The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-11-16

the black nag, anu gave no quNr"
ters" to the enemy. Dummy, a quiz
zical fellow Of our acquaintance,
came upon the cusy John thus en-
gagged, aud remarked.
snow old fellow you seem to be
at them about all your time" Yes,
said John suspending operations for
a while, TO scratch his back, Its
poo y even thing; me and these
fellows tako turns "How 30 p
inquired Dummy. Why, quietly re.
marked John. with drJIl shuttle,
IL torment them all day, and they
torment me all night " "In that re-
mark. o John, was condensed more
vigorous truth than poetical license,
remarked ID. as be walked away,
leaving the undaunted John still at
em.
Frank another comrade Of mine,
shared, in common with the rest OF
us, q very spare dish, b arely enough
to subsist on. One day, after being
dilig. u,ly engaged in cJmpressi,g
his breeches around him. in ordoi to
keep them on, for the want OF sus'
penders for that essen tial purpose
with loug-drawu sigh, shook bis
head, and remarked.
Theirs one consolati ion, If keep
on growing slim in this way. there II
be cloth enough in this pair of
breeches to make two pairs, which
will certainly give mo full chance
for winter" The idoa was so anus
ing that laughter was irrepressible.
On another occasion l noticed my
hungry comrade Beckwith eating a
suspicious-looking substance, which
for a close resemblance to raw dough
rather than bread. "What, sick,
Eating your hour raw !" I inquired.
Just to see what he would say. Raw!
yes exclaimed lie, with mingled
tones of Indignation aud fumor: i
shouldn't wonder il it was just the
thing to stick to my ribs and make
me fat.
Thus it was that starving suffer-
ing men, while battling for life,
laughed al fate. aud threw jokes in
the face OF famine and wretchedpess,
One first entering tho Florence
prison saw Beck almost daily. He
always met me with the same brave
smile. and with quick, merry
sparkle OF his fine blue eye. l re-
member his jocular expression used
to be. when we met. "Hey boy !!
what der you think of this-dont
yer Fall living, perhaps you bo'
lieve." But there came change {;
his steps grew more and more feeble,
his Elue eyes looked their merry
smile no more.
He lived to reach Annapolis, and
died without the long-for sight OF
loved friends and heme, where. aud
among whom he had hoped to lie
down and be at rest. This was one
more of our number who died for
want of food. Brave comrade poor
fellow We took last look Of fare
we'll No more shall loved ones gaze
upon thy merry, soul-lit face, no
more will ring thy light. full hearted
laugh through the prison.
How many faces, like bis, pale
with dreadful suffering, come up
like ghosts in households throughout
the land, bringing to anguish hearts
walls OF bitterness and sorrow.
which nothing but memory eau ef-
face. Pen aud words can not des
cribe the untold anguish and suffer-
iugs the prisoners endured in those
charnel houses, 10 the southern cons
federacy.
How hard the task, among our
northern homes, to forget or forgive
those who committed the crimes
which mercilessly starved and tor
tured helpless men aud youths, sent
from every village of the land !!
At Audersonville, Florence.
Charleston, aud Belle Isle, their
bones are an attestation OF o stain
which no future can ever wash. froG
the garments Of the southern con-
feder acy.
| one day found a comrade OF
mine intently engaged in stretching
the remnants OF an old shirt q cross
two mud walls, built up like dog
kennel. leaving a space between al
most large enough to admit two per-
sons when lying down. Jim was
wb;stlipo avay, as though we'll satiss