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

NAL after-glow of pleasant reminiscent tall
that always follows good dinner, and
especially dinner where old friends have
met, old friendships been renewed and old
stories told. These men have been com.
rades in war, and served under the same
flag, held the same political opinions and
suffered the same losses Each had told
his story, when our host turned toward one
and said:
'Well, Harrison, we are waiting fol
your story"
Harrison smiled deprecatingly, gazed
into the fire, and then began the following
in his soft, Southern drawl:
Well. my story happened when we were
in Georgia, just outside of Marietta, and
our mess consisted of six men-twc
Georgians, one Albanian, a Virginian
myself and Creole, with beautiful lace
and tenor voice that would charm the
birds from the trees, named singularly
enough, Orphee. We became very tune
full set under his inspiration, and ex-
changed musical information with much
generosity.
Our favorite air was that famous old
camp song, "Tenting on the Old Camp
Ground" You should have heard us sing
1t. Orphee's tenor, my baritone, and the
three other fellows Ginning in softly, until
the pine trees stopped whispering to listen
and the fire burned softly in admiration,
and war somehow did not seem so hard
and cruel. Well, one dark night we were
sitting around the fire, discussing with I'M
wearied enthusiasm the prospects of the
cause, when we heard irregular footsteps
outside, and paused in our talk to listen.
You can turn in here until further
orders" said our Lieutenant's cherry voice,
and in a minute afterward short, thick
set man entered. He made an apologize
little bow, shook himself like dog, and,
taking off his large wideawake, disclosed a
dark, square face, with shy, dark eyes,
blue-black hair and wide, firm mouth.
He smiled tenderly, giving an air of great
sweetness to an otherwise somber face.
He sat down on 4 blanket, Turkish fashion.
quietly hoped he was not disturbing us,
and then dropped his eyes meditatiyely on
the ground. Silence reigned. We were
too disconsolate to be polite, and so list
ened uneasily to the indefinite STRINGS of
the wind through the trees, when suddenly
a new sound arose-stealthy, uncertain
footsteps coming nearer and nearer The
newcomer pricked up his ears, and his
face wore an expression almost approach
ing guilt.
"A spy" was my first illogical conclu-
sion as | rose to my feet and waited ex-
pectantly.
The flap of the tent stirred slightly,
cautiously; the wind rose and swept the
darkened landscape ; the rain poured down
with rush, as if to give a tragic signifi-
canoe to what was about to happen, for
something did happen-the flap was sud-
denly pushed aside, and a goat walked in
and went straight to the stranger who re-
ceived her with an indescribable tenderness
of look and GESTURE.
"a rum CO." said the Virginian under
his breath.
We all agreed, but contented ourselves
with staring at the strange spectacle of a
man and a goat fondling each other with
uncouth marks of affection. After a while
we resumed our old lazy positions, and 81
lently awaited further developments The
little man signed the goat TO a remote spot,
where she lay down, and then turning to-
wards us said: You see, boys, could not
help it If Mamie would follow me. have
been good to her, and she remembers it.
had to leave home secretly to escape her,
and all through the journey l felt like a
scoundrel, and now-well, here she is"
He stopped abruptly without waiting
for comment, and lay down with short
good night. | lay awake several hours
after the others, wondering idly as to the
probable tie which bound the newcomer
to the goat, but arrived at no solution.
From that night Parsons and his goat be-
came subject of never-ending speculation
to the mess. He was very quiet and unob-
strusive, never resenting, although con-
irving to evade impertinent questions and
bearing everything with a good nature
amounting to stupidity. As for the goat
she became the hapless butt of the whole
division. We called her derisively "Miss
Anna" treating her with an amount OF
mock consideration that made Parsons
eyes fairly glisten with appreciation. The
second night after their arrival we began
to sing, as usual, when the Virginian rose
and in a speech the delicate humor Of
which l shall not attemt to produce
begged that Miss Annals rest should not
be broken by our rude chanting.
| shall never forget the broken, tender,
depreciating little reply that came from
Parsons, and how we consented at last to
sing. His face was so rapt as he sat beat
ing time with his forefger and occasionally
quavering out an effective "Dying to-
night, dying tonight" which he sang as
if our lifeblood were ebbing away, that l
began to realize the absolute cowardice OF
ridiculing perfectly innocent, unconscious
man. / began TO try and shield him from
the funmakers, and was finally Joined by
Orphee, who became his more ardent and
eloquent partisan. As for Parsons, he
grew almost to worship the handsome
sweet-voiced lad.
One luckless afternoon, Parsons, Orphee
and | strolled off together, leaving Miss
Anna" to the mercies of our mess, but
tormented by some vague presentment
of evil, l induced my companions to re-
turn a little earlier than they Intended
As we neared the tent my ear caught the
sounds of derision that came first from
our Virginian, and were then finally
caught up by the Others and ended in
peal after peal of laughter. We pushed
eagerly in. Alas, Miss Anna, decked
out in the most ridiculous toggery, had
been tied between four stakes driven into
the ground and the men were engaged In
pricking her with pine burrs until the
poor animal fairly writhed with agony
In minute we had freed her and Parsons
held the poor bleeding creature close to
his breast His small, square figure seemed
to rise and dilate with a certain sense OF
superior power, as he turned his blanched
face and blazing eyes upon the crowd.
"You call yourselves gentlemen" he
said harshly, you, who have tortured a
poor, dumb. defenseless creature, left In
your care. Thank God, my meaning of the
word is different You have no excuse.
You are all supposed to be men, and hon.
orable men, men who are fighting for the
rights of the country, and yet you can
amuse Yourselves with senseless cruelty