Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-11-22

4" Who are you, l1ttle mal0f' L asked.
"'rm Nina" she answered, unhesi-
tatingly, land my boys call me the
Pride of the Battery That's because
l belong to 'em, you know. and l ride
ride the gunsr' 1 ejaculated ga
little mite like youP And does your
mother let you do thatP''
Use got no muover," she said, ,shak-
ing her long curls sadly, land no papa
either, and so Captain Ned took me for
the battery's child. He adopted me,
you know"
adopted youP"
"Yes,n she answered proudly, and
then she threw around upon us all a
quick, bright glance, which would have
been bold had not its audacity been
tempered by such an exquisitely truth
full innocence.
"They don't know / came" she
went on, with continuation of the gay
childish laugh we had heard on the
hillside. II crept out underneath the
tent after Captain Ned had put me to
bed. l wasn't afraid TO come, cause
knew you were soldiers, and a soldier
wouldn't hurt little thing like me.
And good Mister Yankee men / want
some of your 'baccar'
"You want some of our 'bacca, dc
youP That's queer thing for little
girl to wantr' somebody said, amused
at the child IS earnestly anxious manner.
40, 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 (he
swears drefful, and it makes me sick)
he'd give 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 l 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,
a grizzled Kentucky giant, with a paw
like bear; "hold out that big apron
of yoursr'
She lifted the corners of a little dark
calico apron she wore, which was about
the size of an ordinary pocket handker-
chief, and approached the Kentuckian.
Thar" he continued, throwing in q
large chunk of fragrant Lone Jack,
that's half of what I've got; take thai
to your 'boysn" "
The sweet little voice rang out again
and again in childish delight, for every
,f fA1laurnI ha ,fs
lead, and we heaped the tiny apron full.
- smelled it before l saw you, way
up on top of the hill," she said, hel
dark eyes sparkling with pleasure
"and then l 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. l can
sing, too" she added, naively, slightly
dropping her sweet gypsy face.
"Then give us a song to pay for the
'bacca," cried Hawkins, the Kentuck.
ian.
She looked up into his face with hei
bright, dark eyes. 40, Pm going tC
bring ii back, sure, just as soon as evei
we get some more. But I'll sing, too
if you like"
We lifted her up on the tall stump O.
tree near by, and the little creatur,
began to sing. She had not much voice
no child of five or six has-but it was
wonderfully sweet, and her powers Of
mimicry were marvellous. Some one
perhaps the Capt. Ned, of whom she
had told us, had composed the song fol
her, and she gave it thoroughly il
character. Doubtless she had sung i
hundreds of times before to similar
audience, so that she was in no wist
embarrassed when we applauded vo.
ciferously.
Our appreciation pleased her, how
ever, for she laughed gaily; but she
soon skipped nimbly down from her i'm
promptu pedestal, and went rounC
among us, holding out her tiny hand t.
each in farewell, with infinite infantilC
dignity and grace. "The boys would
miss her." she explained, IF she
stayed away too long" When she
reached the sergeant, he suddenly
stopped down to her, caught her in hil
arms, and kissed her full on her sweet
rosy mouth.
"Tention, squadr' he called ou
when he drew himself up again, ant
his voice was husky with emotion. W.
gave the little creature escort across
the stream, and watched her disappear
among the thick shrubbery which rost
beyond.
1t was only quarter of an hour oI
so afterward that we heard hoars,
shout arise from the enenly's camp oil
the other side of the hill. 1t was tn,
welcome which those poor half-starveC
rebs were giving to the little heroin,
and to our tobacco! We never stopped
to think, but with hearty three-times
three we sent back the cheer, till thu
woods and rocks re-echoed the sounC
far off to the distant mountain range
And then we looked sadly round a
each other to think how baby's hanC
had spun this slender thread whicl
stretched between brothers divided b,
such wide sea of blood and suffering
/ don't know whether it was the re
membrance of the child whose appear
ance had touched him so deeply or
presentiment of what was to come, bu
from that night Ransom seemed to lost
his bright spirits. Even his promotion
| '" "iiSh hiAS iSAb hNChy lAiltu "
rouse him from the detection whicl
seemed to take possession of him
When he was made lieutenant, of cours,
| ceased to share his tent, and believ,
he felt the loss as much as l did. A
any rate when he was wounded ant
taken to the hospital he begged that
might be allowed TO wait on him. AnC
perhaps because was more gentle thar
the other men the request was granted
and l stayed with him through tn,
three days which elapsed before h,
died. For he did die, but not before h,
had told me part of the painful stor,
which he had always shrunk from ap
preaching in his days of splendiC
health.
He had married young, he said, anC
very foolishly. His wife had been
brilliantly beautiful, vain, capriciou