The Progress., 1892-12-17


but principally because the army was
very much in love with Sid's beauti-
full sister, which logically and stra-
getically qualified him for the dignl-
ty. Naturally, none of the corpse
would yield the first position in a
game of love. or war unless they
were playing h and objected to be-
ing caught personatiDg the Devil.
Another H-'s position could never
be well defined, until chance defined
it. 1t was a sort of cross between a
camp sutler and a briSadier general
His war paraphanalia consisted of a
nigh paper-cone hat, emblazoned
with stars and topped with an ostrich
plume, which did more pious and
reverent duty of a Sunday than OF
training day. At length the day
came when flag was presented to
the company. They had drilled en-
thusiasticly, and could do the chain
gang step half way down the column.
and could "swing round like d gate"
with a concavity that rainbow
would be proud to initiate. That
they could receive flags, as the other
great companies, the shreveport
Greys" and the ''CaddO Rifles" had
Slone was amply demonstrated, but
the reception speech threatened to
disorganiZe the command, until elo-
1uence was put above sabre and high
Tuned hat, and carried the day-and
the flag. 1t was decided that viii h.
1ould paralyze the throDg with
matchless oratory, and carry the
standard in compensation. The
presentation was held in Judge Js
front yard and there was noble
presentment of the last hope of the
land" Col. -, whose enrolment
in the forlorn-hope, Fort Humbug
Reserves, had won him spurs, and
title, was master of ceremonies. His
fierce front filled even the hope of
the land with wild alarms, which
We're only allayed by frank confess
sion that his only blood thirsty am
bition was to discourage the Union
army-at long range, and the best
place to die for ones country Was
behind the guns of Fort Humbug-
and some three hundred miles. The
speeches were made and the Judges
hospitality expressed in June apples,
plum pie, and other instructive
dainties, enjoyed with the only OBJ
otructive qualification that the Judge
objected to having the pies cut with
sabre, which the Captain insisted
was a disciplinary exercise contin-
gent upon possible emergency.
After the collation., the flag was
presented over again for the benefit of
the mothers of the heroes who had miss
ed the first call Then the cider was
brought forth, and the water MELONS
cut. This display of hospitality nat
urally suggested another presenta-
tion, which was held as soon as the
Captain could be disarmed, a1d the
young lady presenter re-upholstered
as to her curls, and toned down as to
her nose, which had been unduly
familiar with the home-dyed bunt-
ing OF ahe banner.
Having exhausted the Judges
commissary, an adjournment was had
to the department of the anomylous
Brigadler general, where the flag was
presented, a ration of ginger cake
and cistern water issued, and the OH.
famed warriors requested to keep of
the grass. Again order was given fol
the route and the company marched
''far down the street with plumes and
banners gay" stopping at conven
lent intervals-to present the banner
There were thirtw-two militia anC
seventeen raw recruits in that goodly
company, and when we got through
presenting the banner, we had alb
sorbed rations enough to provision
the regular army, and the MARTA
spirit was at high tide. Every moth
er owning boy in that battalion
had been privately advised that shc
was the patriotic fetish of the neigh
borhood, and her home would b,
honored with the presentation spec
tacle, and she was expected to draw
on her reserve commissary. 1t wa,
proposed to restir the precinct mex
week, but the Brigadier who wen
home with the collie, gave the snal
away, and the ',last hope of the coun
try" did not reach the front in tim,
to prevent the surrender at Appomat
tox. ELLIS SEAY.