New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-09

Or, am MWW jiF "a i'm
| He turned his eyes. avays
/ Yet closer still her hand he pressed,
| Nor answered yes nes nAyil
blush confessed
Al, in one turning word, v - -l
Unsaid, unheArd!
I Quick c.me burst Of tears
And sa then: SSore ive by doubts and fears"
He heard her ngh.
my DRUMMER BOY"
$50" By e. A. WRIGHT.
.4 = i-t
OF the many strange scenes of prison
life few are known to the outer world save
where the principal characters are noted
criminals, and the following sketch of a
boy prisoner. brought out by m official visit
of Massachusetts Senator to the old
Chsrlestown prison, is now recorded for tho
first time: -.,.....4
"WbiIe passing through one of the work
shops" says the Senator, t'the officer called
my attention to a bright-eyed, fair haired
boy, who looked as out OF place within thu
prison walls az did the canary bird that
Dickens fancy perched on the finger of his
gruff and threatening Boythorn. There
was something very striking in the
innocent, boyish face, when cOntrasted with
the surroundings, and wondered what
could have brought the boy there. When
we had passed into another room the officer
told me the story Of the sad and strange
imprisonment.
':At one time during the war" said the
officer, II was in command of Massachu-
setts regiment in the army of the South
west. While driving the Confederates
toward the Gulf the two armies were often
brought into close quarters, and . twilight,
RI as in
found ourselves enoAmped il grove frOno.
which We could bee the camp-fres of a
Southern regiment burning brightly, per-
haps milo and one-hslf in advance. Be-
tween the two encampments was an open
plain, and on the margin Of the grove that
sheltered the. Southern troops was an old
barn, from which the sharpsh0oters of the
enemy fred with telling effect upon our
o out With the alosing:in ofthe evening,
and thersa in the dark grove, served to
improve the human targets of the sharp
shooters, whom we tried IN vain to dislo ige.
Our artillery had not yet como up, and be-
hind their wooden covering our disturbers
were comparatively safe so far as our
Springfield mnskets were concerned. As
the dange9 Increased with tho lighting up
Of our camp, and, - oil, other resorts had
failed. sent word through the regiment
asking for volunteers to lire the building.
Tho word had barely Left headquarters
when . little drummer boy appeared at my
tent, and, with . graceful salute, asked If
he cOald b Of service to me. He was q
bright little fellow, 30 small and so innO-
cent looking that 1t seemed almost like rob-
bling . trlndle bed to comply with his
earnest request that should allow him
to undertake the barn burning. But he
was plucky and persistent, and after
little questioning gave him few direc-
tions and my permission, though felt
more like sending him back to his mothers
knee, from which he evidently had not
graduated mary yesfs. l, of course, had
but little confidence In the success of his
daring undertaking, and a. the evening
wore on and the rife balls kept up their
mosquito like singing, at times unpleasautly
near our heade, II began to believe that We
must wait - patiently a. possible unit, We
could send over . shell to abate the nri-
sance. Suddenly the firing ceased, and
loud cheer from orr camp brought me from
my bunk to see the woods lighted up BY
the glare of the burning building. l knew
my drummer boy had done his work, but
how could not find out until few years
days engagement and in the hard work that
followed lost track of the brave little
chap. 20
Upon as ,uming my official duties in the
prison, after the war, while making NV first
round through tho different apartments. to
SEQ who my charges we're, ran across a
boy who struck me at once a. being sadly
out of place. l asked him how he came
here. He said: II was sent here for arson.
air, ana took my fret lesson under YOU
Then knew my drummer boy. l can not
describe to you the effect his words had
upon me; but from that day the boy had q
peculiar place in my heart, and could but
feel that was debtor to my unfortunate
young prisoner. I at once made inquiries
him. and found that he was
a fsvorite in the prison, and that by
has pleasant, winning ways and will
pine, he had won the good opinion
Of every officer of the institution. He waa
for long term of years, but 1
was resolved to use every possible means to
obtain his pardon. l soon had severs;
strong Influences at work in his behalf, and
felt confident that his pardon would be Sc
cured. My plan was working admirably.
and was already fixing the lime in nv
mind that could set him free, when, one
lay. an elderly lady came tome and said
,he had heard that measures were being
aiken for the release of the boy, and asked
ne with great earnestness to stop all pro-
seedlings in his behalf. was surprised to
near such q request from woman, for De
'itions from women are proverbially in be-
lalf Of the imprisoned. She was q nice
oOking, gray haired lady, with a kind,
face that bore traces of deep
orrow, and her manner of speaking was
10 tender that knew she did not make her
TRANCE request from resentment or ill-will.
hough l could not understand her motive.
Ter explanation was the strangest, saddesc
,art OF it all. She said the boy was her
nly son; that che was widow; that che
lad lost three sons in the war, and that this
10Y was all that was left to her now. Sne
aid he was not bad boy, but that vile,
t liberty he was easily led into trouble ty
is companions, and, though not vicious,
is army life had made him reckless With
ears rolling down her motherly. careworn
ace, she entrested me not to release him.
Or he was all the world to her, and when
q was in prison she knew where he was.
,se her boy. asked what could do tor
or comfort, and she said all she could ask
'as that would keep him where he was.
Q kind to him, and let her come and see
i'm once q week. 1t was little for ms to
romise.
so orce . week the boy has a ha, fholi
az. though he is not allowed to 90 ont of
ae prison yard. Every Saturday afternoon
10 mother comes to see him. They have
10 pleasantest room in the prison reserved
r their meeting; but when the weather i,
no an easy-chair 10 placed in q sunny cor
Or Of the yard, and there the mother
lends the hours from noon until early
7ening, and is happy with her boy. Often
her hands. and the boy sleeping in the
might with his head resting on bis
others knee, as it should have been that
ght when first Aaw him. And while tha