Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-11-01

= logetner tney had gone 10 roster west
ern home, where now, seven years from
the time had hidden them "Good-by
upon the field, / met Sam.
, When | first recognized him at thi
present meeting, / noticed that, willis
the brave, honest, self-confdent look wal
still there, the recklessness seemed entire
ly to have disappeared from his face
the absence of profanity, formerly SC
plentiful in conversation, also struck me
Wishing to find out something in regard
to the noticeable change without direct
inquiry, | said, pointing to tavern
which we were approaching,
81 suppose, Sam, that is your head
quarters.
"No, sirp' he emphatically replied
"There amt been a drop Of that stuff
gone under my buttons since the night
well, it's over three year now since
swore off for good-promised her, col
onel, for ever and ever. Amen"
"But' colonel" he continued, "Pd
take it mighty kind of ye if you'd jist
take the time and walk to my quarters.
| want to have talk with a Christian.
I've wanted it bad this many day, an
it seems as though you'd come along a
purpose"
"Why, have you no companions ?" /
inquired.
"Only little Forty-Eight, sir" was
the answerl "The whiskey crowd keep
shy of me, now that don't train in that
company any more, and the upper crust
amt the kind to mix with such as me
so the little man and me has it all to
ourselves. learns him what I've pick
ed up-drillin' an disciplin' mostly-an'
he learns everythin' out of books quick,
er'n snap cap"
Don't you go church, Sam ?'' 1 ask
ed.
"Well, no, colonel, l don't. You see
was in the habit of gettin' sorter warp
ed pretty considerable often for a while
after | first got here, until she come an
folks bout here got to thinkin' me a
pretty hard lot-an' so | was-an' when
tried both the meetin's bout year ago
everybody was a-nudgin' and a-whisper.
in an lookin' at me stead of tendin'
to what the parson said and / didn't
take kindly to that sort of thing, as ye
might guess. Anyhow, they was toe
much for me. l dare say they're all
mighty good people, but they amt my
kind. There's only two meetin's here
an the one parson breaches so far ahead
of my understandin' that can't make
out what he's a-drivin' at; t'other one
says as every one as don't jist b'lieve his
way is a-goin' and booked for everlast
| in an can't jist swaller that. Tain
q what she used to tell about, ye know
r an | amt a-goin to jine no company
a where / can't understan' the articles, an
, / don't b'lieve in bein' skeered into sal
walton, or bein' walked inter heaven by
9 the scruf O. my neck. An so, wher
r Forty-eight goes to Sunday school an
church every Sunday, | jist goes ou
where you met US, an sets there, quiet
like, a-thinkin' that the Ieftenant an
. her is back. 'Tain't bit lonesome o.
= solomcolly makes me feel sorte
q contented an settled for the rest of tn,
), week, an 'cordin' to my lights, it doe
) me more good than a-goin' to their meet
!, in's would. / don't know as I'm talkin
i right, colonel, but that's the way l feel
t it in me-
Feeling unable to discuss or explain
;. theological matters, / inquired of my
. former follower, How come the lieuten
: ants boy to be called by the old regi
h mental numberY"
With short laugh, Sam answered,
s "Why, sir, the first time / seed tn,
d little chap he was wee chunk of bah
e by, an had my old cap, with the regi
ment's number on top, on my head. Mo
o ment babby seed it he went for it, an
: raised particular till he got it. Then
|. numbers used to keep him quiet better'I
!, a dose of paregoric; an so the first cal
: she made for hint was in winter.
3 takes an sticks the old brass numbers il
: front, an ye never seed any creeter 81
+ pleased in yer life; an he used to rais'
i his little hand an point them number
n out to everybody, an so every one got Il
+ callin' him little Forty Eight till view
i sort of got to thinkin' as it is his rea
t name IAN l don't know as he'll ever drol
it. He's proud of 1t, an he's got that littl
:, cap yet; an sometimes when he think
a l aint lookin' he'll take il out of hi
) chest and set it on them curls of his, sas
IS sy as can be-"
s When / seed you to-day, colonel,
n continued Sam, +" it Almost took my
d breath. Only last night it was, Forty
# Eight says to ne, 'Sargint,' says be
k tell me somethin' bout our regimint
= an course l told him lots; an then to