The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-08-01
SAM'S ANGEL.


man seemed quite familiar, and they evil
IDENTIFY recognized me. The two, as drew
near, stepped back several PAGES from the
narrow path, still facing to the front,
brought their heels together with a snap,
stood perfectly erect eyes square to the
the regulation military salute. IS 1t was
comical to see the youngster of eight years
or thereabouts, initiating with perfect
gravity, and in military time the action of
I remembered the man. +
''Why, Sam " s..... f-.H,T
''Ha, ha, Colonel Bothered we min
ute, didn't /? Give US shake-please-
.jist fur old times. / knowed we wouldn't
forgit Sam. Ha, ha Does me good to
see We as it did when we run up the old flag
at Vicksburg." tI.4 ...a
Turning to the boy, who had stood i'm
movable at parade rest, he said:
Break ranks an come shake hands
with yer Colonel. Forty-eight.p On
The little fellow advanced with the air of
a man, he gave me his hand, whilst his
large gray eyes seemed to- be carefully
studying my face. s.ati.R ls.Bs ,siaH
''Forty-eight knows We Colonel, knows
we of old"-cOntinued Sam-"all about you
an the little black mare. Hev We got her
yet !? He knows all about them little
speeches We used to make to the boys, and
what we used to blaze out in the fight
when things wor gittin hot-all exceptin'
some as are too strong fur boy to learn
fur his own good. "
go you along ahead, Forty-eight," he
said to the boy, well be right down arter
-ye." .tF445 an
AS the child, after again saluting, start
ed ahead, Sam resumed: z.s.z..,
''Theres man, Colonel, inside o'them
little breeches, as Gineral Grant might be
proud to be the father of Forty-eight
Sidney Fosters thoroughbred if ever
there was one on EARTH f-.T-sTfF
''What " I asked, Lieutenant Foster $
son?" a Ff4 Jf5Hg
''Jist that, sir" answered Sam while a
look of sorrow passed over his face.
"And the Lieutenant? ? 1 suppose he is
-?" and look the rest of the question.
eyes, sir, gone-mustered out, expira-
tionofterm. He never got overthat shot in
the lung, and after she-the only an all he
lived for--after she went, he seemed as
though he were always a-pinin' to be on
the march after her An last fall, two
year ago, one night | heard him a-callin'
loud as he could, an it weren't much more
nor whisper. Sam Sam says he.
Lieutenant 2 says I. The boy-quick !!
says he. (The little Teller always slept
with ne.) So wraps little Forty-eight
up, and takes him to the bedside. The
Leftenant jist put his arms bout him,
kissed him once, looked at me, tried to say
somethin', kind o'drawed a long breath,
an'-he'd got his transfer. Colonel. Both
on EMS laid together, jist out there-7out
where we met you. ..6a536 4ijBt
Sam Single had formerly belonged to
the h-eighth--Voluntee Infantry,
which, during the late war, had the honor
to command. Brave men all were they,
but the most recklessly brave and the most
troublesome man in the regiment, was this
same Sam. A more loyal, gentle, fearless
heart never animated ''six-feet-tyon fof
rough masculine humanity. For drinking
and profanity, he was without a peer, and
when drunk he was perfect demon.
Lietenant Foster of his company, slight
and delicate, a gallant soldier and educated
gentleman, had been adopted by Sam as
his special charge. In one of the assaults
upon Vicksburg, the Lieutenant had been
wounded in the lung and left upon the
field within pistol shot of the enemy's
works. Sam had gone back alone, under
heavy fire, and carried him off ; an act
of heroism that caused the brave foe to
cease firing upon the noble fellow and his
helpless burden not however before Sam
had been SO severely wounded 1.-THE hip
and shoulder as to necessitatehi discharge
at the same time with the lieutenant.
From that time, notwithstanding the dis
parity in social position and education,l the
two men were like brothers. Together
they had gone to Fosters Western home,
where seven years from the time / had bid
den them ''good by' upon the battle field,
met Sam. ...., .-tn...,f;.as
The absense of that recklessness and pro-
family formerly such a marked Characters
tic of the man, struck me. Pointing to a
tavern in sight, said = - ~
y Il suppose, Sam, that is your headqnar-
tiers ~
''No, sir.' he emphaticallyg replied.
''There amt been drop of that stuff gone
under my buttons since the night z WE'LL
it's over three years now since swore, off
fur good promised Aer-Colonel, fur ever
an ever. Amenr' vi ri "a ~
But, Colonel, I'd take it mighty kind if
We jist walk up to my quarters fur a chat.
want to have talk with square Christ
ian as l can understand. Eve wanted it
this many-a-day, an it seems as though
you'd come a-purpose. a3AkA room
''Have you no companions ?" I in
quired. Observation-Disclosures
''Nary,--only Forty-eight. The whisky
crowd fight shy of me, now, as don't
4 N