Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-11-19

in the Wilderness, while waiting under
fire for orders to advance, left the ranks,
picked up 8 shell that lay with burning
fuse not ten feet from him, carried it to
q mud puddle and threw it in. It was
then the boys made him leftenant. And
two hours later 1t was this same leften-
ant who fought like demon over the
body of his wounded colonel, and got
two saber cuts as his reward for saving
his man. He wanted to lie, he said,
but couldn't get killed. That's little
of what he was. To-day I've seen him
[ thought he was dead-snd he is q
tramp, gentlemen, q miserable vagabond,
with clothes too mean for scavenger,
and without food enough inside of him
to keep his skin in place. Give him
something to eat if he asks it, and you'll
feed hero. AS for me, he is to me as
brother. My home shall be his home,
if can find him." Having delivered
this speech, he set out once more in
search of his friend.
Poor Jim, crouching in the brush,
weary and cold, had dozed little at
first. Then he began to chew Eastwood
buds and wondered, as he munched,
how and where he should get his dinner
He disliked to venture out of his place
of concealment, for he feared Belden
more than he ever feared an enemy. In
all his vagabondage he had nevsr asked
for more costly charity than drink Of
water. He had worked when he could
get anything to do, and earned his
money, the last of which had gone to
tie boy. He had avoided towns because
their people were inhuman, giving
strangers no chance. But he was in
Winscom-the great city lay only a
dozen miles away-and he must eat
though he begged for it, and was turned
from door after door.
He rose to his feet, every motion
causing him pain, and came out into an
open lot. The wind had freshened since
morning. The skies had darkened, and
dashes of fine snow gave signs of bad
night. Adown the long street into
which he emerged not person was to be
seen. A dull town, thought the lieuten-
ant, forgetting that its men went to the
city. Then he made circuit to avoid
Belden, and to escape groups of people.
He began his disagreeable task at a
diagonal point of the town from where
he started.
At three houses the door was shut in
his face before his request for food was
half spoken. The "leftenant" swore at
this sort of treatment. That was
natural enough for hungry man who
had been hero; but every body did not
know his record. Of course not, and
they would never hear of it from his
lips. Moody and despairing, he pre-
pared for what he resolved should be his
last request. A handsome cottage was
before him. It was well-lighted, for the
dusk was falling, He pushed up his hat
on one side and pulled it down on the
other, that it might have more jaunty
look. He took that trouser leg out of
his boot and deposited in his pocket the
string which had belted his coat. Those
little alterations did not change his ap-
pearsnce much, but they softened some
of the outlines. His timid knock at the
back door was answered by a buxom
Irish girl. AS the door opened, there
rushed out the fragrant incense of roast
ing turkey.
&C I am hungry" he began. "I've
had nothing to eat to-day"
The door began to close. He put his
hand against it.
"For heavens sake give me some
think, # it is not more than a crust of
bread!"
1t was the hero Lieutenant Jim"
who was pleading for just few mouth
fuls. The door opened little.
"Ye're hard looking tramp, ye are,"
said the girl.
81 know it," admitted the lieutenant,
Sand the mistress is mighty particu-
lar" continued the girl. "The last one
of ye we fed just ran away wild the
shpoon, though, to be sure it was an ould
iron one. Yes mighty ugly fellow"
Perhaps. But / don't steal" assert
ed the OK soldier. CHOW think min
ute! I've eaten nothing to-day. Give
me bit of something. I'll eat it in the
back yard-anywhere."
Well, come in" said the girl doubt
fully. "Pll take my chanches. There,
set in that chair and don't shpake
wurred."
She hustled around and soon handed
him plate of loaded with cold meat and
bread, a generous slice of butter on the
edge, and bowl of milk to keep the
food company.
Pitch IN now!" she ordered. "You
tind to your business and I'll tind to
mine, but no thavery."
Dinner had not been served. He
heard the hum of distant conversation
and little bursts of laughter in distant
room. Now and then some one struck
a piano. The lieutenant's keen eyes
swept the kitchen and the pantry. Be.
for him was wealth of pies. A pot of
coffee on the stove dubbed up It's in
cense. The turkey sizzled and cracked
in the oven. Dishes of apples and nuts
and raisins were upon the long table.
Everything betokened unusual festivi-
ties.
"A .party9" he said, nodding toward
the front part of the house.
Thanksgiving day!" was the senten-
tious reply.
"Ah! SO it is. had forgotten it. It
is q day not down in my almanac"