The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-11-04

OF mind, or description OF pen. | have slept
this whole winter tIod knows many weeks
have been SjeepteSs ) with no bedding ,nuier
me other than one nslt OF thin, short, blan-
ket, aud no covering orer nee, except the otner
half As for clothes, | have a pair Of pan
falcons and Jacket (no waistcoaD, greasy
cap, and Ltitere have a change OF under
! clothing. Now, 50 long as 1t was absolutely
unavailable TO have any other better attire,
| could possess my soul with more or less
patience, and Joke over certain awkward
attempts TO halisole my raiment
with piece Of pocket handkerchief But
when our government sends cotton enough,
at present prices, TO furnish Us all good
blanket, and at least, coarse change OF gar
ments, 1t Is not easy to be easy under the
delay However as Paddy says If one can t
be ''aisy, begorra let him be as aisy as he
can :"
Gen Robert Vance, of North Carolina has
gone to help Beale, and it Is said we shall
get blanket shortly. They will be cheap
after trtHter IS Orer.
Another big thing the Flag of True
packages are consigned to the committee in
New ork, but tho they came thus far two
months ago-why not hither? Father sent
with some clothing. Neither have reach
ed me. Ought one cry or ''cuss p feel
like doing both. You ask how we are
doing? Poorly, Sir, Poorly" For food
we have the same three crackers and morsel
Of meat twice a day. Stay. There has been
an increase: every lineup of rice slop now
has added three to SIX tatrice-worms, half an
inch long; ten or twenty small bugs; and
occasionally a good size nail, chip, or bit of
clay-pipe dropped by the cook ! to sweeten
the broth. Seriously, my friend, II Is sick
ening fare No wonder SO many our
poor fellows die: they are weakened
until death has a sure thing against
them the first cold or fever they take.
last hours SPEEDING in a lonely prison hos
pital How much luckier to drop with a
ball square in the temples and not second
OF worry over 1t
We are all watching the campaign with
an anxiety not to be described. Seeing
none but Yankee papers Of the vilest sort,
we know nothing beyond the steady success
sion of gloomy reyerses. Sometimes |
wonder if ever we shall see another bright
day. Situated as we are it is as If we were
bound hand and foot watching the exertons
of little band whose repulse Of one ten
times greater must decide our own fate-or
mot
Still we keep pretty cheerful and whistle
W hCCp up Oul SOul luluh nave
never despaired of our ultimate accomplish
nent of our independence though it may
be not until another seven years struggle
shall have passed. What will be done
about the negro troops am for corps
of guards or auxilliaries whose service
shall be restricted to guard and police duty
whose guerdon shall be freedom and 100
acres of land after peace. What say you
3 1T what need to speculate or suggest
Our present Congress ought to be boxed up
and marked - Fossils. Hnndie carefully
for fear Of Jreak-agen' If we should be
whipped Gen. Lee had better send them
word to scatter to their homes. s.-(or holes J.
for they won't find it out until too late to
draw their last days pay
Well, my friend, enough-more than
enough You will think me light hearted
to scribble this nonsense but if you knew
how m-deep is that lightness you would
comprehend something of the truth. Put
in your best licks next fighting time, in
memory of your sincere friend
RANDOLPH s.
Poor L.! He did put in his best licks
until at Five Forks the 'ball in the fore
head settled his share in burden of exis
tence. May his rest be joyous