The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-11-22

me aware that while i greatly liked
him, he OF his side, was warmly at
tached TO me.
One day batch OF recruits nrriv-
ed at headquarters. The adjutant.
being away on leave. had got me To
do his duty for him. and was busy
all the afternoon drafting the new
arrivals into companies, and arrang-
ing for their rations and bedding.
About hall an hour before mess l
was sitting i'm my room in the citadel
barracks, rather tired. when heard
n knock at the door, and my color.
sergeant appeared.
Private Cameron wishes to know
IL he could speak To you, sir, " said he,
saIuting.
Certainly" ] replied, tell him to
come I'm"
Cameron entered, saluted, and
stood silent, looking i'll at ease.
well, Cameron, what is it," in
quired.
please, sir, wish TO speak about
something private"
"Well, what is it?" asked again.
Cameron hesitated, and looking
mt the color-sergeant, who looked
straight to his front.
l knew it was not regular for nm
officer to confer with private soldiers
without non-commissioned officer
being present, but knew Cameron
might be trusted thoroughly. di-
rected the color-sergeant to wait in
the passage, and closing the door, |
asked Cameron to tell me his story.
The lad seemed in great distress and
hesitated great deal. before he
spoke.
Its my brother, sir He's just
come in with the batch of recruits. "
With some difficulty, he told me
his tale, which was to the following
effect
Private Cameron and young
brother We're the only children of an
old widow living i'm the north of Scot
land The old woman could do little
I to support herself, and was mainly
dependent upon the labor of one son
and such little help ms Private Cam
eron could send her from savings al
/ his pay. IL seemed that some family
quarrel had taken place between the
widow and her Youngest son, and
that the latter. in moment OF pique,
had enlisted. but had, when too late,
repented. He had been drafted To
the same regiment as his elder broth
err, whom he had acquainted with
these facts on his arrival in the bar
racks that day. Private Cameron
told me, with deep emotion, that
nothing could save his mother from
the workhouse Tan idea which seem.
ed to fill him with shame and horror)
unless his brother could be bought
out ofthe service and sent back home.
As his brother had not been three
months enlisted, this could be effect
ed by IA payment of ten pounds; but
such sum was far beyond the
means of either brother. Cameron
in despair had come to me for help,
hardly daring, as he told me, to hope
that | could give it. He said he had
been encouraged to seek my assist
ance by my constant kindness to
him.
al would pay il back to you, sir, |
SWtuT ~ W YOU, Shiu 1hc ppoi iuu
earnestly. You can stop my pay
every week, sir. want next Co moth
ing. | don't drink any, and | can
easy get all | want to smoke and the
like OF that. will pay you back,
sir. indeed will!''
Well, to cut my story short, after
some reflection and not little mis-
giving as to whether in respect ofdis-
cipline was doing right. ! agreed to
let him have the money. | could
well afford il; liked the man and
had been touched by his story not n
little.
"You should begin to save up
your pay in the savings bank. Cam
eron." said |, ms he thanked me
earnestly.
had not the least intention of re-
paying myself from his hard-earned
savings. and quite looked upon the
loan AZ gift, but Judged it better
not To say so expressly, lest theeasy
manner of obtaining the money
might do harm, while thought il
good opportunity of encouraging
frugal habits.
Cameron's gratitude was deep, and
could not help feeling that his ex-
preston of il was sincere and heart
lelt.
As he was leaving the room he
turned, looked me full In the face.
..sH 4tEAI lf.aa xrUt, ~ (,.,.