The Republican journal., 1882-02-02

lance ride, when Sam thrust his head inside the
carriage with Here is billing spring guess l
will fill your canteen with water" moment af-
ter the eanteen was placed at my side and the am
bulance rolled swiftly on My lips and throat
were paroned ~lth heat With weak and eager
hands seized the canteen and pressed it to my
lips. The water was 50 cool and delicious. Sud
denly the carriage came IN contact with some OBJ
stacle; there was fearful jolt, and the canteen
slipped from my nerveless grasp. l had 10
strength TO take it up again, and then had the
grim satisfaction of having three pints of icy wa
ter, to roll IN tiny waveets along my back for at
least two hours At that time | had not very pro-
nounced theological convictions or prejudices, but
| did strongly object to the mode of pouring
A GOOD SAMARITAN
The second night we halted again on the muddy
road in the great, dark forest. The regiment was
so far away that my comrades could not return. l
knew that | was better; the fever had partially
subsided but SO weak and faint. Slowly the
hours passed away. My companion had ceased to
groan, and | supposed he sleeping | knew
that Sam buslly at work over fire he had
built ty the road side | could hear him mutter
and talk as he stirred the fire or piled more fuel
upon it. A sayory odor seemed to fill the air He
is preparing his supper, thought, and then | fell
asleep. was awakened. 1t was Sans voice.
Say, old feler, don'tyou want some supper ?" and
before | could reply he ratified on Il drew Sc
cesh chicken back along the road to day, and have
made some broth for you feers, but find your
companion is uncommon quiet, so | will give it to
you He rolled up the side curtains Of the
riage. great fire was burning close at its side
sending It's light far out rLo the darkness, among
the great pine trees until each one looked wild
and weird, like grim giants standing as sentineis
IN the gloom. My head was bolstered up the
fire was warm and nice, and as tendery
man the rough fellow with a spoon fed me the de-
Iicous broth. 1t was to me the elixir of life"
know it was very childish, but the tears thick
and fast from my eyes, and fell upon the hard
hand that kindly ministerlng to my wants
Sam pretended not to notice them but i'll his com
ical manner continued to talk. 81 understand
there has been an uncommon demand for poultry
IN Yirglney the last few days The chvelry have
had lots of visitors whom they did not expect, A
great many fellows from the North have persisted
in coming down this way, and chickens are hard
to find hardly know when 1 shall draw another.
And 50 have put all this meat and broth IN this
pail for you 1t will last you a week | tried to
thank him, but gratitude choked my utterance
My head was aid back upon its hard pillow; the
tire continued to make the inside of the ambulance
cheerful and warm Sam sat on a log drank his
coffee and ate his hard tack with keen relish,
never knew his full name, | know not where he
is now. IfHving, | know not what position in life
he may fill, or how his fellow men may regard
him but | do know that under his coarse and
rough exterior he had manly heart and deserves
a kingy crown
HOME.
Cheer up shouted Sam on the afternoon of
the third day. You are almost home There
was sharp crack Of the whip, short gallop, and
the ambulance stopped at the street of Company
H was indeed at home. Kind comrades we're
there to welcome me William, Charley, and a
dozen others to assist them Finally | was led
from the ambulance to a tent. | glanced over my
shoulder as some men removed my sick compan
ion from the other part of the carriage His form
seemed cold and rigid. He was dead. then un
derstood why the sroaning had ceased and the
meaning of Sans words when he said He is un
common uuipt An 0Tn PpIvA ATE