Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-01-07

mountain stream which dashed around
the foot of the hill, while the drums
could be distinctly heard when the wind
blew from the west, where against the
horizon the South Mountain rose, blue
and misty in the summer distance. 1t
WAS 4 beautiful valley, smiling and peace
M. 0hcn we first saw it, but month oil
c,is'nn, lighting had left its mark even
upon lhr e. IN itra of nature. for scarcely
day had 4, ,s'"d without skiriniSh ot
some sort, and Uue or TWO desperate bat
Ties had been fought.
1t was only an evening or two attor one
of these skirmishes that we were grouped
as usual around the sergeant and his
guitar. Somebody had brought some
good tobacco into the camp. aud 1t was
circulating freely among the men. Every
one of US was smoking as we listened to
the sergeant, and the pleasant evening
wind blew great whiffs OF smoke up the
hillside, where il hung 10 little clouds
above the bushes. The tobacco itself
was sufficient to put us all in O good
humor. even had we not como out best in
the fight. and rs we sat in the moonlight
ceside The stream, some one called out to
Ransom to sing wild. daredevil kind OF
s song that WAS grea. favorite with
some of the men.
There was no harm in .he song, only
happy-go lucky speci.s of composition,
hitting of with considerable humor the
life OF soldier in camp, and Rsmson had
scarcely uttered The last words OF the
fTst verse before every man OF US was
startled by the reverberatiou OF a childish
laugh. which came from some point in
the ihickly-wooded hillside close by.
The moon was pouring her clear white
light over the bill and upon the foaming
thread OF waters which dashed around It's
base, and in second or two we saw,
picking her way over the great rocks
which lay in the water, a tiny bareiooted
child, little glrl. who came quite conf
deuily toward us across the stream.
She WAS such tiny tot of a thing and
she looked so weird and erie standing
there in The moonlight, with little grey
cap on her head, beneath which a thick
mass OF glossy black ourls hung wildly
over a pair of great bright. dark eyes.
that We all stopped smoking and stared
at her in uuieigued asionishment. Il was
long since a child had been among US;
and this little creature came across the
stream and up the steep bank toward Us
meut upon her pretty gypsy face. She
stopped when she bad climh' d the bank,
put her bare ioot together, Strengthened
Der baby figure, and lifted her hand to the
little grey cap 10 military salute.
1t happened that | was nearest the
child, and | held out my hand TO her
coaXingly.
WHO are you, little maid?" | asked.
Pm Nina" she answered uDhesitat-
iugly. land my boys call me the Pride OF
the Battery That's because belong 10
'em, you know, and ride the guns"
Ride the gunsw ejsculated; "a lit
Ito mite like you! Aud does your moth
er let you do that?'
"ise got no muover," she said. shak-
ing her long curls sadly, land no papa
either, and SO Captain Ned took me for
the batteri's child. He's 'dopted me.
you know"
Adopted you9"
Yes" she answered proudly, AID
then she threw around upon US ali
quick, bright glance, which would have
been bold bad not its sndacity been tenn
pered by such an exqulstely truthful in
nocence.
They dou't know 1 came" she went
on, with a continuation OF the gay child
ish laugh we had heard on the hillside.
81 crept out underneath the tent after
Capt. Ned had put me to bed. wasn't
afraid to come cause knew you were
soldiers, and a soldier wouldn't hurt q
| little thing like me. And good Mister
Yankee men | want some OF ' our 'bacca ~
You want some OF our 'bacca. doyou
That's queer thing Tor littlo girl TO
want p' somebody said, amused at the
chid's earnest manner.
"Oh, wouldn't use it," she cried in
childish disdain, IL want il for my boys! /!
Il's been days aud days since they had
any, and it makes 'em so cross. Even
the old colonel swore to-day (he swares
drefful. and it makes me sick) he'd give
a leg Tor s good pipe full like the Yam
KEGS had over on the other side OF the
hill here. So Pge been thinkin all day
how could come across and get some
for my poor boysW
She looked so sweet and innocent, and
her great lustrous eyes had so pleading
an expression as she spoke that many q
rough grimy face worked strange in re-
sponse TO the thrilling OF the chord OF
common brotherhood which this baby 8
hand had touched.
"Come here" said the last speaker. q
grizzled Kentucky giant, with paw like
a bear. Hold out that big apron OF
yoursp
She lifted the corners of little dark
=. -L;oL 49,, hon,