Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1884-07-24
4 Confederate Eqa-Nogg.

One cold Christmas day, wneH the pros
poets of the Confederacy were as gloomy
as the weather, an Arkansas soldier. whose
clothes looked as though they had been run
through a threshing machine, approached
General Hindman, who sat on stump near
fire, and said:
Gineral, wouldn't little aignog 60
putty well this mornin." You know, In
Arkansas we allus cilibrate Christmas with
little O the stuff"
"Yes," the general replied, "and | should
like to have quart cf it right now"
"Well, let's go to your tent, whar no.
body ken see US, an we'll make some range
ments."
When they entered the tent the soldier
said: You git the whisky, and I'll git the
aigs and sugar"
"All right"
The soldier went away, and after while,
with detected countenance, he returned with
the information that some one had stolen
the "artickles." "Im devlish sorry,
said he, for I've been er savin' them things
fur YER benefit for long time, KNOWN
how agnog would strike yer Christmas
day"
"That is bad" said the general, "and ii
could discover the thief, he should be
punished. Stay here, and let me 80 out
and slirmish."
The general after much difficulty, sue
cceded in securing the Ingredients, and ere
long bowl of the frothing drink was pre-
pared
"Ah," said the soldier, redlling his tin
cuT the third time "this tastes like old
times, when | uster get up afore day an
fire oil the old fuzee. Put two mems
heads together an Suthin is goin' tel
happen"
Shortly after the soldier left the tent
Colonel Bob Newton, chief Of Hindman's Z
staff, entered, and said:
"Do you remember old Dave Aickctt
who used TO run a fat boat on White
riyer?"
"Yes, he was here few moments ago.
"Hc came to me this morning" the col
onel continued, "and began to talk about
egg nocg. Said that he had been keeping
eggs and sugar for me long time, and that
if / would furnish the whisky, we would
have Christmas drink agreed, and he
went away, returning pretty soon, and
sorrowfully announced that some one bad
stolen his treasure. Rather than sec the
old fellow disappointed, furnished every
thing, and for few moments We"
Good morning, gentlemen" said Gen
eral Churchill, entering the tent. Had q
fine egg-nogg carly this morning. An old
fellow that used to run fat boat on White
river said that he would furnish the eggs
and sugar"
"But did he do it?' asked Ilindman and
Newton simultaneously.
"No; some wretch had stolen the stuff.
Hello, here is Pagan"
Gentlemen" said General Fagan; you
ought to have been with me this morning.
An old fellow, former fiat boatman, came
TO me and talked about eggs till no made
my mouth water. He said that he had been
saving up lot of eggs and sugar for my
benefit, and that if | would furnish the
whisky we would celebrate. | agreed, and
he went away, but never saw a more cast
down man than he was upon returning.
Some one had stolen the eggs, but furnish
cd the outfit, seeing that disappointment
would about kill the old fellow. Hello,
Reynolds"
Good morning, gentlemen" said Gen.
cral Reynolds. q have had fine time
this morning. An old fellow"
"Hold on" shouted the other men; we
know all about that egg stealing business"
General Hindman called an orderly, and
giving him the name Of the egg man, said
Find that man and make him drunk, if II
takes every drop OF whiskey in the Conied-
eracy. Such merit shall not 60 unrewari-
ed."-Terds Sjfings.