Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-08-09
mel nightcap that nly grandfather wore
for that very trouble.

mel nightcap that rlS grandfather wore
tor that very trouble.
L made a visit to my grandfather's
house, stealthily cut a pattern Of his
cap, got piece OF the brightest scar
let flannel. and fashioned the cap
Luckily it was lit. Tossing the re-
mainder about idly in my hands, con-
cludea to make pin-wheel: Up stairs
i went searching my trunk for some
thing that should make the finn circu-
lar foundations In doing so 1 came
upon two silver dollars.
"l'll take these" said, "and if he
ever gets hungry and has no money,
they may come handy
Dan was poor man, and something
like twenty-ffth cousin of ours, but
most of all, he was to be soldier, and
what would not the patriotic civilian
do for anyone VINO wore the blue.
parted with my spin money" without
stuck it full of pins, and, rolling it up
in the flaming cap, presented them to
Poynette.
He tried on, the cap, declared it
would be the saving Of his life, Won
dered that he OF his wife had not
thought to make one, and taking up the
pin holder asked what it was, and
cried out at its heft "What has the
child got in it?' he said, balancing it
on his hand.
ooh, if you ever get hungry just
take it to suffers tent and
eat it, sung out, dancing away on
hippety-hop.
Early on the following morning the
boys marched gayly away.
Again we went back to picking lint
and watching the telegraph dispatches.
Then the air seemed to fill again with
recruiting officers, more men had been
called for, and we saw brave boys
marching up and enrolling their names
among those Of their country's defend
ers. There was news of battles, and the
awful words, Killed" Wounded"
Missing" flooded the land with tears.
of Dan Poynette among the wounded.
We thought pityingly of the wife and
children, and offered them all the help
possible. There were many calls for
help in those days, and every heart
was sore and bleeding.
"Dan has three wounds" his wife
told us, "not any of them fatal. He
expects to get entirely we'll, but he
says tell the little one that he has q
mimic ball lodged just over his heart
fattened against pin wheel, if you
know what that is. 1 don't"
/ clapped my hands in ecstasy
} Then my silver dollars had saved his
life. L had builded better than
J knew. I think the knowledge would
send thrill of pleasure through the
consciousness of one grown staid anc
reserved with years, but to me, an i'm
pulsive child, it was simply delightful
Dan never grew entirely we'll, as h
had hoped, but was given all HONORABLE,
discharge, and sent home with kne,
that would never bend again.
On the evening Of his first day a
} home he came hobbling over to ou
house, wearing his bullet-riddled uni
: form, to show us the dent in the cute
silver dollar OF his pin-holder.
II don't know that ever killed
man." he said, looking down to NJ
with smile; Il hope not, though
/: shot at them. But I'd rather be il
? your place, little one, and know TO
5 sure that had saved mans life thai
| wear Generals straps" He hat
been promoted for bravery and given
{ Colonel's straps, SO 1 took my compli
ment proudly.
"The nightcap saved me many a1
I ache, know, for 1 have not had al
attack Of neuralgia since 1 began Il
/ wear it. I'll never be without on
again, but it was the money that savee
my life. There is nothing between m,
and trench i'll Virginia but that" HI
; said, holding it out in his hand.
, Mrs. Poynette came across the room
and, STOPPING down, kissed ME.
fumbled in my small pocket for
handkerchief, but failing to find on
!, slipped out when no one noticed, ant
! mopped up my eyes on the corner o
= my print apron.
, "It's an awful jolly thing to save
mans life," I muttered, "but" (sniff
ait" (sniff) 'sorter makes one fee
kinder funny"
, DUBUQUE, Iowa.