Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-01-12
division. who had more on their hands

II.
than they could attend to. When 1
reached the barn that served for tenn
porary hospital, went at once to work,
All, Bob said the Doctor, thoughtful
" taking the bright sword from the
hands OF the half.frightened Bob. and
holding it gravely before him, ''these
pretty playthings are symbols OF cruel,
ugly realities. :" -.
II turned to atall, stout Vernonter, "
he continued, very slowly, tracing q
pattern on the rug with the point of the
scabbard, "who was badly wounded
in both thighs, but he held up his
hands and begged me to help others
first who needed it more than he. l
did not at first heed his request, for
this kind Of unselfishDess was very
common in the army; but he went on :
For Gods sake, Doctor, leave mo here;
there's drummer-boy Of our regiment
a mere child dying, il he isn't
dead now. Go and see him first. lie
saved more than one life He was at
his post in the panic this morning, and
saved the honor of the regiment |
was so much more impressed by the
mans manner than by the substance
of his speech, which was, however, cor
roborated by the other poor fellows
stretched around me, that | passed over
to where the drummer lay, with his
drum beside him. l gave one glance
at his face-and Yes, Bob-yes, my
children-it was Rupert.
"Well well it needed not the chalk
Il ,h hrpf n ar G
had left upon the rough board where
he lay to show how urgent was the re-
lief he sought; it needed not the pro-
phetic words of the Vermonter, nor
the damp that mingled with the brown
curls that chung to his pale forehead,
to show how hopeless it was now. [
called him by name. He opened his
eyes, larger, l thought, in the new WIS.,
ion that was beginning to dawn upon
him-and reconized me. He whisper
ed: I'm glad you've come, but l don't
think you can do me any good.
81 could not tell him a lie. l could
not say anything. l only pressed his
hand in mine as he went on.
"'But you will see father, and ask
him to forgive me- Nobody is to blame
but myself. It was u long time before
I understood why the drum came 20 ne
that Christmas night, and why It kept
calling to me every night, and what it
said. ] know, now. Tell itfather 1t is
better as it is. | should have lived
only to worry and porpleX him, and
something in me tells nae this is right.
"He lay still for a moment, and then
grasping my hand said;
:" 'Hark 7
"I listened, but heard nothing but
the suppressed means of the wounded
men around me- The drum, he said,
falntly don't you hear it 2-the drum
is calling me-"
Z" He reached out his arm to where
it lay, as though he would embrace it,.
'Iisten'-he went on it's the
reveille. There are tho ranks drawn
up IN review. Don't you see the sun
light fash down the long line OF bayon-
cts Their faces are shining--they
present arms-there comes the General
but his face ! cannot look at, for the
glory round his head. He sees me he
smiles, it is'--and with a name upon
his lips that he learned long ago, he
stretched himself YEARLY upon the
planks, and layquite still
"Thats all. No questions now
never mind what became of the drum.
Who's that snivelliug? Bless my soul
where's my pill-box 81"
f. BRET HARIT.