Evening journal., 1891-02-09
HOW JOE LOST HIS ARM.

md twas there that met my julia SO true
And rpwed her about ia my gumtree canoe,
singing, row away row DER the waters so blue,
Like feather wen foat in my gumtree canoe.
The clerk of the Pretty Jane had a
mellow voice, and blended sweetly with
it was little Jennies childish treble.
He sat upon the deck Of the little
steamboat gazing around on the bright
waters of the Tombigbee as the sun
danced on them, gazing intently, and
smiling absently to himself.
He was man Of about thirty, and his
right coat sleeve was empty and pinned
upon his heart
Little Jennie leaned upon his knee.
staring him intently in the face in way
that children have. She pushed her
broad brimmed hat back from her ewes
50 that she might stare the better. The
hat was a queerly shaped palmetto
structure, for this was in 6S, and clothes
were at a premium. She was the child
OF one Of the passengers, and between
her and the clerk quite a friendship had
sprung up.
/ And did you sure enough meet your
Julia here on the Tombigbeeg' asked the
child, strolzing the empty sleeve with a
| pitying touch.
Yes, said the clerk, reused from his
reyerie and smiling down on the eager lit
tie face; Il have often taken her rowing
on the Tombigbee before the war. when
had my other arm"
How nicer said Jennie. How nicei
And in a gumtree cancer
well, l wasn't particular as to the
kind Of canoe, so it was canoe" said
he, smiling.
And your Julia amt named Julia
but Mary Jane, after all, " said the child.
Yes said he, but she's Just as
sweet as If her name was Julia, though
twouldnt at in the song so we'll.
No, you couldn't say, 4 rowed my
Mary Jane 20 true. 'Twould make the
song too long legged
True" said he, laughing, sebut that
hiaAes no ullferonoo' ! think Of her
while sing it, so that it seems q IL II
was her name.'
Well Mr. Perkins, = said Jennie. 'stell
me why haven't You married your Julia.
Il you've been rowing her around in
your gumtree canoe these ever so MANY
years.
You see" said the mate smiling, ssmy
Julia couldn't make up her mind that
she loved me TIL the war broke out and
| volunteered; then she said directly
she'd marry me, but twas too late then; |
had to go off to fight"
You had both of your arms thenp" in
terrupted Jennie; you was born with |
emp
'Of course, child. Did you ever hear
Of any one born with one arma Nature |
don't ever make no such cobbled, lop-
sided work as that"
well, il you had both of your arms
then, don't see why she wouldn't have
you"
Bless you, child, everybody had
plenty Of arms then; that was no in
ducement to take fellow. But, az | /
was saying, when she found l was going
of to the war and might get killed, then
she found that she loved me"
Shed rather marry you than that
you should get killed." said Jennie
Yes, ! think she ought, after you rowed
her around in the canoe
You are right" said Perkins, laugh
ing; but twas too late to marry her
then. We agreed that if ever / got back
safely, when the war was over, we'd
marry"
Tell me now, how you came to lose
your arm, Z said Jennie.
Twas in one Of the great battles
around Richmond that year. had been
IN many fights before, but this was
about the hottest. The enemy were
bound to get the hill on which we stood.
aud we were holding on desperately
But at last the boys began to waver and
give way. Then our colonel came ont
to the front, and the rest Of our officers
followed him, and they ran up and down
the lines cheering up the men.
Steady, my boys, said the old colo
mel; keep pouring it into them. Steadyl
e-enforcements will soon be herei
Never let it be said that the line broke
where the Alabamians stoodF
The whole air seemed black with
shot and shell. A piece Of one grazed
the colonel's cheek, and the blood kept
trickling down his face, but he didn't
seem to feel it. The firing grew SO hot
that the men seemed fairly moved |
down, and the line began to waver and
break. Suddenly, clear on our right.
there arose tremendous yell. 1t grew
louder and louder, and ran down the ,
line toward us. Then, at last, we saw a
courier galloping down the line. shall
never forget how he looked His black
horse was all white with foam and its
aanks We're bloody from his spur. He
rode bare headed down the line as if he
bore q charmed life, and he kept waving 4,
lis cap around his head and shouting
to the men, and as they heard !
aim the wavering line rallied and sent
up deafening cheers. Then he galloped
by where we were and yelled: h
Rally, menl rallyl Stonewan Jack :
Ion is in their rear, and giving 'em sutr D
Then we cheered, too, until we were :
loarse The courier galloped on, and
presently our officer shouted:
Forward men; charger
"And away we went, down the hill
md across a field, right toward the
Yankee lines, yelling like Indians.
II held the colors in my hand, and [
an little ahead. didn't seem to have
ny feet; / seemed to fly, and the men