The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-11-14

TINE AND Walk 70 NV quarters, van
20 have tax with 3 Christian. IYl
wanted Il bad this many day, an !
seems as though you'd come along pur
pose.
WHY, have you 20 compartment IN
quifed.
Only little Forty eight, sir, was ID,
auswerl The whiskey crowd keep shy o
ofme, nov thai don't train IN that com
pany any more, and The upper crust ain
the Kind 10 mix with such as me 50 th,
Z little man aud me has Il all to ourselves
learns him what I've picked up-drlllin
an discipIin' mostly--an be learns every,
thin out Of books qUickern snap cap.
/ Don't you 20 10 church, sam2 ask.
I ed.
Well, no, colonel, don't. You see /
was IN the habit Of gettin sorter warped
I pretty considerable often for while AZ
ter | first got here, until she come; an
folks boat here got TO thinkin' me pret-
/ ty bard lot-an' 50 was--an' when |
tried both the meetin's bout a year ago
everybody was a nudgin and a whisper
IN an a lookin' at me stead Of teudn' to
what the parson said aud didn't take
kindly to that sort Of thing, as We might
guess. Anyhow, they was too much for
me. dare say they're all mighty good
people, but they amt my kind There's
only two meetin's here, an the one par
son breaches so far ahead OF my under
standm' that can't make out what he's
a driYin' at t'other one says as every one
as don't fist b'ieve his way Is q goin' aud
booked for everlastin'; an | can't list
swaler that, 'Tain't what she used to
tell about, ye know; an amt goin' to
jine no company where can't understan
the articles, am | don't b'lieve in bein'
skeered into salvation, or bcin' walked
inter heaven by the scruff o. my neck.
An so, when Forty-eight goes to Sunday
School an church every Sunday, list
goes out where you met us, an sets there
quiet-like, thinkin' that the leftenent
an her is back. Tain'ta bit lonesome or
solomcolly-jist makes me feel sorter
contented an settled for the rest Of the
week, an 'cordin' to my lights, il does
me more good than a goin' to their meet
in's would. don't know as Pm talkin'
right, colonel, but that's the way Tfeels
il in me.
Feeling unable to discuss or explain
theological matters, Inquired Of my for
mer follower, How came the lieutenant's
boy to be called by the old regimental
number?
With a short laugh, Sam answered.
Why, sir the first time seed the little
chap he was wee chunk of a babby, an
l. had my old cap, with the regiments
number on top, on my head. Moment
babby seed 1t he went for 1t, an raised
particular till he got 1t. Them numbers
used to keep him quiet better'n dose of
parcgoric; an SO the first cap she made
for him--it was in winter--I takes an
sticks the old brass numbers in front, an
ye never seed any creeter so pleased in
yer life; an he used TO raise his little
hand an point them numbers out to
everybody, an so every one got to callin'
him little Forty-eight, till we've sort of
got to thinkin' as it is his real name; an
don know as he'll ever drop it. He's
proud of it, an he's got that little cap
yet; an sometimes when he thinks aint
n lookin' he'll take 1t out Of his chest and
set it on them curls Of his, sassy as can
be.
When | seed you to-day, colonel, con-
tinued Sam, it Almost took my breath. !
Only last night it was, Forty-eight says
to me, Sarglnt, says he, tell me somethin'
bout our regimint; an course told him
lots; an then to-day, when / seed you,
says / ..
Forty-cight, says I, there comes our
colonel.
Where, sargint? says he, where?
Here says Ia waIkin' down right on
to ye. |
An be was a startn', boy like to run
up TO ye, but Tsays Stiddy mani As ye
were. Don't ye know better than that,
after my drillin' ye? Get into line-quick |
Right backwards. marchl HaIt!-right 4
dress!-- 'FRONT.' an as ye come up, !
give the command, Salute an then,
Parade rest An didn't he fist do it, |
colonell asked Sam enthusiastically
didn't be jist do Il? Ohl I'm trainin'
him mp in the way be should go, least |
wise, as far as knows how-an' he's |
man an soldier, be Is. See how he /.
started Off when / gave the command,
though he'd a given anythin' TO have
stopped and walked with his colonel.
Then why not have allowed him to stay
and walk with usf said.
DiscipIin' colonel DiscipIin' must be
kept up, an knows what is good for
him ia that line. sides that, / wanted
TO have a talk with you. My home is jist
here, au' hope yen come IN, said Sam
as we arrived at low.roofed, small but
comfortable house. Walk right 10 an
take a seat, sir. Tain't much Of a house,
but we've both bad worse quarters than
this q tore BOW, amt wes he oonlinu-
ed
Chairs were brought upon the porch Of
the little house, and we sat Long in con-
verration. The boy and the housckeeper
had retired; still we sat and talked, and
there IN the quiet moonlight, the brave,
simple hearted old soldier told the Of her
who had rescued him from the clutches Of
bis besctting sins,