Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
MARY'S EL0PEMENT.


Face to face we sat for some time in the
cars, speeding across the country through
Ohio.
Old he was, but erect of figure, keen
and bright of eye, rudy of cheek. He
sat well forward on the seat as though
accoutrements still prevented any Ioung-
ing, and / noted him for an ''oId sabre in
moment. He made the first advance
with preliminary "Hemw the passing
of his left palm over the upper lip, where
the mOUstache had ought to have been,
and with a slight Irish accent.
"Beg pardon, sir, but think yer in the
saryice."
Fright you are" replied, "and if I'm
not mistaken you've been there toO!''
Then the right hand went up to the
forehead in salute and the body became
rigid.
''Thankee, sir! I'm proud to say I have
and prOuder to know l haven't lost the
set up yet. FOrty-two years, eight
months, five days, man and boy I served
the country in the field. Delaney's my
name-Sergeant Delaney,-th cavalry
oncet-dragoons-an' there's few officers
or onld men of the Ould army that don't
know Sergeant Delaney an be willin' to
speak a 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 circumstances
would have called forth, and taking 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, ma! But I haven't kept
count. I've me head on me shoulders, an
a full compliment 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.
II was, if / do say it meself, as tight a
lad as every straddled pigskin and wore
blade, cooked me hat, carried a can,
slapped me leg and winked at the girls
Bnt [ was caugh tearly and fast. I'm of
Irish blood, We see, though I was brought
over here while a bit of boy. But it's
Irish am, and so fghtin' and e-makin'
small credit to me; it's natheral as
5reathin
I'D just got me corporars stripes, and
were stuck up with them like I was a
major gineral, when the Ould -dra-
gOOns were qUartered at, and there
met as nate an Irish lass as ever wore
leather, and in a week [ was married
man, and better enlistment paper
never signed. l always needed strict
discipline; then L 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 slip
ped around and [ was a sergeant and the
father of a daughter. Mary we called
her, after the mother I loved well but
was trOOblin'sOn too; and l can say it
boldly, no purifier creature ever came
on earth; and the manners of her as she
grOwed, were that astonishin' that though
her mother were a well-mannered, brisk
modest woman always, and / were ever
prompt, disciplined soldier, yet where
Mary got the high breedin' ways were
continual the worst of a puzzle to me.
"There may have been and be men
who love their little ones well as l, but
there were never a man loved daught-
er betther since God gave daughters to
men. When she first came | were some
put out because she weren't boy, but
had no thought of that when found the
tenderness of her baby heart. But I
taught her all a boy should know. She
coEld swim ride shoot, skate afore she
was 7, and whistle like a canary. It's
many's the time I'd laugh when tehy'd
tell ne the ould sayin' about whist
lin girls; and I'd always the notion of
music, though mighty little talent, but
be hard work, after nearly driven me wife
and all the garrison crazy with me prac-
ticin l learned to made fair fist Or
mouth, with the fife, and could give
'Yankee Doodle" ''Garryowen" and SIGH
to the satisfaction of me frinds and me-
self, and to everyone but the regular
Numbers of the band. Well. she, Mary
could bate me hollow on that fife in nc
time, and proud to the very hight OF
pride | was of her.
1--WE lived well and happy, when we
weren't fighting, till she were Is years
ould. You see, sir, you talkin of wounds
set me on this trial, and I'll tell you how
a man can get a worse wound from {
friend than ever the bullet or sabre of ar
enemy can give him, and how he cal
wound himself worse nor all.
''She was sixteen as [ said, and well ed
ucated for her place in life. We were il
garrison then, and to fit her for takin
care of herself we let her go into the tow
to learn the dressmakin-an never
girl had the good taste in dress lik
her.
''Well, Their were a young leftenan
to our troop, then gay, handsome, brav
young chap as ever you see. Barton b.
name. | respect him as an officer and
love him as a son.
''It were soon after ten months after h
came, when one night I went to My quar-
tiers at the barracks and Mary WASH,
there to sit at the table with me. Tha
night before 1 went in Lieutenant Barto
came to me with his bright smile an
friendly way, holdin' out his hand. Good
by, sergeant says he, I'm off tonight
of where, sir?' says I. I resigned tw
weeks ago, and my papa has just com
in says he.
THAT unsettled me. I'm hasty temper
ed at times, and when went home the wifi
says, says she, You're late, but there's tn
illigant stew for you