The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-04-26

AN AiA49 DA4NILSO-A NUN"
richest viands, the most substantial food pre-
pared anywhere for the table, and in the great
est abundance.
Every eye in the room was turned upon u.s.
We were the center of attraction. But we did
not care for the inspection, nor the mental
comments doubtless made upon US. Our rags
were virtue. OF one thing we felt assured,
and that was the honor we had now at the eX-
pense of our appearance We ate with a sort
of Independent air, chatting airily among our
selves, and laughing at our remarks as we'll as
appearance. 1t was good to be out i'll the world
once again.
After supper we went down town and call
cd at the large clothing establishment pointed
out to US by the card the drummer gave US on
the train, and they willingly supplied us with
whatever clothing we wanted. We each took
q good suit, and the same house sent out and
purchased boots for u.s. After getting the boots
we were wel-heeled' as the saying is.
THE next day l was busy all day making
out my paper for my pay. My leave of abb
sence was the authority on which to claim
pay. / had leave of absence for 30 days. /
was kept running back and forth, from place
to place, all day long signing papers and fix
ing things up for my money. 1t was more
red-tape business than | wanted. | simply
wanted my money.
4" / presented myself at the Treasury for my
pay, and a stern-looking man, in a deep, cold
voice demanded:
50 Have you q pay-rOllP
az No, sir
Turning to the clerk he said in the same
absolute manner:
." Make it ont for him, clerk
I sat down with the clerk fearing I was
not going to get my money after all and an
swered the questions Ofthe interrogating clerk.
/ The payroll was at length made out and hand
ed the stern man. He glanced at it, and then
said to me:
90 can give s., 900 in cash. and 1,150 by
check on New York bank. VIII that doY
q That will do l answered in as business.
like way | knew how, though l did not
understand then that business of a check on a
New York bank But got the thousand dol
lars, and found that / had to take the check to
the Treasury building. l did not know where
that was but at last found it. obviously l
entered and handed the check into the first
place saw that looked like q teller's window,
and got my money.
The next day was Sunday, and I concluded
I would write some letters to my friends, tell
ing them of my fortunate release from prison.
l was still at the Metropolitan, but no more the
ragged object of curosityI was at first | had
observed news and stationery stand in the
building, and went there and called for paper.
said:
a. want some letter paper
How much2' asked the boy in the stand
very politely.
80, about S. WORTH l answered care
lessly thinking that would probably do me.
q | had been accustomed to prison pen prices,
and knew nothing Of actual prices North at
that time at all. / supposed they were about
the same everywhere. owing to the war. The boy
began to stack out the stationery in great
stacks, and greatly to my surprise
8 Is that all for me?' | asked him.
4" Yes, sir
q" Well, 1 guess % cents worth will do me,
then
THE boy looked at me keenly for a moment,
and then wrapped up the paper / wanted l
threw him S. bill, and he gave me back the
change.
Later I had need of a penknife, and recol-
lected that | saw some at the boys stationery
stand. / went to him and asked:
- How much are those knives2'
" Five dollars he answered. l paid him
the money and took the knife, knowing no
better at the time. The boy had evidently
sized me up pretty well.
81 / came home. Every soldier knows what
| it is to get home after long aud painful alb
senee.
- / reported in 80 days-the limit of my
leave of absence-at Camp Chase, o., and
served to the end of the war But nothing
was ever quite so interesting to me in all my
army experience as my release from rebel
prison-pens."
This story was recently told to me by Lieut..
Willis, and is true in every jot and little.
| The pencil fails to paint it on paper with the
glow Of earnestness and thrill of enthusiasm |
experienced while listening to his narration OF
the stirring incidents related above.