The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-07-06

a., EM - The boys ofCo.
g, .IssDns, ns,Snyc%. q" w%,'% @ars.ss s,ss
-; "'sssiD usual, on the
alert for fun, and chance presently
turned on one Of our comrades. a dry,
droll sort of u fellow, but not lacking
in genuine wit, whose name have In
reality forgotten, but for the sake of
convenience will call him Perry II
had been noted by some of the boys
that for several evenings of late Perry
had abscntcd himself irom the bar
racks-gonc no one knew whittier but
it wns strongly suspicioncd that he
was out somewhere carrying on n light
Irritation with some female.
The word passed from lip To lip, and
the bnro idea was enough TO start the
show. II was $50 o'clock and Perry
had not put in an appearance, and in
30 minutes moro the shrill notes of the
buglc would sound flights out. Every
party must have leader, and proper
character turned up just suited to the
occasion in the person of fellow
named Howe, regular clown, more
generally known through the regiment
as "Gull," So called on account of n
little exploit of his connected with the
shooting of sen gulls, which brought
down upon him the laughter Of nearly
tho whole regiment,
A hnsty plan was formed by tho
boys of Go. ID TO assume that poor
Perry was dcnd, and proceeded Mt once
to hold wake around his empty bunk
in honor of the departed.
Fortunately we had drawn our al
lowanco of candles that day, for which
the boys were very glad, M 1t would
be out of the question 10 hold wake
without II goodly array of candles Ac-
cordingly cnch one contributed piece
from his supply until there was enough
TO make u bright display around the
bunk. II required some patience and
| ingenuity TO make them stand up re-
| spcctiully, with no socket whatever To
| place them in, but this was finally
managed, and the little illuminarics
stood erect and in good shape. Mean
time two scntincls wors stationed out
side to watch for the missing man and
to give the signal agreed upon should
he approach. In lieu of n moro gnstly
objcc. gallon jug was found, just tho
thing for u wake, which was placed in
the center Of the empty couch, while
the candles in front of it nickcrcd and
ilnrcd, looking most weird and solemn
in the surrounding gloom.
The boys now formed in platoons,
g.l l a A.. Il L.,
our drummer, and all were ready to
march at the first tap OF the drum.
A little time passed in silence, and
then low, sharp whistle greeted our
ears, and in moment more the whole
line was in motion as they took up the
death march, With bowed heads and
solemn faces the procession moved
| down the barracks ut the tap of the
muillcd drum and passed in front o
Porry's bunk. At this moment the
dciunct man himself appeared in the
door, which was opposite the array oi
cleaning candles, and stood for Q
moment like a statue, evidently con
siderably nonplussed at the strange
performance within.
1t was, however, but for moment
that Perry was in tho dark, and {
glow of intelligence shot over his fac,
as he took in the situation. The pro
cession turned and marched agaiI
with slow and solemn tread past th
flaming lights, and Perry, seeing thai
the wake was for his bcneh, and re
solving not to get entirely cleft, il
the true spirit of solemnity, dropped
his head instantly upon his breast
and walking slowly up to his bunk
took of his hat in the most humble
manner possible, and hung it upon thu
nozzle of the jug. In another lnstan
he had sprung over the lights ant
was sitting in the center of his couch
his legs twined about the stone oc
cupant, which he drew affectionately
to him, and with mock gravit!
which it is impossible to describe
awaited the proceedings silent as
corpse.
Still the solemn march continued VI
and down the barracks, until at lengtl
the boys broke into hearty laugh n
the comical appearance of Perry, an'
the band came TO halt in front of tn
lighted bunk. With dark grin upol
his face, he held out the jug to Howe
"Here boys, said he, "takc a drinl
on the strength of it. You know yo
may do this in earnest some day."
The affair, like all of its kind, wa
better seen than described. The boy
disbanded, and each man turned t