong to?" resumed.
"Yah yah amt got none. Yersee
he's gwiue away, he is.'
m But what was your masters name 7"
"Cunnel Bhly." r.@.@.
"Biliy what 7" ezaFsE 10 -5#s
"Dan'ao. Yer see dis chicken were
left benin wild ole missus an de gals,
vile NIass'r Billy gwiue to de war way
up to Richmon' An' yer see, de ole
missus she dun glib dis mig lickin', SO l
jis slips out in de night time, climbs inter
de baru, steals all de pigeons, an Glars de
track for Ole Virginny. Yah yah Use
awful cuss, is u
"Pigeons! What did you do with the
pigeons 2" I asked, my curiosity carrying
me away from the subject in hand.
"Libs on 'en to be shore, massr =
Dey'se bully fodder, nicer dan de hard
tack. 4 Yah! yah !! Use got jis one lef."
And sure enough, as he spoke, he drew
from one of the capacious pockets of his
tattered coat sorry looking pigeon, still
alive, which, before we could guess his
intention, he proceeded to put to death
ina very summary manner. Nipping the
head Of the bird between his finger and
thuab, he tHirled the body around in
the air till Il fe.l to the ground, completely
twisted from the head, which remained
in his hand. l1al- fa.s1 9fi 9s4
"Wtat are yo1 doing that for :" [ ex.
claimed, somewhat Mortified at what |
saw, as were the rest of the "Court".
The httle fellow threw away the pid-
geon's head without answeriog. picked up
the body, and laid it at my feet with a
..Yah yah p. from which I judged that
it was meant as present for nv break
fast
"Well, what is the decision of the
Court p said / laughing and turning to
the Major. s'ss-s
al really do not know" was the reply
Ask the monkey i he will fight, and
which side he favors." o
/ put the question.
"De Union all de time, szsore!" was
the enthusiastic reply. -..--
"What can you doY" asked.
The little fellow cast comprehensive
glance around him ia every DIRECTION, as
il he he could do any and every thing
under the sun, and was merely puzzled
upon which to try his hand for rn outset
At length his eye caught sight of a
kettle drum Which was taking an airing
short distance of, aud with gutfaw OF
delight he ran toward it. Quick as tho't
the strap was over his shoulder, the sticks
we're ia his hand, and throwing his head
back with gesture of pride, he rolled of
the reveille with the flourish and accura
cy of master. v-e-. ..r,.-.
"BrayolY cried Captain Allen
You're the man we want. Why not
have him drum for our company +" he
added, turning 10 me. "Johnuy went
into the hospital day before yesterday.
aud gevhase had but little music since.
"Au excellent idea!' said I.
The Major also agreed and Starlight,
to his in6uite satisfaction, was forthwith
installed as second drummer boy, Com.
pauy G, --th New York Infantry.
His name--by which he was altogether
known among as-oricinated, at the
suggestion of one of the officers, iu the
wonderfully starry aspect of the heavens
on the night preceding the early morning
of his tcapture." r.T.
He was iayorite ia the company, and
a standing joke with the regiment, lu a
single day. No one could surpass him
on the drum, and he never complained of
too much work. We made him wash him
self thoroughly in the river, and then
presented him with genuine uniform,
of which he appeared as proud as young
peacock of her sprouting tail.
Little Starlight was not one of US long.
but if should undertake to describe one
half of his whimsical characteristics "the
sun would go down on the unfinished
tale" "acsl }.sers s-s
He never got ont Of humor, was never