The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-15


cd and the missing.
And all the while tho moon didn't
give way at all. Pretty soon my poor
stars began TO fall faster and faster.
until thousands and thousands went
dropping. falling down out of the sky.
And / just couldn't stand it any
longer. for you see. was on the stars
side. so beat the Retreat as hard as i
could. and then the army began t. fall
back. But there were great gaps in
the line and hundreds of stragglers.
Every little while some poor star, that
had been wounded and couldn't keep up
any longer, would go sinking slowly
down ont ofsight.
ID lieutenant! How sorry felt for
them. And / noticed that the night
had grown darker, and tn ought, that
is because SO many bright stars were
killed in the fight. and because the
eyes OF the rest are all full of tears fOr
their lost comrades and their defeat.
Then they all looked SO tired and
sleepy that ! sounded Taps at once, and
the whole army put ont their lights and
turned in and went to sleep right away.
Pretty soon thought it was sunrise,
and jumped mp and beat the Reveille,
and while l was rafting away thought
part of Gen. Sherman's army came
marching by. There were the cavalry,
with their jangling sabres, and the ar
tillery, with their brass guns as bright
as gold, and then thousands and thous-
ands of infantry, with their muskets all
at right shoulder. shift And Thought
there was one splendid drum corps.
The flies sounded out loud and shrill,
just as they used to, and the drums.-
there must have been TWENTY-FIVE of
them,-and the rat-tat-tat of the SHARES,
and the boom, boom Of the big bass fel.
lows fairly set me crazy.
"Oh, l was wild to he marching along
with the rest! They were PLAYING
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
and struck right in with the old drum
and played my very best. I don't know
what it was happened then, but think
the drum must have got wings some
way, for it rose right up in the air, and
l with it, and We went up over the roofs
and chimneys, and the woods and the
hills; but all the while could hear
that splendid drum-corps playing
When johnny Comes Marching Home,
though couldn't see the troops any
more. So I kept on beating away for
dear life, for was a little frightened
1t first when l saw how high mp We
we're.
''But soon the flies and the drums
began to sound fainter and fainter, and
1t the very moment when / couldn't
hear them ct All-only think Of it! I
cooked down, and right there under us
was the very old schoolhouse where I !
lsed to go to school. And then there !
vas old Deacon Ingalls,, who lives down
,lose by the swimming hole, you know.
lust beyond was the saw mill and
Charley Browns house and the Metho-
list Church. and then, o lieutenant,
here was home and mother and the |
.hildren and Carlo, all looking up ct
Is.
"And then,-oh, the dear, sweet,
'weet mother II was down in the yard
ike fash, with my arms round hsr
,eck, and she laughed and cried and
Kissed me over and over again, and
,alled me her dear, brave soldier boy.
II cried just like . baby, was 90
Happy. 1t seemed a. il I never could
owe her enough. And when looked
'round to speak d the children, the
leighbors were coming over from every
direction, and they all seemed to be
inging When Johnny Comes Marching
Home And there was the dear old
lrum beating away all of itself, Just -
lard as ever it could, when Johnny
Comes Marching Home
Isn't il too bad. lieutenant, that twas
My dream? Oh, il the good God
My knew how want to see my moth
n, He'd surely make it come true. Do
'ou, do you really think I can start
'retty soon?"
He was vide awake and cheerful dur.
ng the day. and talked q great deal
bout his friends and his home, but he
vas evidently sinking fast. Towards
'vening lie grew silent, and seemed un-
conscious of my presence. It may be
hat he was listening to the gentle
'oices Of the angels, a. they told him
life had reached its close. It may be
hat the plying heart Of the Great
Father had granted the dying wish of
he brave little soul, and given MIN
light. and communion with the mother
le so loved and longed for. After Q
While the closed eyes slowly opened,
nd he gazed steadily into my face.
Then, without single trace of fear in
lis countenance, hut with such deep,
'itiful disappointment in his voice that
nearly broke my heart, he said
know now, lieutenant. I shall
ever see mother again"
He begged that I would not leave
i'm, and reaching up his arms with .
eeble effort, his eyes pleaded that I
sould take him in my arms. Ali I
hall never forget the pathos Of those
loor shrunkan. almost trnnsnsranf liz. |