The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-11-22

she locked So weird and erie standing
there in the moonlight, with little grey
cap on her head, beneath which thick
mass of glossy black cur!s hung wildly
over pair of great bright, dark eyes, thai
we all stopped smoking and stared at hel
in unfreigned establishment 1t was long
since child had been among us, and this
little creature came across the stream and
up the steep bank toward lis without q
shadow of fear or embarrassment upon hei
pretty gypsy face. She stopped when she
had climbed the bank, put her bare feet
together, Strengthened her baby figure, and
lifted her hand to the little grey cap in
military salute.
1t happened that | was nearest the child
and | held out my band to her coaxingly
Who are you, little maid ~ | asked.
"Tm Nina" she answered, unhesitating-
ly, and my boys call me the Pride of the
Battery That's because ! belong to 'em,
you know, and ride the guns"
"Ride the guns |" calculated "a little
mite like you! "And does your mother let
you do that ?"
use got no muover," she said, shaking
her long curls sadly, land no papa either,
and so Captain Ned took me for the bat
.
adopted you?"
YES" she answered proudly, and then
she threw around upon us all quick,
bright glance, which would have been bold
had not its audacity been tempered by such
an exquisitely trustful innocence.
"They don't know | came" she went on,
| with continuation of the gay childish
laugh we had heard on the hillside. IL
crept out underneath the tent after Captain
Ned had put me to bed. | wasn't afraid
to come cause l knew you were soldiers,
and soldier wouldn't hurt little thing
like me. And good Mister Yankee men, l
want some of your 'bacco"
"You want some of our 'bacco, do you
That's queer thing for little girl to
want !" somebody said, amused at the
child's earnestly anxious manner.
ooh, l wouldn't use it," she cried in
childish disdain, 81 want it for my boys
It's been days and days since they had any,
and it makes 'em so cross. Even the old
colonel swore to.day Che swears drefful, and
it makes me sick) he'd give n leg for good
pipe full like the Yankees had over on the
other side of the hill here. So I've been
thinkin' all day how could come across
and get some for my poor boys!'
She looked so sweet and innocent, and
her great lustrous eyes had so pleading an
expression as she spoke that many rough
grimy face worked strangely in response to
the thrilling of the chord of common
brotherhood which this baby's hand had
touched.
"Come here" said the last speaker,
grizzled Kentucky giant with paw like
a bear, Hold out that big apron of yours !"
She lifted the corners of little dark
calico apron she wore, which was about the
size of an ordinary pocket handkerchief,
and approached the Kentuckian. "Thar,"
he continued, throwing in large chunk of
fragrant Lone Jack, chats half of what
I've got, take that to your boys "
The sweet little voice rang out again and
again in childish delight, for every man Of
us followed the Kentuckian's lead and we
heaped the tiny apron full.
u smelled it before l saw you, way up
on top of the HILL" she said, her dark eyes
sparkling with pleasure, "and then knew
l hadn't lost my way. And the music was
pity, too. 1t made me laugh, and knew
my boys would be so pleased when l got
back and told 'em where I'd been. can
sing, too" she added naively, slightly
dropping her sweet gypsy face.
"Then give us Il song TO pay for the
bacco," cried Hawkins, the Kentuckian.
She looked up into his face with her
bright, dark eyes. ooh, I'm going to bring
it-back, sTe just as soon as ever we get
some more. But I'll sing, too, if you like"
We lifted her up on the tall stump of
tree near by, and the little creature began
to sing. She had not much voice-no child
of five or six ever has-but it was wonder
fully sweet, and her powers of mlmcry
were marvellous. Some one, perhaps the
Captain Ned, of whom she had told us, had
composed the song for her, and she gave it
thoroughly in character. Doubtless she
had sung it hundreds OF times before to
similar audience, so that she was in no
wise embarrassed when we applauded voci-
lerously.
Our appreciation pleased her, however,
for she laughed gaily; but she soon skip
ped nimbly down from her impromptu
pedestal, and went round among us, hold
ing out her tiny hand to each in farewell
with infinite infantile dignity and grace
"Thc boys would miss her." she explained,
she stayed away too long" When she
reached the sergeant, he suddenly stopped
down to her, caught her in his arms, and
kissed her full on her sweet, rosy mouth.
"Tention, squad ' lie called out hen
he drew himself up again, and his voice
was husky with emotion. We gave the
little creature escort across the stream, and
watched her disappear among the thick
shrubbery which rose beyond.
1t was only quarter of an hour or SO
afterwards that we heard hoarse shout
arise from the enemy's camp on the other
side of the hill. 1t was the welcome which
those poor halfstarved rebs were giving to
the little bcOrine and to our tobacco! We
never stopped to think, but with hearty
three times-three we sent back the cheer
till the woods and rocks re-echoed the
sound far off to the distant mountain range
And then we looked sadly round at each
other to think how baby's hand had spun
this slender thread which stretched be-
tween brothers divided by such wide sea
of blood and suffering.
don't know whether it was the remem-
brance of the child whose appearance had
touched him so deeply or presentiment
OF what was to come, but from that night
Ransom seemed to lose his bright spirits
Even his promotion which came the next
week, failed to rouse him from the dejec-
ton which seemed to take possession of
him. When he was made lieutenant, of
course I ceased to share his tent, and be-
lieve he felt the loss as much as did. AT
any rate when he was wounded and taken
to the hospital he begged that might be
allowed to wait on him. And perhaps be-
cause l was more gentle than the other men,
the request was granted and I stayed with
him through the three days which elapsed
before he died. For he did die, but not
before he had told me apart of the painful
story which he had always shrunk from
approaching in his days of splendid
health.