The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-24

NJ
@usA :. were ever thought of,
nTH@sSfS that our little era must
FNai@4k have lain like narrow
ribbon of gold across the ages in the view
of the stars, so old were they.
In their midst, no doubt, was the won
derful star in the east. if key had been
wise enough to find it.
What a wonderful night it was for a
small guidon to be riding alone along a
Virginia crossroad, his pathway illumined
by the light Of the moon, with the undi-
vided attention of more stars than he could
count
And then the cedar hedge had been fired
that afternoon by a passing division of
cavalry, and the flames running rampant
along the line of march had offered miles
of cracking comfort to the hating troop
ers. The night air was aromatic with the
pungent odor of the roots of the cedar still
glowing in the smoldering turf. Now
and then dry bush not heretofore reached
by the devouring flames, famed by the
wind, burst into burning and brought the
little Jewish boy on his galloping gray out
in high relief as he passed athwart the itful
flames.
How the light enveloped and caressed
him and caused the long shadows to dance
about and chase him on the frozen road!
How it glinted on the visor of keys cap,
and CLEANED on the crossed guns above. and
touched his fat nose with merry, high
light, and was mirrored in the liquid eyes
of the horse; how it bronzed the tapping
wings of the great turkey whose red head
was tied fast in the nosebag pendent from
the horses neck, its yellow feet dashed up
10 hn all eide oJrfn bo
little gray carry his head high and look as
if he bore the Tapping bird of freedom on
his breast; how it brought out the scarlet
berries hanging on twigs from the cantle
of the saddle and the scarlet blanket I'M
derneath, and the small boots swinging
free in the leather capped stirrups, and the
smiling mouth of the small rogue water
ing in anticipation of tomorrow's dinner!
How he planned as he rode along to lay
the officers in the shade with the sumptu-
BUSINESS of his spread on the morrow, and
with the help of his messmates to out
Herod all the Christians in the camp!
Where had he got this wonderful bird,
the envy of hundred colopels? "Sheap"
from a queer old woman, with a sympa-
thetic nose, who lived dangerous distance
from the camps. To her he had rendered
CIlSp StCSuUdChS, WAlCA sic udo l1iuiS-
nantly refused, and then he had paid her
in crumpled Confederate notes, printed in
Philadelphia and boiled in coffee and made
acquainted with grease. He had paid her
like a prince and refused small offer of
silver in change. Oh, key, how could
you do it?
And now the lights of the camp begin to
glitter on valley and hill; such bewilder-
ing, dazzling array of fires, little and big,
that a small boy coming suddenly out of
the somber darkness of the road through
the wood on to the top of the hill in full
view Of the cheerful lights OF the bivouack-
ing army may well stop to consider and
rub his bump of locality before he deter
mines which are the particular fires per-
tanning to Battery @. Above all the camps
is soft reflection of light on the sky, and
the fragrant smell Of smoke is abroad in
the night air. They are the nearest fires
that bewilder most.
The fire in the hollow of burning
stump close at the roadside, about which
the group of tall western infantrymen, in
felt hats and feathers, are toasting crack
ers and strips of bacon on ramrods, is big
CUR and brighter than all the fires beyond.
Then, too, these fellows bubble over in
good natured banter at sight of the small
man with the Christmas turkey, and key
is prepared to dig his spurs into the gray
and make good his escape should any COW
etous soldier approach too near his treasure.
And now the troops lie thicker and
thicker on every hand, and nearer and
louder comes the sound of laughter and
song, as well as some very bad language
for Christmas eve.
o+aI nc x1-J,o
dies are burning in bayonet shanks; there
are groups Of booted officers seated in camp
chairs about burning logs, and dark patches
nnder the neighboring trees, whence the
colonel's horse whinnies greeting to keys
humble mount. On every cap top now is
the red Maltese cross of the First division,
and an obliging fire picks out the same en-
larged device on the canvas cover of yonder
mess wagon.
Through the tall trees to the left sparkle
and dance the cheerful fires of Battery @,
and on the brow of the hill beyond the
dark mass of the battery horses relieves
against the sky the fires Of the next bat
terry showing through the tangle of black
legs. Ikey turns off the fenceless road into
the tall, withered grass and rides directly
to his owa mess. I'd
ALI Cn6 COullOEb OIL Inc WOElu Is uOO ulO-
nopolized by the plethoric citizen who
surrurnrs HIS suppered rect on the dainty
rug before the glowing CRATE, or by the
fastidious clubman eating grilled bone,
Dr. by the panpered city horses sleeping in
mahogany boxes.
The little gray pony, with his face bur-
led in his nosebag and his fore feet in the
hay, knows better, and so does key, sit
ling on 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
and CHEEKY the little fiagman
looked; how rosy his face is after his long
ride, and how queer the tall wigwam in
which he sitsi A dozen long fence rails
erected fanwise have been dashed together
at the top, and over these heavy gun tar
paulin, impervious to the wind, has been
drawn like the covering of an Indian tepee.
A warm fire on a thick bed of Goals is
burning red against huge log facing the
open side of this temporary home of key
and the bugIers, and it throws a huge
shadow of our complacent hero upon the
rail ribbed canvas background. There are
other patches and blotches of shadow be-
hind the saddles and knapsacksi disposed
for seats by day and for pillows by night.
There are ylea lights on the pendent