The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-09-09

Old he was, but erect of figure, keen
and bright Of eye, ruddy of cheek. He
sat we'll forward on the seat ~ though
accoutrements still prevented any loung-
ing, and noted him for an old sabre -
in moment. He made the first advance.
with preliminary Hem p the passin
of his left palm over the upper lip, where
the moustache ought to have been. and
with slight Irish accent.
"Beg pardon, sir, but I think yer in the
sarvice"
fright you are" replied, and if I'm
not mistaken you've been there, toor'
Then the right hand went to the FORE
head in salute and the body became rigid.
Thankee, sir I'm proud to say have,
and prouder to know l haven't lost the
set up yet. Forty-two years, eight
months, five days, man and boy, served
the country in the field. Delany's nv
nane-Sergeant Delany, -th cavarly-
onoet-dfagoons-an' there's few.pfiaers
or ould men of the ould army that don't
know Sergeant Delany an be willin' to
speak good word for him."
Then we talked and talked, he most,
through the long day. In the spirit be-
gotten of comradeship, in the patronage
the old blade felt for the young soldier,
he gave. condolences no other circum-
stances would have called forth, and, TAX
ing the cream of his story, the sum total
was this:
You could not have served so long
and escaped wounds" said, to lead him
on.
"To be sure, no! But haven't kept
count. I've me head on me shoulders,
an full complemint of legs and arms,
an anything short of the loss of them
don't count. Sure, we take them in the
line of duty-the way they come.
4" was, if l do say it meself, as tight a
lad as ever straddled pigskin and wore
blade, cooked me hat, carried can, slap
ped me leg and winked at the girls. But
| was caught early and fast. I'm of Irish
blood, ye see, though was brought over
here while bit of boy. But it's Irish
| am, and SO fghtin' and love-makin's
small credit to me; it's natheral as
breathin'.
"Pd just got me corporal's stripes, and
were stuck up with 'em like was a ma
jor gineral, when the ould - dragons
were quartered at-,and there l met as
nate an Irish lass as ever wore leather,
and in week l was a married man, and
betther enlistment paper | never signed.
l always needed strick discipline; then
had it at home and while on duty, and it
was the savin' of me-
Faith, it didn't seem longer than from
reveille to retreat afore a year slipped
around and was a sergeant and the faith
er of daughter. Mary we called her,
after the mother l loved we'll but was
troublin' son to and can say it boldly,
no purifier creature ever came on earth !;
and the manners Of her as she crowd,
were that astonishin' that though her
mother were we'll hammered, brisk, mod
est woman always, and l were ever
prompt disciplined soldier, yet where
Mary got the high breedin' ways were
continual the worst of puzzle to me.
"They may have been and be men who
love their little ones we'll as /, but ther'
were never man loved daughter betther
since God gave daughters to men. When
she first came | were some put out be-
cause she weren't boy, but l had no
thought of that when found the tender
ness of her baby heart. But l taught her
all boy should know. She could shwim,
ride, shoot, skate afore she was 7, and
whistle like canary. It's many's the
time I'd laugh when they tell me the ould
sayin' about 'whistlin girls;' and I'd al
ways the notion of music, though mighty
little talent, but be hard work, afther
nearly drivin' me wife and all the garri-
son crazy with me practicin,' l learned to
make fair fist, or mouth, with the fife,
and could give Yankee Doodle" Gar
ryowen" and sich to the satisfaction of
me frinds and meself, and to every one
but the regular Numbers of the band.
Well, she, Mary, could bate me hollow
on that fife in no time, and proud to the
very height Of pride / was of her.
"We lived well and happy, weren't
fighting, till she were IL years ould. You
see, sir, you talkin' of wounds set me on
this trail, and I'll tell you how man can
get worse wound from friend than
ever the bullet or sabre of an enemy can
give him, and how he can wound himself
worse nor all.
"She was 16, as said, and well edu-
Gated for her place in life. We were in
garrison then, and to fit her for takin'
care of herself we let her go into the
town to learn the dressmakin'-apd nev-
er a girl had the good taste in dress like
her.
"Well, ther' were young leftenant
came to our troop, then gay, handsome,
brave young chap as ever you see, Bar
ton be name. / respected him as an Off
Ger and loved him as a son.
cit were some ten months after he
come, when one night went to my quar-
ters at the barracks and Mary wasn't there
to sit at the table with me. That night
before went in Leftenant Barton came to
me with his bright smile and friendly way,
holdin' out his hand. 'Goodby, sergeant
says he, 'Pm off to night of where,
sir?' says l. Il resigned two weeks ago,
and my papers has just come in, says he.
THAT unsettled me. Pm hasty tenn
pered at times, and when went home
the wife says, says she, you're late, but
there's the illigant stew for YOU
"The devil fly away with your stew,
Mrs. Delany,' says L Where's my daugh.
ter?'
"'Tain't one of me knows says she. 1
'spose she's KEEP late. Ate your stew,
man, and don't be oursin' me, for won't
take it off you nor no other man.
"Tm fond of Irish stew, sir, and no
woman makes it better nor Mrs. Delany,
but with this and that were so put out
l never enjoyed bite lees.
IL e