Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-24

In the little tent, and several men stepped
out toward the speaker, picturesque IN his
very unpicturesqueness, whose grotesque
figure stood out sharply against the bit OF
landscape showing through the opening OF
the tent. But his face awed them back.
The goat turned, and moaned pitifully,
rubbing her nose against Parsons coat with
mute insistence. His face softened Won
derfully; he seemed to forget the men, his
anger, everything, and he whispered to her
in soft, caressing tones.
You have followed me through thick
| and thin, Miss Anna. When the overflow
came and we were starving it was you
who struggled back to us through the
water, and it was your milk that kept US
alive. Everything depended then on your
strength. We called our baby after you,
and when the poor little one died it cut
me cruelty, cruelty. / can never forget
! this days work Be brave, Miss Anna, be
brave" and putting his cheek On Miss
Annals head, the tears fairly rolled out of
his eyes.
Hestopped minute, drawing his breath
in short, quick sobs, and threw out both
hands with forlorn hope of abandon
ment.
"Ol great God l was so lonely when
wife and babies all were dead, and loved
Miss Anna then; ! love her now as the
one relic left me of that beautiful, van
ished past. Then the war came and |
tried TO leave you, thinking it would be
best, but you followed me to be ridiculed,
despised and even tortured. All the con-
duct of the last week breaks over me and
| see what a blind fool have BEEN"
Parsons, you are to go on picket duty
tonight, and you had better start now, "
called in the voice of our Lieutenant. The
men, thoroughly ashamed of themselves,
came nearer and were about to offer some
heartfelt words of apology, but Parsons
turned away, and delivering Miss Anna
over to Orphee, said pleadingly:
If anything should happen to me, you
Will take care of herw
Orphees eyes filled with tears as he
pressed the extended hand.
Without another word or look Parsons
strobe out into the dark.
"We're brutes, cowardly brutes," said our
Virginian, disgustedly.
would rather face million Yankees
than to hear that mans story told in that
/ voice again." said another
That night was a weary one. We could
not forget the solemn figure, the dark,
patient face, the broken, harsh, tender
voice, and the pines above and the river
far away seemed to mingle their grief at
our cowardice and brutality. Meanwhile
Miss Anna slept peacefully on the best
blanket of the mess, while we lay there
sleepless, thoughtful, unhappy, even the
greater issue of the war momentarily for
gotten.
With dawn came action The Yankees
were upon US, and we fought like wildcats
AS evening came on, the fight was sus-
pended, and when our mess met every
body was there, Miss Anna" included,
except Parsons. We had made up a
scheme to beg his forgiveness and swear to
be gentlemen, at least Each of us had a
separate speech of apology to make, ex-
pressive of shame and contrition. When
night settled down, and Parsons did not
appear, we grew anxious and sat silently
around, not daring to breathe the great
fear uppermost in our minds Miss
Anna" too, walked up and down uneasily,
shifting the air, and rubbing her nose against
any convenient shoulder. As we sat thus,
our Lieutenant called in to me-
Harrison, step here minute"
| arose and went out little unsteadily.
"Parsons was hurt last night, on guard,
and has asked to see you. Go now, there
isn't much time, Pm afraid"
He turned to lead the way.
81 may tell them ?' l asked
"No USE" he answered shortly, as
Orphee's stricken face appeared in the
doorway
Well, / followed him to the rude hut
selected for our hospital. 1t was lighted
by torches and the surgeons were busy
with theimen who had fallen in that days
fight. In the farthest corner of the room
lay Parsons. | knelt down by him and
took his hand. He smiled family, reas-
suringly, and whispered:
"It's not so hard-it was so quick, you
know-just like a flash, burn, and then
dull pain. Only lay there so long, Har-
rison, that l thought everything very
clearly out, and Pm sorry How could
those fellows know? | am afraid / lost
my temper Pm such devil of fellow
when lose my temper" he said, pathet-
ically. " Harrison, | beg your pardon, old
fellow, but Miss Anna?"
His eyes apologized amply for this in
quiry, and | went out in search of the men
and their charge.
They followed me eagerly, and we I'M
consciously fell into a procession and
moved through the door with Miss
Anna in our midst 1t must have been
strange sight, a half dozen men ana
goat marching solemnly up the aisle of the
rude cabin, but to the credit of human ma
ture be it said, nobody laughed or seemed
to observe the humorous side of the sit
uation
Miss Anna p
The voice broke like sob across the
stiffness, and the faithful friend pressed
close to her masters side. The strong men
who had faced death so unfiinchingly all
day, quivered and shrank before this new
phase. Orphee looked lopgingly into the
dying face as the white lips murmured of
by-gone days, of baby hands and tender,
wifely kisses.
Miss Anna," the voice began again
weakly, "the boys all know and love her."
and then suddenly recollecting, as he
turned his eyes to the manly bearded faces
around him, and noted their moist eyes,
then, with the old frank smile of apprecia-
ton, he muttered: dying tonight, dy-
Ing tonight. Sing 1t, Orphee.
The river rushed and sang, the wind
sighed airily through the sorrowful pines,
but distinct and clear rose the voice of
Orphee, that sweet, high tenor, thrilling
with tears and pathos. 1t quivered and
fell as it reached the chorus, and the dY-
ing tonight was sobbed out on his knee
as he held the poor, cold hands close to his
breast. The wounded man turned on the
rough floor, the surgeons desisted from
their work, and one little fellow, his breast
shot to pieces, crossed himself inyolunta-
rily, stirred by their sorrowful sweetness.
Again Parsons spoke:
Be good, boys, to Miss Anna No bet
ter, truer sweetheart could you find. Say
with me now, God bless Miss Anna"
And we said it with him.
"Amen," he answered, solemnly, and
with spasm of pain he was living there
quite still, smiling tenderly as of old, with
Miss Anna" close to his breast.
"And Miss AnnaY" asked the host.
"Was shot down the next morning in
the first charge"
There was silence for few minutes,
and then Harrison raised his glass and