The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-09


Ours is the heavier cross
And forever the cry will be
would to God had died for thee,
Oh Absalom, my son!'
Atlantic Monthly
TIE BATTERY'S PRIDE.
The main idea of this little story suggested by
s called
Is the suggestion only however, that is due to the
verses the tale, as it Is here told, Is tho writer's
ownI
We were party Of artillerymen, rough,
Western men, for the most part. Although
Ransom, our sergeant, was fine featured,
= delicate handed fellow. not overbearing nor
proud, since he had always pleasant word
or a kindly smile for most of us, and yet
with certain distinction OF bearing, which
made one wonder how he had come to be a
simple sergeant. l, at least, knew him to be
gentleman, for although it is tale too long
friends and refined surroundings for the rude
life of a private soldier in time of wa, I
could very well see that Ramson's past had
had been no less refined than my own; and
during the campaign of 1864 we had been as
signed to the same post of duty, and frater-
tent throughout that busy summer, but
although he proved to be the most agreeable
of companions he rarely spoke of his past
life, and when he did cloud of such painful
remembrance seemed to pass across his fair,
handsome features that l soon learned to
avoid all allusion to it, and only enjoyed the
good fortune which had thrown this pleasant
debouair comrade across my path.
For Ransom was the life of our camp. He
had rich baratone voice, which had evident
" been carefully cultivated, a wonderful
memory, which retained with the most vivid
ficf1DpnQS2
narration of the highest order, so that he was
eagerly welcomed at every camp-fre-fOr the
times when a soldier is not on active duty are
very sure to be tedious. Neither Ransom nor
myself set up for saints among our wild
western confreres, and yet there were times
when their lawless ways shocked us both,
and this fact, probably, made our sergeant
even more willing to turn the thoughts of the
rollicking boys to more innocent amusements
than even draw-poker and such like evil de-
yises. Even the charm of draw-poker would
often yield to Ramson's powers Of entertain
ment. and first one and then another of the
great bearded gamblers would throw down
the cards and steal across to the little knot OF
listeners which were sure to be grouped
around the sergeant whenever the tinkling
of the guitar, which he carried everywhere
with him, was heard in the stiffness of the
summer evenings. 49, !
We had chosen very romantic spot for the
camp. We were part of the advance guard Of
Inc army, anu very wen kue" LuaC acTOSs Inc
wooden hill to the right the enemy's outposts
were stationed, only a stones throw, as il
were, from our own. Indeed, the pickets
often came in sight of one another beyond the
rocky 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. It was beautiful valley, smiling
and peaceful, when we first saw it, but a
month of constant fighting had left its mars
even upon the calm face of nature, for scarce q
sort, and one or two desperate battles had
been fought.
It was only an evening or two after one O.
these skirmishes that we were grouped al
usual around the sergeant and his guitar
Somebody had brought some good tobacco
into the camp, and it was circulating freely
among the men. Every one of us were smok
ing as we listened to the sergeant, and tn.
pleasant evening wind blew great whifs o
smoke up the hillside, where it hung in little
clouds among the bushes. The tobacco itsel
was sufficient to put us all in good hume
even had we not come out best in the fight
and as we sat in the moonlight beside tn
stream, some one called out to Ramsonfo einl
wild, daredevil kind of q song that was
great favorlte with some of the men.
There was no harm in the song, only a hap
py-go-lucky species of composition, a hittin!
off with considerable humor the life of sol
der in camp, and Ransom had scarcely nj
tered the last words of the first verse befor
every man of us wass tartledby the reverbera
ton of a childish laugh, which came iron
some point in the tnick]y- wooded hillside clos
The moon was pouring her clear whit
light over the hill and upon the foamin
thread of water which dashed around its base
way over the great rocks which lay in tn
water, a tiny barefooted child, little Cir
who came quite confidently toward us acros
the stream.
She was such tiny tot of thing and sh
looked so weird and eric standing there i
head, beneath which thick mass of gloss
plack curls hung wildly over pair of grea
bright eyes, that we all stopped smoking an
stared at her in unfeigned establishment. ]
was long since a child had been among III
and this little creature came across the strea1
and I'D the steep bank toward us without
shadow OF fear or embarrassment upon he
pretty gypsy face. She stopped when she ha
climbed the bank, put her bare feet togethe
straighted her baby figure, and lifted he
hand to the little grey cap in military salut.
1t happened that Twas nearest the chill
"Who are you, little maid?'' asked:
Ppm Nina" she answered, hesitatingl
land my boys call me the pride of the Ba
terry That's because1 belong to 'em, 20
know, and ride the guns"
.'Ride the guns, I calculated; "a lit
mite like you? And does your mother Il
you do that"' ..-s
y 'Ise got no MOWER" she said, shaking h
long curls sadly, "and no papa either, and
Captain Ned took me for the betty's chill
He adopted me you know" ~
Eyes" she answered proudly, and then 81