The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-10-15

when its holiday features had given
place to genuine blood and universal
sorrow when the dazzling uniforms
had been dragged through the mud
and dust Of many campaigns, aud the
soil Of the southern state had swal-
lowed up the dear dust Of brothers
and sons, and when the roll Of drums
and the flash. of swords no longer
won new fruits to deaths grim car
nival, there came the draft, with all
of the horrors. but none OF the
dearly-bought glory of volunteer ser>
vice.
Peter Duffy, an Irish blacksmith
with young wife and large family
of helpless little children, was among
the first in southern Wisconsin to
draw a sorrowful prize. He felt that
he absolutely could not go. He
tried every way to evade the call
to certain death, but met with moth.
ing but chagrin, ridicule and defeat.
Que day Hon. James H. Earnest
was speaking in the state senate,
when messenger came and told him
that man outside the senate cham>
ber wished to see him. Owing to
some misunderstanding, Mr.. Duffy
was ushered in the room. He had
a good deal of hair. which he allowed
to grow in Wild profusion. He did
not hold himself responsible in any
way for that hair. His head looked
like an old hair mattress that had
been turned wrong side out by cy.
clone and deserted by its friends.
he became the cynosure of all eyes.
The speech lost Its interest and came
to a close.
'.Now, Peter" said Mr.. Earnest,
what's is the matter with your"
s'"Sinator, I'm, kilt, I'm a cold
carpse. Me wife is WILDLY. They
do have me drafted; Jlm.. There
only half a moile bethune me and
paradsise. I want you to see the
President or Jiff Davis, or. Ginera1
MickLillan. or some Of thin byes
and save me loife. II ye can't do it
Jim I'm gone oop, and me wife is
a weepin' wildly bound for the poor
house beyant. Hip me out, Sinator
Pass q bill making tia 6lony on the
hoigh saze to draft An Irish ordau
into this gineral massacre. Dc
that Jim and I'll pray for yor
alt me loife and the Lord knows you
made it, too and l'll. do all your
blacksmithin' at half price.
Mr.. Earnest thought all those things
were impracticable.
'Peter," said he," you seem to be
elected by an overwhelming major
ity and I'm afraid your resignation
would not be accepted. Unless you
fail to pass the medical: examination
you'll have to go, guess.
Then Mr.. Duffy thought Of some
thing.
.sSinator. to tell the trooth, cam,
hear very we'll meself. Whin l wa.
an apprentice red mool kicked the
daylolghts out Of me and impaired me
listeners"
Mr.. Earnest had never noticed
this. but he really didn't want to see
Duffy 60 and in the kindness of his
heart he encouraged the idea little
He even went over to see DR.. Hoyt al
Camp Randall. and while they made
|some scientific experiments witt
lemons and sugar and spirits, b.
(drew the conversation toward Mr.
Duffy.
The next day Mr.. Earnest told
Peter to come down to the Park
Hotel and visit him at his room
At the appointed hour Senator Ear
nest produced a list Of questions ant
told Mr.. Duffy that he would have t,
answer these satisfactorily. Pa
tiently they set to work like class o
students who have secretly &C.
cured a list of queries prior to tn
day of examination. Every d.,
after the legislative session h1t
closed, Mr.. Earnest would repair t.
his room in company with Mr.. Duff!