The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-11-27
Soldiers Budget.
The Drummer-BOy of Antietam.

head proudly, "the whole company, in
Guiding Captain Harrison, say that | am
a first-class drummer-boy. You would
hardly recognize the old drum. 1t looks
tip-top, doesn't 1t, mother?"
"There is contrast between the
sides and ends of the drum. You ought
to have had it painted" said Mrs. Del
mar, making an effort to speak cheer
fully.
g l don't care penny for all the new
stuff on it, but I'm mighty proud of the
battered sides of the old drum. | Won
der what grandfather would say if he
could see and hear it now. | reckon
he would imagine himself in the midst
of the battle fought at Germantown.
One time, when the British seemed
about TO win the fight, grandfather
crept along behind Il clump of bushes
in the rear of the enemy and COM
menced to beat his drum as loud as he
could. The British thought they were
being surrounded, and began to retreat.
General Washington, with his own
hands, gave grandpa a gold medal.
See, mother, here it is; put piece of
ribbon through il, and | mean to wear
il as long as / live. But | must 90
now. Goodbye, mother"
A hurried embrace, a lingering kiss,
and with fervent God bless you, my
boy, and send you back to me UNI
harmed" the widowed mother parted
with her son, who, somewhat sad but
very proud, went to do his duty in the
war.
Letters filed with accounts of the
many incidents of camp life came to
cheer the widow in her loneliness.
Thus weeks and months passed away.
The village pOstman had become ac-
custOmed to the pale, wistful face of
the woman who stood waiting patiently
for him to hand her the missive which
she felt so sure of receiving.
I'd bout as soon lose my little
finger as to miss handin' out letter
from that boy o. hern," said the kind
hearted old man. "She thinks power
full sight o. him, an no wonder; he's a
chip o. the old block, an no mistake"
The old postman usually concluded
his eulogistic remarks by INDUCING in
"reminiscences concerning the revolu-
tionary career of Grandfather Delmar.
4" You should have seen our regiment
at the battle of Antietam " wrote Rob-
ert in one of his letters. General
Mcclellan rode along the line, and
after he had praised our men for their
bravery he came to the spot where
was leaning against tree, all tired
out.
"' Your name, my boy said the gen.
eral. When | told him he looked
pleased, and said, What Colonel Del
mars grandson? knew of your grand
father. A Drawer man never fought
under the old flag | saw the general
glance toward my drum, and told him
that grandfather carried it at the battle
OF Germantown.
"' have watched you to-day, Rob-
ert; you will not disgrace the name
you bear As the general rode away
every hat was tossed into the air, and
you ought to have heard the cheering!
Why, it seemed to shake every tree and
bush around"
There came time when the post
man, in answer to the usual inquiry,
was obliged to say, Nothing to-day,
ma'am." Day after day the widow
stood in her accustomed place, always
r ceiving the same answer, accompanied
by the supplementary assurance that
Z" them mails git delayed every now
and then these war times" But the
widow could not be comforted, and her
heart was oppressed by the shadow of
coming events as she wendell her way
toward her little cottage.
For two days and two nights the men
of the Fourth Regiment lay behind pits
within sight of the " works THE only
place where cool, pure water could be
obtained. An open field lay between
the two pickets, who exchanged shots
so frequently that it would have been
foolhardy to attempt to cross the open
space. The men tried to drink the
thick, muddy water from pond close
by, but it was so nauseating that they
turned from it in disgust. Some of the
men were i'll, and as they tossed from
side to side their one cry was, " Water!
water" Those that had been "re-
lieved," as well as the soldiers " on
duty" walked restlessly to and fro.
Empty canteens lay scattered in every
direction.
"Pd made up my mind to give up
liquor, but | can't stand this'' NUT
tered soldier who lay upon the grass,
too i'll to raise his head. Hand me
that old canteen, Bill" he continued;
"it's full o. the best old rye I'll
take drink myself, then you can pass
1t around among the men. tn quench
their thirst for awhile, anyway"
Suddenly clear, boyish voice called
ont:
81 say, corporal, wouldn't you rather
have drink of cold water than that
burning hot stuff?''
"That | would, an so would the rest
but we can't get it," was the reply.
{" promise to get you cup of cold
spring water if you will give me permits
sion to do as like with this canteen, .
said Robert Delmar, stepping forward
and placing his hand upon the article
under discussion.
With a glance into the clear haze
eyes of the drummer-boy the sol
der said: You're welcome to it
sonny. I'll be saved from breakn' the
pledge, an the old mothers heart, too
maybe"
Grasping the canteen firmly in his
hand, Robert emptied the contents upor