The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-07-18
Paul DuncaD, the Private,
BY f. E. NJ.

In a New England home. at the
breaking out of the Rebellion, lived a
boy nineteen years old. He was bright
quick-tempered lad, who was always
getting into trouble, yet whom every
body liked. From the excitement of
enllsting and the speech making on the
corners of the streets, he would go home
full of enthusiasm. He was young and
strong, well, and willing. His father
did not heed him, but his mothers eye
would fill with tears, which was always
too much for him. His little sister
Nellie whom he loved with all his heart
was another blockade he had not cour-
age to run.
But there came night when lie went
home with pale face, and determin-
ed look in his eye, and then they all
knew that he had enlisted, and after
that his mother went quietly and sad
ly about fitting him off, and Nellie hid
herself away in odd corners, or in her
own room, so that Paul should not
know how very hard it was, for she
meant to be brave.
And the day came when he marched
away with the regiment as private.
The army lay on the Potomac, as we
know, many months, much of the time
in great danger, when its safety depend
ed largely on picket men. 1t came
Paul's turn one dark night, and he had
that day been caring in his bungling
boy way for sick comrade. Rough
men and careless boys grew tender and
thoughtful in those days, when there
was no gentle sisters and mothers near.
Paul stood by his post, watchful the
night through, though his eyes would
go shut sometimes, but he propped
them open with thoughts of home,
mother, Nellie, and the old school times.
The next morning the regiment was
ordered to move. Pauls friend was
only able to march by his side, by be-
ing allowed 10 rest occasionally, and by
having Paul carry his musket and KNAPP
sack, which he had all day, his own
lnapsack hanging over one shoulder,
ana Toms over the other, and the guns
wherever he could ind an easy place
for them. But when the night came,
and the army halted, word was sent
that Tom, his sick friend, had been de-
tailed for picket duty. Paul was lame
and sore, and had no idea where he was
tired the most, he was so tired all over,
but he knew Tom could not do it-he
had just put him in the bunk, his face
and hands burning with fever. He tried
to forget how tired he was, and went
over to the Captains tent and told him
that Tom could not watch, but that he
would take his place. The captain
merely nodded his head and turned
again to his writing. Was it the Cap
tain's business to know what his privates
had been doing? a pale young face
was none or his affairs. ...
SO Paul had turned away also and
was soon marching to and fro wearily
wondering If he could keep awake till
morning, and that little word which
means so much, death, would come to
him, for he knew it would come in a
dreadful way il he forgot himself. Those
little props he had used before failed
one after the other, and everything
would grow misty, and then that terrible
word would bring him back. Again
and again he would lose himself, but
again gather strength and would walk
his beat in a determined way for time.
But he finally stopped before huge
tree and leaned up against its trunk,
but sank down after little, utterly
lost TO everything but sleep-and there
they found him the next morning.
And after court-martial came the
terrible Order-Paul Duncan was to be
shot for Sleeping at his post Tom
went to the Captain and told him how
it was, that Paul was doing his duty
that he had watched the night before.
But it was of no use, there was no help
now, only reprieye for week. 81
Paul sat down in his tent that night
and wrote it all home to his father, his
mother and Nellie, .u,.,.
That little white envelope took two
days and three nights in its journey,
and then was opened and the letter
read in the homeland who would try
to tell how? Nellie heard it through,
and then a brave thought came into her
heart. She told her father and mother
she was going to save Paul, and going
to the depot, she took the midnight
train, She told heconductor her story,
and hearts were open to sympathy in
that dark time. lie believed her and
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