The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-03-04

put in me in the quartermaster's de-
parJmcnt and then when ! was spry
enough to look after things better he
had me detailed TO look after his horse
and keep things in order in his tent,
and in the course OF the next year or
two i got to see a good deal OF lighting,
even if / was minus i foot
II didn't make a pretty picture rid
ing a horse, but / rode a horse a good
deal. The boys laughed at me when
ever they saw me. They couldn't get
used to the foot, that wasn't there, you
know. They couldn't get used 20 that
stump. They said fellow that had
only one foot ought not to ride Il horse.
But there was time when the boys
checrcd me, and you may know when
they clleored a wooden-lcgged man ON
horse back that there was something to
cheer for. 1t was this way: The regi-
ment was having hot time and about
half the boys We're down and the
colonel had lost his horse and
was on foot and swearing mad
about it, when | concluded Ia take
him another horse. l jumped on with
ont thinking much about style, you
know, and ! started into that hornets
nest and the devil was to pay general
AZ AdNl 10 4B1I 4OI lA1C ltA'INt- tAeiiA
to fight tn get TO the colonel, but l got
there. jumped off and he got on and
the boys rallied round him like flock
of partridgcs and we all got out. Not
much style about it, you see, but the
boys cheercd me.
The thing has been a great bother
to me ever since the war There are a
great many things that ! could have
done well If had had two legs or two
feet that | couldn't do with only one
foot. People don't like To have you
stumping around and making Il noise.
1t Is very troublesome, they say. for
man with a stump foot to 20 upstairs
and down. and fellow may try a.
hard rs hc pleases to step easy and he
can't. II i stump, stump, stump
stump, and people don't like 1T. J.
isn't business YOU know. 80 haven't
had any great success in life, buT ]
have got along better than If / had
touched 4 live wire
Then have the cussede>t dreams
You ever heard Of Cannon balls bang
at me from every direction, bounce over
me or scoot undcr the bed; knock off a
leg or ar arm. and keep me busy dodg-
ing, and occasionally Il big forty pound
or knocks me out of bed and | wake. up
ON the floor. But this isn't as bad ~ the
jim jams,
The great trouble came when
went home. ! wouldn't go back Il the
old ncighbOrhood | was very scnsi-
tive On the question of losing that foot
came west, and for good many years
had pretty good luck. OF course / am
down now, but l'll be up again that
i to say If don't get the grippe. ! am
not Is Ftrong a | was and am not a.
ehippcr - bird, but I'm none of your
TrUmblc-S."
why doa't you apply for pension"
asked the colonel.
-'Great Scott. ask for pension on
that foot ask my captain To testify A.
To- how | lost il: ask the Toys to tell the
story Of what they saw that morning?
Wouldn't do il for all the money Jay
Gould ever had No sir. no pension for
me I've tod lies about that foot for
twenty five yraTS- The general i'm
precision is that lost it in some sneak
ing. undetermined way, and that don't
care To talk about it. You see il | had
stood still ana let that blamed cannon
hall strike Inr it would have been al.
Ght But I didn't do that / met tue
hing half way. I was like the monkey
taouth. did Il fool thing. and got my
rev ard in about half Il second
Didn't You ever have trouble with
the lame leg? Don't you have trouble
now?
Always have had, always VIII have
1t gives me enough trouble to keep me
from being lonesome. Every once in
awhile there is sharp pain in he big
toe that isn't there. you know. Now,
what an the nation can a fellow do with
Il big toe that he can't get at, hut here
comes the lady and will now put ia
the coal" And a. the colonel turned
.tvvay the onC-tootcd man stood straight
Hd ut attention and gave thu salute.
n" cOlOncl returned the saiutr. took
at Il glance the number of TIA. ipuse
I'D the lady who hal stopped e. talk
his new acquaintance and paS-e,
n.-lntcr Ocean.