The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-03-30

standing within a few feet of tic foundry
building, bat the handy little engine has
passed away. Occasionally the younr
men of the village would manage 10 secure
tho key that locked the engine house door
and wien the old folks were getting ready
TO 90 to their beds iC was paled out into
the street 10 the public pump, filled with
water and then the sport commenced.
The front doors and windows Of nearly
every house in the town received Il dreHcll-
ing, but the merry crowd took special
pains to squirt the most water against the
residences of certain few individuals
whose i'll temper was easily aroused. One
evening when the boys were on their way
to the public pump with the engine their
anticipated sport was completely spoiled
An elderly gentleman joined the gang and
when he got near enough to the engine
unscrewcd the branch pipe and walked
away with it under his arm. The boys
were mad and no mistake, and remember
seeing one mount wood pile and there
emphatically declare with impassioned
gesture that the machine might decay right
where it was standing before he would
help draw it back to the engine house.
They took it back though, but only to wait
for another chance to use it again. At the
where about the year 1915, this engine per-
formed good service. The building was
entirely destroyed, but the little engine
retarded the progress Of the flames until
all the provisions in the cellar had been
carried out. James Taylor, d brother of
Thomas NJ. Taylor, aged about nine years,
was killed by the walls falling on him.
Several others narrowly escaped instant
death.
Every story told by the soldiers of the
late war is not a tale of blood and carnage.
/ heard one the other day which / viii re-
peat as near as I can in the veterans own
words: 81 belonged in Company A of the
- regiment and one of my comrades was
named Bob -. His last name / viii
omit Well. Bob when sober was duti-
FIJI soldier but be took advantage Of every
opportunity to get drunk, and when drunk
he was very disorderly and quarrelsome.
Many is the time Bob was led into the
guard house and there kept to sober mp.
On one occasion an angered eomrade dealt
him fearful blow in the mouth knock ing
out bis teeth and laying the offender at full
length upon the earth. The latest recol-
collection | have of Bob during the war
was when he approached me one evening
intoxicated and said, 'Pard, you're clever
sort Of Teller, but for all that / think
sound thrasbin' would do you good. So
Selling me by the coat collar he proceeded
to carry his threat into execution, when /
suddenly wriggled ont of his clutch and
left him to find another subject to operate
on. Bob was certainly trifing man, and
if | had been asked what occupation
thought would suit him best if he lived
to return home, | would have said
travelling umbrella member. Last fall
attended the first reunion of the regiment
of which Bob and | were members. There
| saw many time worn faces once familiar
to me, but not now, on account of the
changes wrought by advancing age. Heads
whltened with gray hairs, and bald,
and furrowed checks had supplanted the
beauty, freshness and vigor OF early man
hood. BY my side sat man whose dress
and general appearance betokened that OF
a man of good taste and culture. The roll
was called and when Robert - was call
ed the stranger at my side answered by
rising to his feet. 'Whatr I mentally ex-
| claimed, lis this one of my old comrades
and is it Bob?' When he sat down
reached for his hand and our handshake
was warm and hearty. felt overioyed
that he had reformed and told him SO. He
said he had not drank any liquor for more
than fifteen years. Liquor lie said was
killing him and be resolved to quit drink
ing. Bob to-day is an industrious and
thrifty farmer at Cedarville. Cumberland
county, and if ever | am called to that
neighborhood my stay will be very short !
assure you If don't make myself a guest
at the house of ny progressive friend and
old comrade in arms"
Enough for this time Mr.. MONITOR, so
good bye. PANTsINEooTs.