Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-22


led in his nosebag and his fore feet IN the
hay, knows better, and so does key, sit
ting on q cushion of blankets, his stomach
stuffed with stewed crackers, as his tur-
key will be tomorrow, and slipping hot
coffee In the warmth of the fire. How
comfortable and CHEEKY the little flagmnn
looked; how rosy his face Is after his long
ride and how queer the tall wigwam in
which he sits! A dozen long fence rails
erected fanw,se have been dashed together
at the top, and over these heavy gun tar
paulin, impervious to the wind, has been
drawn like the covering ofan Indian tepee
A warm fire on thick bed of Goals is
burning red against huge log facing the
open aide Of this temporary home OF key
and tho buglers and 1t throws q hugo
shadow Of cur conplacent hero upon the
rail ribbed canvas background. There are
other patches and blotcEcs Of shadow be-
hind the aaddles and knapsacks disposed
for seats by day and for pillows by night.
There are cleaning lights on the pendent
bugles and on the polished brasses stud
ding tho festoon Of brides swinging from
peg driven into one Of the rails
Eugler Ohld is coming his everlasting
arithmetic in the mellow half light to one
side, stretched lazily on his blankets--she
same arithmetic that has gone through
more battles tnaH o"' ~ 'Hu o i"O eorro,
horses swinging nosebag. The second
bugler is sleeping TRANQUILITY in his corner,
ana every where from unuer the scarlet
and gray blankets Is scat Ueiea 'he ADVANCE
guard OF the bIIloWs upon olllo"S OF russell
aNd brown IeaVeS' neapeu up anu pressed
down upon inc carmen moor LoSFeS sWeli
up IN fragrant masses peh!no uue ra" nice
sqddles; leaves are ploWh INTO Iahoasuc
eddles IN the hoi'o"s Oh we SUN canvass
leaves win smoking hui paachene,' cages
rim the hoO asheN oL INC mrs. "uo othcr
leaves sitting down rom me nearly Dakeo
ofSnches OF Ihe '7u tietS are visible py
tht I@Al OF 'he AIe' IL oulS AheS cares 10
ralse ms oIEeN eyes from the fascinating
gio" OF lhe c"a.S,
inc smell OF leaves ana the smoke CT
leaves burning Is 'he PunsehC perfume
sweet ana droWsy' thSt enVeIops the ru-
minant isaac ana the sInolous Ohlo' ana
the pluoked form OF the Christmas turkey
hanging for safety IN the apex OF the wig
wan
bUgier OhIo Keeps one wary eye on the
face OF MS watch ana now he steps outside
IN the Hrehght' ana facing TO the camp
DioWs 'he clear' precise hoCes OF the oaps'
LAgnts OUT! Lights out! Llghts OUT over
Eohaor' Mathena'icaliy ne hangs the
shining instrument In IT'S particular place,
While through al the betterles far ana
near the same sweet refrain rises and falls
! and swells ana DIES over the helds and
lnelts into the soft chorus OF distant drum
beats IKE an endless chime oil muned
'ChNstnas DOLLS.
I key listened to the music OF the camps,
ana cast scorhIul eye on the methodical
hugier spreading us blankets ana pulling
OH ms Doots' Bang! went rihe IN the
nearest infantry camp, ana the Halt
ha4t.' OF the surly guard mingled with the
smoke and the curses down by the creek.
AT II again, the fools' sneered the
bugler, craving into his bed.
who's foolF. cried key, losing his
ten per at me WORD ana scralhbnng onto
has leet' w nos 1901, you lazy, hul0n
son OF turtle? Them fellers shppin guard
in the SlXtieth has forgot more n ever you
knew. You'd lie an rot IN camp, You
would, an starve yer bioomln belly on
wormy hard tack afore you'd Jayhawk a
later. Come OH; you make me tired
yon DO"
law, give us rest, Ike" growled the
even tempered Ohld, rolling over in the
blankets, his face to the canvas and hi,
! ''''~-N
turkey"
WHO picked the turkey IS ltE' crieC
Ike. wv hat S plckin one turkey to RoiT
five mile OUTSIDE the line TO snatch III
Wisht the CUTS an feathers was shovel
inter yer blasted ougle' " nos goln aftel
tae -FOUR Tor the plum PudalhT On, be
OF course" sneerlnEly' - pose ye don
think I'm tired, don't yer ly this time
the obdurate bugler was snoring comfort
ably, and ILey's anger ana enterprise ros'
at the sound.
'Blarst ms snivellng bugIe, muttereC
the little guidon, at the same time admin
lstering "A Kick to the second horn
In fifteen minutes thereafter two raiders
after Keys own heart were gathered
with him by the iire-Ieddy Gregan, leac
driver OF the 1rSt gun with his brain
seethinS in his cap at the "opporcLunity
and Snoopy Schley, who, II lie couldn
blow THE general on parade, could Jay
hawk the shoes or the guard ana maxi
the guard think 10 had done 1t himself.
Is rmdin the milIye aref says Teddy
taking reef in his belt "OIm wild veg
me byes; but, begorra, II, not lawn that Ill
! nCCeut turkey Suhpinded in the mOOuIiC u