Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-07-12
LITTLE CANTEEN.

In tle winter OF 1901, L lay SICK III
an army hospital, and was worn near
ly TO skin and bone by one Of those
dread diseases of the camp that has
slain more soldiers than either bullets
or steel.
In this state of being, / felt like a
burden, and scarcely gave more than
a feeble smile of gratitude when in
formed by the surgeon in charge that
il had been decided TO send me homo
as a chance Of recovery.
But after | got on board the cars at
Richmond, and the train rolled out
from the depot, | began TO look about
me, and as | did so my spirits rallied
somewhat, and / rejoiced in the feel
ing that home with all Of its endear
ing associations would soon be reach
ed, and there | would get that rest and
loving attention which one finds no
where else, SO perfectly, and that if
my disease could not he conquered,
/ would at least have the consolation
Of dying amongst my loved ones.
The train was a long one. and
crowded 10 its utmost capacity. Sol
diers off on a spree, impudent and up
roarious; sick and wounded soldiers,
pale, feverish and pain racked; here a
smart ,commissary, there a vermin in
tested rough from the front; yonder
an anxious, sad eyed woman taking
her boy home 10 die, further on a
young beauty afraid Of the soldiers
and their rough jokes, and yet half
counting their notice-all sorts and
conditions mixed together, but all,
from the old gray heads to the young.
est prattlers, agreed in one thing, viz.
undying devotion TO the Southern
Confederacy.
We were soon past Petersburg, and
a little later were rushing through
North Carolina, leaving some passen-
gers and taking up others as We sped
from station TO station; but the same
general description of my fellow trav-
elers that | have just given would
hold good from beginning TO end of
the journey.
We were past Weldon-how far l
can't exactly say-and il was late in
the night when | was awakened from
an uncomfortable nap by the jerking
Of the train as it started off after one
OF its numerous stoppages. | looked
out TO see where We were. II was a
wood and water station, and standing
on one end Of the wood rack there
was a little boy. lie was peering for
ward into the car windows as the
train slowly moved by. | would have
thought no more of the circumstance,
but almost next moment the rear door
Of the car was opened, and the same
boy that | had seer on the wood rack
came timidly forward.
why, sonny" said. where did
you come fromf'
Out yonder," pointing into the
darkness.
81 know that much already, for If
Tn not mistaken you are the same
boy | saw out on the wood rack just
now, amt youg'
He nodded assent.
well, where did you come from
before thatl Don't be afraid; come
here and tell me about it,"
The boy looked at me, and seemed
10 be treasured by my manncrand ex-
preston, for he came forward without
any further hesitation TO the place at
my side. which | had beckoned him
To take.
Everybody else in the carappcared 10
be asleep. so no one besides myself
had observed his entrance. He was a
handsome little fellow, but his clothes
were torn and dirty, and he limped
lkeono who had been on q long tramp.
repeated my question, and he re.
piled that he had come from Charles.
ton.
From Charlcstonl' I exclaimed in
astonishment why, how in the
world did you get this far from Char
lesion by YOURSELF"
II walked"
Nov. look here, my little man.
i said ~robukingly, do you know
where the story ~tellers gol"
II declare said he, his blue eyes
swimming IN tears, I'm telling you
the truth-l om not telling you q
story"
"tNel. well, don't cry, bub--Ill
take your word for it; and where
were you goingf
ITO Virginia, TO find my papa"
Ipuckcrod up my mouth for a long
whistle, but as that weald be express
Two Of disbelief, and o. didn't want
10 risk hurting the little fellow again,
restrained myself, and proceeded TO
draw his story from him.
"If you ara going 10 Virginia. said
1 in a kind tone, you are on the
wrong trnin-this IS taking us back 70
Charleston"
II know that, sir, but don't want