Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-12-23
CHAPTER VIII.
THE TEDIUM OF CAMP.

CHAPTER VIII
THE TEDIUM OF CAMP.
To really enjoy life in camp of instruc-
ton requires peculiar cast of mind 1t re-
quires genuine liking for treadmill round
of merely mechanical duties; it requires O
taste for rising in the chill and cherries
dawn, at the unwelcome summons of reveille,
to long day filled with tiresome routine of
laborious drills, alternating with tedious roll
calls and wearisome Ilarades and inspections;
it requires pleased contentment with walks
continually cut short by the camp guard, and
with amusements limited to rough horse play
on the parade ground and dull games of cards
by sputtering candles in the tent
These were the trials that tested Harry
Glen's resolution sorely. When he enlisted
with the intention Of redeerning himself he
naturally expected that the opportunity be
desired would be given by prompt march
to the field and speedy entrance into an en-
gagement He nerved himself strenuously
for the dreadful ordeal OF battle, but this be-
came continually receding point The Bit
ter defeat at Bull Run was bearing fruit in
months of painstaking preparation before
venturing upon another collision.
II do wish the regiment would get orders
to move" said almost hourly each one Of n
half million impatient youths fretting IN
camps Of instruction through the long sum-
mer of 1861
u do wish the regiment would get orders
to move,n said Harry Glen angrily one
evening, on coming into the surgeons tent to
have his blistered hands dressed He had
been on fatigue duty during the day, and the
fatigue squad had had an obstinate struggle
with an old oak stump, which disfgured the
parade ground, and resisted removal like an
Irish tenant
Il am willingness, / can say am anxious,
eyen-to go into battle be continued, while
DIR. Paul Denslow laid plasters of simple
eerate on the abraded palms and then
swathed them i'll bandages. "Anything is
preferable to this chopping tough stumps with
dull ak and drilling six hours day while
the thermometer hangs around the nineties.n
81 admit that there are things which would
seem pleasanter 70 q young man of your tenn
permanent and previous habits" said the sur
geon, kindly. "Shift over into that arm
stool, which you viii find easier. and rest a
little while. Julius, bring in that box of
cigars"
While julius, who resembled his illustrious
namesake as little in celebrity of movement as
he did in complexion, was coming, the sur
geon prepared a paper, which he presented
to Harry, saying:
There, thatH keep you off duty to-mor-
row. After that. we'll see what can be done"
Julius arrived with the cigars as tardily as
If he had to cross Rubicon in the back
room. Two were lighted, and the surgeon
settled himself for chat.
Have you become tired of soldier lifea"
asked he, studying Harry's face for the effect
of the question
81 cannot say that | have become tired of
it" said Harry, frankly, because l must adj
NIT that l never had the slightest inclination
to it. | had less fancy for becoming sol
der than for any other honorable pursuit
that you could mention"
"Then you only joined the army
"From q sense of duty merely" said Harry,
knocking the ashes from his cigar
"And the physical and other discomforts
now begin to weigh nearly as much as that
sense of dutyg"
"Not at all. 1t only seems to me that there
are more OF them than arc absolutely essen
tial to the performance of that duty /
want to be of service to tho country, but |
would prefer that that service be not made
unnecessarily onerous."
Il can make your lot in the service easier,n
said Dr. Denslow
"Indeedl How 500"
"By having you appointed my hospital
steward. / have not secured one yet, and the
man who is acting as such is so Incorporate
that feel fresh sense of escape with every
day that passes without his mistaking the
oxalic acid for Epson salts, to the destruction
of some earnest but constipated young
patriots whole digestive viscera
IF you accept this position" continued the
surgeon, fiinging away his refractory cigar in
disgust, and rising to got fresh ono, ayau
will have the best rank and pay of any non
commissioned officer in the regiment; better,
indeed, than that of second lieutenant. You
will have your quarters here with me, and be
compelled to associate with no one but me,
thus reducing your disagreeable companions
at a single stroke, to one. And you will es-
cape finally from all subserviency to Lieut..
Pancake, or indeed to any other officer in the
regiment, except your humble servant. As to
food, you will mess with me-"
"Those are certainly very strong induce
ments," said Harry, meditating upon the de-
lightfulness Of relief from the myriad of rasp-
ing little annoyances which rendered every
day of camp life an affection
Yes and still farther, you will never need
to go under fire, or expose yourself to danger
Of any kind, unless you choose tor
Harry's face crimsoned to the hue of the
western sky where the sun was Just going
down. He started TO answer hotly, but an
understanding of the eurgeons evident kind
ness and sincerity interposed to deter him.
He knew there was no shaft of sarcasm hid
den below this plain speech, and after mo
ments consideration he said:
II am very grateful, assure you, for your
kindness in this matter | am strongly
tempted to accept your offer, but there are
still stronger reasons why l should decline
it,
MAY l ask your reGsons7
My reasons for not accepting the appoint
mentF
Eyes, the reasons which inpel you to prefer
dinner of bitter herbs, under Mr. Pancakes
usually soiled thumb, to stalled OK and my
profitable society" said tho surgeon, gayly.
Harry hesitatcd moment, and then de-
cided to speak frankly. @Yes," he said,
'your kindness gives you the right to know.
To not tell you would show q lack Of graft
tude. l made painful blunder before in not
staying unhinchingly with my company
The more 1 think of it, the more regret it,
and the more 1 am decided not to repeat it,
but abide by my comrades and share their
fate in all things. / feel that no longer
have a choice in the matter; l must do it,
But there goes the drum for roll call. /
must 60 Good evening" and very many
thanks
"The young fellows no callow milksop
after all" said Surgeon Denslow, as his eyes
followed Harry's retreating form "His
gristle is hardening into something like his
stern old fathers backbone"
CHAPTER TX.