The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-02

in2 charge. He told the old lady he would
see her Tomorrow. sent Uncle Jack in charge
to his appointed place, and turned to The
new corners. shook hands with the Old
lady, and thought l detected m her honest,
bright ewes. a vision of the Old Volunteer
nlayinp the fife in the corner of her warm
and orderly kitchen, instead OF facing JEFF.
Davis. AS for the General. I believe he
would rather have confronted a whole army
alone anu unalded, than to have had another
interview with her. But he was destined to
one more, OF which, however, was not the
witness.
The next morning and what morn it was
Inc winds screamed ana haliooed as they
chased each other around the steeple of the
Old North Church. AS to the elms that line /
the main street, they stretched their branches
over to the opposite sidewalks. aud dashed
their bou2hs to the ground. and ierked them
back, cracking and crashing bach other so
that l thought they were facing their last
storm. Such noise, too, as there was in
the hotel! Parlor5, halls and Offices were
iull OF men going to the war. David Parker,
the Chief of the Shakers, was there, urging
everybody TO be patriotic, but swearing to
himself that he would never trust his precious
body ont of sight of the Shaker damseis that
took such good care of it, He had no idea of
soiling his n suit of drab, and as f. his
CATERS. they should not come in contact with
the Iebellious soil of the South A Great
deal OF taste had David in dress and women.
On this, and every other occasion, as he look
MS seat at the table, he looked carefully
around to see where was the prettiest waiter
SIrl; lie called her, and kept her very busy
providing the best dishes for him. while he
TAXED and ioked with her. David had good
TIME IN this world, and he was. no doubt,
very sorry TO 90 out OF it. There was another
OLD man cut there-a very old man. walking
up and down the halls, and catching hold of
the young soldiers in the style Of the An
clent Mariner. telling stories Of Ethan Allen.
Nobody would listen TO him. Present history
was making too last to consider what had
been acted out.
Night came, and with it the time for the
regiment to start or Washingo Oh. Crowds
were inside the hotel AID outside; women
weeping, men laughing, hallooing. drinking.
Eve ything passes, and that evening passed
away too. Soldiers and citizens, all were
gone The house was quiet except when the
stepof some one going to his room broke
the silence. My husbands tired step came
at last. For once had the good srnse not
20 ask any questions, as he, leaning
back in his arm chair. dozed and started
and dozel again. Suddenly | remembered
the Old Volunteer.
General" SAID, and he started ard was
thoroughly awake, where's the old man p
old John and the fat old lady?'
That old iool-that"-hcrp the General
forgot he was member OF the church, and
used word l do not like to write. ''Why
the Old villain deserted again this morning.
All the laplt of his wife. She had TO come
here and make fuss. These-women'-
here he AGAIN forgot lis Christian profession
these women are 10" ever meddIing."
Il know thay aIe-and men are angels
But did you put strong guard owe: the old
fellow? However his wife could have routed
any guard" ta
swell" said the General, with a merry
twinkle in his eye, Il wish on had seen her
IN my office this morning. She actually told
meto hold my tongue, as she took her hus-
banG by the collar ana led him OUT
But he was deserter," l said. "Haye
you sent him South ?n FL
II sent him to the devil" said he, "and his
wife with him, ana Beelzebub will have a
nice time when she gets there.
The next morning, after breakfast, I was
sitting by the fire, thinking of the old lady,
when she walked IN. Her bland countenance
and shining eyes expressed great peace OF
mind. She sat down NJ ar me- warming her
bands and feet alternately. where's your
old man? ?" she asked.
Not in Just now. May ask where your
old man is?" 1
"He's safe. He had the asthmy very bad
last night: tell him he made as much noise
breathing as our horse did that died OF the
heaves. .1e
is BEGGING to the WARP" ~
"Bless on, no. Not he! All tine generals
in the world shouldn't make him go.S
hardly knew how to answer, and so was
SILENT She was quiet too, for minute, and
then, looking gravely at me, she saiJ They
tell me you came from Washington. Did you
ever see JEFF Davis? ?"
"Oh, yesr'
"Well, tell me-is he mortal man or
born devil?'
"a little of both, some say.' I'd
sits likely" she said Oh manv;s the
night when the wind is bowling round our
old house, l wonder If my boys are safe out
OF the fight. Safe out of one, and NAV be
dead in the other I can't lay still, and I
long for the morning to 60 TO work. The
stars make me feel the worst. They 90 on
shining as if body wasn't miserable as could
be. John, he sleeps and shores as if his bows
we're sale III their bed at home but that's the
way with men. Give them their victuals and
let em 80 TO sleep and earthquakes won't
wake them"
And yet you seem 10 take good deal of
| trouble Tor your husband"
That's So" After moment she conIip
ued, in a confidential tone, 81 hadn't been
married to him long before | found out he
was-we !, fool; and 1 never see h m any
ways different since. He agareyates ME
almost to death. 1t scold him, he laughs
do what you viii, he laughs. lie was aw-
ulsick last year. and Tie doetcr said, John,
ninety-nine chances out OF enc hundred hat
| you'll die 'Nell,' saS she, I'll take the one
| chance, and he laughed. SO he got we'll He
never would work. l do aljlmyself. outside
and inside. For all that, he's good, honest
man. He never harmed man nor beast. He's
| old now, and foolisher than when he was
| young. lie can't take care OF himself He
| listed unbeknown to me-and what would
| he do with gun? If the rebels didn't shoot
him, he'd shoot himself. Now, dear" laying
her hand on mine, tell the Gneral he ami
got no cause to fret. John amt no loss TO
MIN nor the government. But" and she
raised her voice, while her face flushed up.
he better not send no soldiers after him.
don't mean no offence, but L may as well
speak plain. Ii he comes up to our place to
take john Tor a deserter-he or his soldiers
he'll get tea-kettle OF hot water on him.
IN Spite his uniform for him. You better
keep him where he is, it you want to keep
HIM out OF harms way. Goodbye dear" she
said. calming down. God bless YOU"
"Dut your husband ?"
Don't worry about him. Til see TO him.
I'll take him home tomorrow. | couldn't
get there Saturday night, but to-morrow'll
do"
A short time after heard of the worthy
couple. When last seen, the old volunteer
was pairing apples, by order OF his wife. when
he observed to neIghbor who had cone in
to talk about the war, Them regular officers
be very stiff, and thinks a sight of themselves,
but my old woman took the sperrit out of the
one that listed me in Concord'
Hold your tongue, john" said voice
from the next room. lie was glad to Get
rid OF you. Keep that old apron of mine over
your clothes You've got enough soldier
clothes to last you the 1est Of your life. They
didn't cost me nothing. but is no use to spIle
them. Hurry up with them appies or Pn
take the speTit out of you."-Lippincott
Magazine.