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

kuidon with tho Hebrew nose dawned |
IN a wide, wind swept plain, where the
prisoners OF the Army Of the Potomac |
we're huddled together in miserable, SILVER
ing groups about smoky fires, or groveled |
Ind shool, under scanty blankets on the |
frozen ground. The icy CHRISTMAS blasts
aowle1 among the scant trees like gale
1T sea, and caught up the ashes from the
moldering fires, and mingled their groans
With the biting snowfakes flying horizon
sally across the plain.
key and Teddy walked about, making n
brave fight against the singing cold, now
strangled by gust Of smoke and now
battling to get Whit Of n dripping strip
pf bacon toasting on a lucky ramrod.
Sleep was out OF the question, and other
men besides themselves were walking
about to stir their sluggish blood, or
crouching over smoking embers that the
wind had quicltened into life. The gray
was mingled Unfortunately with the
blue, md the misery of that Christmas
morning made no distinction Of uniform,
except when an hour or two later few
citizens were passed through the guard
with 'snacks" OF broiled chicken and hot
biscuits for the Confederate sufferers.
Luck at um," said Teddy, holding on
to his empty stomach; "ut's Niger ate
care Az his own"
tits poor show for Christmas dinner
we've got" muttered key, but there's
one thing I'm sure Of Snoopy Schley
landed that haversack O. fure into camp
sfore the guard landed us here"
Yer right he did" cried Teddy; "lave
him alone fur that. Ohm thinkin Bugler
Ovid ull be wakin up about this tonne
alongside av his missus. Don't yea be
down hearted, Oike; it's q long day we'll
have afore night, an foine hunger there'll
be on us be that tonne"
II was certainly a morning Of busting
preparation IN camp in the immediate
neigh borhood of the wigwam Of the
buglers, Notwithstanding the absence of
two Of its inmates. The big turkey was
turning and basting on spit, with half the
battery looking on and shifting the ravish-
ing odor. keys dinner was to be spread in
the quartermaster's log cabin for stores, and
the minor cooking was going on IN the
cabin fireplace.
Old Q. NJ. Sandy himself was away Mt
daylight FOR the landing, with Unc' Nose,
hi-hi-ing his six mules into the teeth Of the
wind, and in Sandy's Jacket pocket were
orders for mince fies and CONDENSED milk
and lemons ind r-hisky, and other deli
c. ies not 70 be Aad at the suffers tent
across the delds in the nearest infantry
camp. Che buglers were left with the
whole responsibility of the cooking on
their shoulders. AS there was constantly
something wanted from 3he nearest depot
Of supplies they pressed into eeryice the
two fairest flowers from the bouquet of
lunatics and cripples attached to the scrv-
ice Of the extra horses.
Charley Fitch, with his writings and
twstinGs ia the name of St. Nitus, and
def old Spence Beehee made many jour
ney to and from the suffers, trotting
through the long dry grass and stopping
in the wind to watch the focks of crows
and buzzards Tapping and sailing about
and swooping down to meet their thin
shadows on the brown fields in search of
something for their Christmas. When
1.-THE dementcd ones' were not employed
running errands they were mutely turning
the spit, confidently expecting something
toothsome for their services. Charley
writhed with expectation as he grew hum
cry, but instead of profaniug his stomach
with ordinary food he frightened his belt
and motioned to Spence TO do likewise.
cord almighty, amt deefN" muunbled
old Spence, chewing his guild like any
other ruminaut animal, after Charley had
shouted himself hoarse in his ear and
taken a reef in his belt for him; you
needn't holler s loud"
As the afternoon advanced the cold mod
Grated a shade and the scurryiug wind
blew thick with snowfakcs. The ground
grew white, the distance was blotted out at
q huudred yards, and the devil was to pay at
the picket rope. Cut Of the blizzard came
the sound Of kicks and oaths, and every
FIVE minutes the mouotonous cry Of the
guard:
Corporal of the guard, post 10. ., horse
loosen
BY tattoo the snow had turned to rain
and the horse guard to q believing maniac
All but the duty men were snug under
canvas, listening to the bowling Of the
wind and tie beating Of the rain.
In the qTArteruaoter's log cabin every
thing was ready for tue feast but the pres
ence Of the host aud his companion in
misfortune. The table itself Was the bed
OF inc Noses mule wagon, supported on
cracker boxes and lighted by candles SIT
up il their own grease. The quarter
master. broad shuuldcred and red iacrl, ,
sandy of hair and beard, with an appetite
whctted by a day in the saddle and sniff
Of Virginia tiGeVa-er, sNt on a hay bale
in the chimney corner drying his boots at
the fire and consulting his watch with "A
fruwn.
keys turkey, with tru5sed drumstick E,
was already smoking on the table, and
Buulev Ohld was experimenting inc
Nose in the placing of sacks and boxes for
Seats Snoopy Scnlcy was brewing five
quart cups OF codee on the Goals. and the
demented ones were tightening their belts
on a heap of grain sacks overlooking the
scene.
outside the bare trees groaned and dashed
each other il the wind, and the rain
crashed On The canvas overhead and
fought its way under the caves, and a few
hissiug drops came IN AZ the chimney and
spat on the Goals.
Snoopy Schley lifted the bsg which con
tanned the plum pudding out OF the camp
kettle suspended on a stick.
"TAere's der stun" moralized Snoopy,
"what der blokos frum der Mint Jersey
got pulled fur jayhawkin Honesty is der
best policy, IN hope der miller won't be
hard on &c Mint"
lis dogSon hard on he" cried the
uuartermaster, slapping his leg as vicious.y