The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-04-16

So it happened that, one morning in
April, 1864, the boys walked into a re-
cruiting Office on Water street, New
York, and enlisted as volunteers at
large for the whole period of the war.
Having stipulated not to be enrolled
until evening, they then strolled off up
town to make preparations for their
new life and bid farewell to friends.
AS they went along Broadway, Leslie
musingly said: do you know, Fred,
what has become OF our old classmate,
Sydney Temple, of Charleston? a splen-
did fellow he was. Do you remember
how he licked that big bully, Tom
White, the day of our great match
with the Neptune?''
ssWell, should think so! Tom w as too
old and heavy for any of US and was
running the whole game to suit himself,
and when sgd said he was wrong in
ruling point against him he called the
fiery southerner a liar. sgd knocked
him heels over head quicker than light
ming and then belted him till he roared
for mercy.
81 won't forget Sydney Temple in
hurry, but don't know where he is now.
He was taking a course at Bellevue,
and met him near Trinity few weeks
ago He said them that he couldn't
stand the pressure up here and was 60
ing to get home somehow. I'll bet that
he's Joined the confederate army, for
you know he was always red-hot
secesh.''
"Lil1ely enough, Fred. but If he has I
hope we'll never chance TO come across
him on the battlefield. I'd awfully hate
to shoot at him or have aim shoot at
me-"
These were the days when millions
fought and countless thousands fell, aud
from north, east and west the loyal citi-
gems of our deathless republic were raj
lying to the support Of the old flag in
ever-increasing numbers. while the
chiva]rous sons of the south '>~''red out
their blood like water for what they
doubtless deemed the more righteous
cause,
.Forty-eight hours after enlisting, our
young friends we're sent to the front
and finally found themselves members
OF the same company in an infantry
regiment forming part Of Gen. Sey-
mour's division of the army of the Poto~
mac.
Here they put in two weeks OF that
most irksome duty, preliminary drill,
borne by Herbert with cheerful fcrti"
tude, but by Fred in far different
spirit. Indeed he had already repented
of his short-lived ardor, and continually
deplored the 'iinfatuation'' which had
led him to exchange his renunerative
clerkship for the hardships Of soldiers
life at thirteen dollars d month.
One, evening. when harassed by Ia
tigue, his complaints became SO vexa-
tious that Herbert lost all patience with
him and at last exclaimed: why,
Fred, how long do you suppose our
glorious union would exist if ali the
brave men now in arms for the cause
were fighting only for pay?"
':Cause be hanged petulantly re-
piled Ainslie, "what difference will it
make to me how it goes, il I'm shot full
of holes aud buried in this Virginia
mud? It just disgusts me to think OF
the crazy move I've made; and here's %
letter from home to say that my fool
sister, Miriam, is coming right out TO
the front as a nurse. It's enough to
drive a. fellow wild! I was never made
for fighting: anyway and LII get out Of
it somehow"
Young Leslie had never seen any OF
his friends relatives, who resided in
Philadelphia but now he rather holly
answered. well, Fred, if the noble
example of yo1lr sister--blessings on
her! docs not shame you into better
thoughts. nothing that l can say will
But you're tired and cross now and will
be all right in the morning. Gen. Grant
will probably give us little fighting
soon and then you'll forget these petty
annoyances,"
Fred turned pale at this cheerful pre-
aiction, and nervously asked: EDO you
really think there's going to be a bat
tie, Herbert?"
His friend laughed aloud as he replied:
"a battle? Why, Of course, dozens OF
them; perhaps hundreds. Grant will
never let up till he takes Richmond.
Never fear, Fred, you'll have lots OF
chances for promotion before it's all
over: aud who knows but that we may
vet go far enough south for you to cap
ture that pretty sister of sgd Temple,
with whom you were so much smitten
when she came with her mother to the
old school that time to see her brother?"
'sBy George! wasn't she little beau
ty, though? She must be quite a grown
lady, now, and hates us Yankees like
poison, you may be sure. Fred smiling
ly answered. And SO the little cloud
blew over, and the boys retired to their
shelter tent
AS they lay, side by side, under their
united blankets, Leslie's thoughts went
back to their school days, and as he re-
called to mind Fred's idiosyncracies and
pondered over his late remarks, he be-
came more and more uneasy lest the
foolish fellow might really allow his
natural infirmity to conquer a sense OF
duty and tempt him to some rash act,
involving disgrace and ruin. These re-
Elections obtruded themselves SO per-
sistently that the youth could not sleep,
l