Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-09-09
NlARY'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
Announcements still prevented any loung-
ing, and / noted him for an "old sabre" in
moment He made the first advance
with a preliminary HEM the passing
of his left palm over the upperlip, where
the mOustache had ought to have been,
and with a slight Irish accent
BEG pardon sir, but think yer in the
saryicen
Fright you are" replied, "and if I'm
not mistaken you've been there toow
Then the right hand went up to the
forehead in salute and the body became
rigid.
'Thankee, sir! I'm proud TO say have
and prouder TO know | haven't lost the
set up yet Forty-two years eight
months, Eve days, man and boy | served
the country in the field. Delaney's my
name Sergeant Delaney,-th cavalry
oncet Dragons an there's few officers
or onld men of the ould army that don't
know Sergeant Delaney 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 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 l haven't kept
eount. 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.
81 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, ye see, though l was brought
over here while bit of boy. But it's
Irish am, and so fghtin' and loye-makin'
small credit TO me; it's natheral as
5reathin
ia Just got me corporal's stripes, and
were stuck up with them like | was q
major ginerul, when the ould -dra
goOns were quartered at --, and there
met as nate an Irish lass as ever wore
leather, and in week | was a married
man, and a better enlistment paper |
never signed. | always needed strict
discipline; then | had it at home and
while on duty and 1T was the savin' of
me.
Faith, it didn't seem longer than
from reyeile TO retreat afore year slip
ped around and | was a sergeant and the
father of n daughter Mary we called
her, after the mother loved well but
WAS trooblin'sou too; and | can say it
boldly, no purifier creature ever came
on earth; and the manners of her as she
growed, were that astOuishiu' that though
her mother were a well hammered, brisk
modest woman always, ard / were "Ier
prompt, disciplined soldier, yet where
Mary got the high breedin' ways were
continual the worst of a pdzzle to me.
There may have been and be men
who love their little ones well as /, but
there were never man loved a 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 Bat
taught her allaboy should know, She
copld swim ride shoot skate nfors She
was r and ,vhi.u,lil-a #co,,ory a.
many's the time ia laugh when tehy'd
tell nae the Guild sayin about whist.
lin girls. and ia aIways the notion of
music, though mighty little talent, but
he hard work after noorl, driven ma. wife
and an the garrison GRAVY with mo nrac.
ticin: / learned to madea fair fst or
mouth. with the fife. and ropld Give
yankee Doodle "Garryowen" and sich
to the satisfaction of me frind, ana me
self, and TO everyone but the REGULAR
Numbers of the band. Well She. Mary
could bate me hollow ON that fife i'm ma
time, and proud 10 tine very hight of
pride / was OF her.
1--WE lived wen ana haupy. when we
weren't lighting, till she were lG years
ould. You see, SIN you talNn of wounds
set me ON this trial, aud I'LL tell you how
man can get worse wound from q