Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-16
THE STROLLER,S STORIES.
Odd Opinions and Quaint Observations Garh-
cred From Curb and Corridor.

| IT WAS az Snamok1n. Pa, while the g. A. r.
was holding its recent departmental encamp-
ment. Mr.. and Mrs. Gable invited the rugged
veterans to dinner; and. being extremely par
tial to good dinners, the rugged veterans &C.
cepted the invitation. Rev. Colonel Danks,
who once, like the crusading priests of olden
times, laid down the GROSS to take up the sword,
sat at the head of the table; and on each side
ranged long line of his brave boys. Gray
headed. wrinkled and deep-scarred boys they
were-boYs who had wrestled with death on
many a battle plain; boys more accus-
toned to fight than to pray; true
hearted, rough-and-ready boys, every one.
The smoking viands were set before them.
the Colonel gave the word, and the old warriors
began the fight with all the zest of 25 years
ago. Some labored under disadvantage, it is
true, having but one arm to battle with, yet a
glorious struggle was made, and in the end our
veterans remained very decidedly the winners.
They had finished an excellent feast, and they
were full of gratitude toward their host and
| hostess. How best to show that gratitude?
| That was the question that eye asked of eye,
all down the board. No one seemed to know
precisely what ought to be said OF done, and the
idea of formal thanks would probably have
gone by the board, had not happy notion oc-
CURED to one of those present This gentle
man conghed slightly, as though unusued to
making remarks before an audience. and
glancing in the direction of the Chairman,
said: Reverend Colonel, move that the
whole party do now say graeer'
FOR moment surprise was very plainly ex-
pressed on the faces Of the old soldiers;
but tho expression soon gave place to one Of
pleasure and the roon rang with a tremendous
| AYE" Then the fighting parson bowed down
| h0a bao nd h rivIyI Iod boD de
while every member of the detachment did the
| same. The next moment the fine tenor voice
of Colonel Danks began that simple hymn,
Praise God From Whom All Blessings
Flow" the chorus being swelled by all
present, What scene! Two long lines
of grizzled heads, bent reverently above
| the scarcely whittier table-cloth. All those
fierce eyes that had not yet cast out the old
| daredevil look were now shut close, or hidden
behind fingers trembling with emotionl AL
those husky voices that had roared curses into
the cannon's mouth, were now singing the
praises Of God in the peaceful hymn that
sounded so quantity in such a company When
the hymn ended. all rose from their seats, and
more than one silly old soldier, who really
ought to have known better, was seen to rub
his eyes suspiciously as he left the room.
on the Sth instant and found their way in
safety to a point near Gallery Junction. Quite
merry time was spent, and darkness had
fallen upon the land before the jewellers saw
fit to leave their log cabin encampment, and
take to the sleighS again. In the meantme-such
is the cruel inopportupeness of fortune-a heavy
thaw had set in, and, when the travellers from
Allegheny looked forth into the gathering dusk.
they could not see the snow, for the same reason
that the Spanish Admiral could not see his
feet, namely, because it was not there. Here
was pretty how-dye-dol The
nearest place where a train could be
reached was . flag station, and thither the
whole party started, with heavy hearts. The
station was about two miles off, and after pass
ing about a mile and a half, whistle was
heard. Instantly the feetest runner in the
jaded troop set off at full speed to flag the CON-
ing train. He arrived just in time, the train
was stopped; but, alas it was a freight train
after all. And the luckless sleighers had to
wait hour 20 minutes in the cold before pas
senger train appeared.
PosT INSPECTOR F. K. PATTERSON was at
the Hotel schlosser yesterday. Mr. Patter-
son halls from Freeport, and is a sturdy speci-
men of the g. A. r. men. He has been staying
in Pittsburg for short time, and owned to haV-
ing enjoyed his time immensely.
MOT very many weeks ago well-known citi-
zen who, in spite of his town residence
and extensive business, has hobby for keep
ing little country farm going chanced to
meet with another citizen on Wood street. The
second gentleman was followed by very fine
English bulldog, who really looked ferocious
enough for anything "Ah," lachrylnosely
muttered citizen No. /, 81 wish I had so
dogs like yours to keep the tramps OF
my farm in the country" Citizen No.
2 was very sympathetic over the tramp trouble,
and agreed that such dogs were useful on a
country farm. Then the two worthless parted.
No. went home to his domestic circle, but No.
2 was of evil mind, and he betook himself to a
neighboring newspaper office. While there he
inserted an advertisement to the effect that
Mr.. Blank, of So-and-So avenue was very
much in need Of some so dogs, "color, size or
sex immateral" Mr.. Blank, needless to say,
was citizen No. 2 On the following morning,
citizen No. formed party of friends, and
hastened toward the residence of his victim.
The plot had workedI On the steps of the |
house, along the sidewalk and far into the |
roadway opposite, extended a crowd of boys |
and men, each clutching a dog, two dogs. or
even three or four dogs, and await
ing the approval Of the supposed ad-
Vert1Ser. VI course, no policeman was |
anywhere near, and the crowd was allowed |
to remain undisturbed. So the boys sang and |
whistled; the legions of dogs, big, small white,
black, red and yellow, growled and yelped and |
fought furiously; and the whole air was full of
discord. How this rather large joke terminated
does not appear as the seheming individuals
fed with the opening of the front door.
a CoLoRED gentleman in a wagon, driven by
another coored gentleman, succeeded in
getting up little demonstration at the corner
of Fifth avenue and Smithheld street yester-
day. 1t was painfully evident that the speaker
had been imbibing somewhat too freely of the
cheering cup. He called a halt opposite the
big policeman who stands at the postoffice cor
ner, and proceeded to lecture that sturdy rep
resentatiYe OF law and order on his duty
as citizen. Not being appreciated, and
receiving a curt command to move
on, he directed his chariot to the other side of
Fifth avenue, where there was no policeman.
Here he ordered his driver to pull up once
more, and for the space of ten minutes deIiy-
cred an eloquent haraDgue on the merits Of
Mr. Gcurley as a candidate for the Mayoralty.
He wound up by informing all present that he
would be pleased to introduce them to Nr.
Gourley after the election. "Gourley will do
the square thing by all friends OF mine" he
said, 'and don't you forget it." When the
speech was concluded the orator seized the reins
from the hands of his companion, and set of
On a zig-zag course down Smithfeld street, no
doubt to address further audiences on the way.
The STROLLER. {