The National tribune., 1884-07-10

and a request that chaplain belonging tosone
of the regiments in the advance brigade might
be allowed to return with the messenger to the
cabin.
The general asked the orderly for what pur-
pose chaplain was wanted, and the orderly
replied that the doctors mentioning our names)
were going to have baptism.
SOME DEvmrRY ON HAND.
Upon this. Gen Logan for he il was) signif-
cantly remarked, that the names mentioned
were in themselves sufficient to satisfy him
that some deFitry was on hand, but that, new
ertheless. the chaplain might go. Then, in
viting the colonel, who happened to be riding
with him at the time. he set out himself for
fhe scene spurring Old John TO gallop, and
soon had joined the party at the cabin.
"General," said the Doctor, as the former
disnounted, You are just the man we're af-
Ter
"For whatg"
"For godfather" replied the Doctor.
"Godiather 10 whatg" demanded the Gen
eral
WHAT THE GENERAL SAID AND DID.
The matter was explained to him, and, as
fhe Doctor led the way into the house, the boys,
who had gathered around the General in the
expectation that the event would furnish an
occasion for a display OF his characteristic
humor. noticed there was something In Black
Jacks face that they were not wont to see
there and that in his ewes there was certain
humid tenderness far different from their usual
flashing brightness. He stood for a moment
silent gazing at the unhappy mother and
fatherIess child, and their pitfnl surroundings
and then, turning TO those about him, said
tersely:
THAT looks - rough"
Then, glancing around at the ruins wrought
cabin, he called ont: " j say. boys. can't you
straighten this up littie2 Fix up that roof
There are plenty Of stakes around that old
stable-and push back that log into place, and
help the old lady to clear out the litter, and
don't think i would hart you any to leave a
part Of your rstionsi"
TIE BOYS GO TO WORK.
Prompt TO heed the suggestion, the boys
leaned their muskets against the logs, and,
while some Of them cut brush others swept up
the splIDteTs and pine knots that the shot and
shell had strewn over the floor. and not one Of
them forgot TO 90 TO the corner Of the cabin
and empty his bayersack 1t made pile of
commisssry stores. consisting of meat, coffee,
sugar, hard-tack and chickens probably foraged
from her next-docr neighbOr) surprising any
that this poor cracker" woman had probably
ever seen or possessed at one time,
This done the next thing in order was the
christening and the chaplain now came for
ward 10 perform bis sacred Office.
"Whaf are you going to give her for name ?
] want suthin right pearl, now,' said grand
mother.
She Was told that the name should be salts
factory, and forthwith she brought out the
baptismal b0wl-which on this occasion con-
sisted OF gouTd-fall Of water fresh from the
spring
THE CHRISTENING.
Gen Logan now took the baby. wrapped in
lis swaddiing clothes Of coarse bOmespun. aud
held il while The chaplain went through with
the ceremony. The latter was brief and char
acterized with due solemnity, the spectators
behaving with becoming reverence, and thus
the battle-b0rn babe was christened Shell
Anna" ] ike to think that as the chaplain's
prayers were winging their way to heaven, the
CORY goddess who nurses eorgon at her breast
stayed her red hand awhile.
The party now turned 10 leave the cabin
and resume the march, when Gen Logan, TAX
ing gold coin from his pocket-a coin that he
had carried pocket-piece for many day
presented II to the old lady as christening
gift for his g0dehiid, aud the officers and men
as they had recently drawn their pay, added
one by one a greeEback," until the sum was
sweiled 10 amount greater than this brave
hearted cra-ker" had ever handled. Before
parting, the General cautioned her TO put the
money IN q sale place. lest some - bummel
should stcs IT, in spite of everything" and
then ordering guard to be kept over hel
cabin until the last strzggler had passed by, b,
rode away The old lady's eOod-by was
. Naal. them thar 1anks is the beatenist crit
tiers ever sccg!"
A LAST COOLEY.
Ten days or 50 after this occurrence, tn
cabin being by that time within the enemy
lines, the General, accompanied By the write
and 10 Of MS escort, rode back eight miles L
see how oar P-0bege was getting and fount
both mother aud child, in the language o
grandma quite peartn Whether Gen. Lo
gan's god-daughter is still alive or not l do no
know, but five years after that visit wor
reached me that she then was. CeTtainl,
ne 0ne who witnessed that scene viii ever for
get tie big-hearted soldier as he stood spOnsO
grim, vet gentle for that poor little battle
born babe Of Flint River. II all came back {
me, the other night, rs ] walked past the from
STEPS Of the Generals Washington house an
saw Z squad OF little urchins clambering abou
his knees. FIFTEENTH CORPS.