Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-04-16
a Worthless Fellow.

There wss rumof ahoat at the fort
that Tom O'Halloran was to be dis
charged IRON the regiment for drunk
enness, and every body was sorry for 1t.
Even though those we're stirring days
and every man and woman had their
heads and hearts full OF the expedition
asalnstthe Indians for which the regi-
ment was preparing, yet each had a
thought OF pity for TONGA word OF kioo
ness for TOMS mother. They had, al
ter fashion, belonged 10 the regiment
longer than any officer or soldier now
including in it. for Toms father bad
been bapd-master from the early days
of the war TO his dealh, which occurred
lust after Tom was enrolled as a pri-
vste. some FIVE years since; while Mrs.
O'Halloran, whose patience and faith
lulness as nurse were beyond praise,
was epdeared to almost every officers
{ mily by some battle with death which
they bad fought together. They had
more than their share of Irish beauty,
those TWO, and the gray eyes which
laughed or flashed under Toms dark
brows were, his defenders said, very
like those which looked at the world
with such gentle kindness from beneath
his mothers while hair. He was a
strong, clever young freshman, with an
aptitude for doing we'll anything that
be was sci to do. from fighting TO mas
onry, but with passion for driok which
his mothers prayers, bis colonePs
warnings, and his own resolutions were
powerless 10 overcome. Clever and
handsome and brave as be was. and
Child Of the Regiment,' IS he was jok-
ingly callt his officers would scarcely
have had such patience with his always
recurring escapades if 1t had not been
for hls mother, whose love for him was
so devoted, and whose faith in his
promises of reform 30 unwavering, thai
the hardest hearts land soldiers hearts
are not very hard ones) always yielded
TO her entrealy for another chance for
her boY. r. -.--
But this time things looked very er.
ious for poor Ton. He had been drunk
while on duty as sentry, and being IN a
qusrrelsome humor, had been with
difficulty preQenieas from knocking
dow . the officer.of the dav who had
ordered him ander arrest. Within a
week a large portion OF the regimen
was 10 START on an expedition oi. several
nohtts, and as Toms company was
among those which were TO go, the eol-
onel bad been heard to cay that pa
tlebce in his case had reached its limit.
fora drnnkep sentry oulj endanser
aussrny. and. nobody could possibly
rely upon Toms sobriety from one
T. our TO another. Punishment apt
warnings bad alike failed a hundred
ines, and Tom must be left beh:sd
and discharged. / think the good col
onel, under whose bluff aspect was
hidden a very k ndly heart, was quite
CONSCIOUS that ne was in disfayor Swltn
allthe ladies and'pany OF lhe, officers
that day, and it was even. whispered
hat lie had been repulsed with great
disorder, in an, attempt TO prove tc
MIS-. Colonel that lie was right in hl:
resoluien. AT ali eyents, yhe carried
rather agloomy countenance about his
duties, aud it was with tagging foot
steps that, toward evening, be entered
lie little hospital. There was only
one patient at present, but he would
uever leave 1t alive, man who haG
been good soldier, and the colonel
orderly for years. .s4sI
A little old woman. with a whit,
apron aud quaint cap rose frsm be
side the bed where poor Butler lay I
pale'liule Won anS wilma look Of pa
tiepi trouble 10 Der SOFT eyes ihat touch
ed the colonel more than vehement re
rroaches, for this was Mrs. O'hallor-
an, az to ldln, as to most Of the off,
GERS, she MAS Tie cid and lrled rfrleuc
of many an Illness and Anxiety, rather
than merely the moLher of a private
soldier who ,yas in ascrape.fTue room
| was neat and pleasapt,s hes bed and the
p4l,nt as we'll cared for, as though bi
nurse had no thought but his welfare
and lbe sight OF this also touched tht
colonel, who would have doue bis dut,
under any circumstances, and who res
peeled the evidence Of ascbaracier N
others = - .. Il ~ ~ TsFssfs F
Butler must not talk much, If vol
please. colonei, Mrs. 0'HRllorar
said, as she ieft The room and sat down
on the lowest siep Of the ball ,staits'fo
she was trembling 80 that che could
scarcely stand.
Afler a few mon ents the colone
came slowly out. He was surprised tha
Butler, bad not interceded for Tom
because lie knew the mans liking for
the nurse, who, as a special favor, hst
been allowed him, instead Of the usnal
hospital steward. and that be might re-
asouably expect to be heard with pa
tierce al leas' by his old master. e. ~
X ~ kuog Nhs,I would ssy.1 Col
oDel,' Mrs. O,HailOrau began, rising
and claspiog her wrinklsd hands. M