The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-06-20
THE STORY OF BILL.

From The Chicago Record.
The change in Bill was noticed the very
day that Bill got back from the east 1t
surprised and shocked us all. Before he
went away Bill was the liyeliest and gen
uincst thoroughbred in the camp; i dare
say that in all the Red Hoss mountain dis
trct there wasn't n gentleman who could
lay his tongue to stronger oaths and more
of en- than could Bill-thats why he was
known far and wide as Damnation B!li,
for the name that fellow was known by
out in that Gods own country III them days
was not the name given to him by his
SPONSORS in baptism, but by the other tel
lows who, having pardncrcd with him and
studied his idiosyncrasieS. were qualihei
to give him name that. clearly and DIT
rectly, conveyed a succlnct idea. as the say
ing goes, Of the most salient features OF
his character. Damnation Bill was Il name
that fitted Bill to a I.
Curiously enough, when Bill got back
from the east he didn't do no more swear
ing, and it was that circumstance which Gre
ated the scandal-the first scandal Bill had
ever been identified with. Talking it over
among ourselves, the rest Of Us fellows
figured it that Bill must have got religion
while he was down east. and TINS seemed
all the more likely when we found out, just
by chance one evening, that BIl had been
dov7i east to see his mother.
WELL" says Barber jim IF he has got
religion and has broke away from the old
tradilions, supposln we call INN larson
Bill"
overheard what Barber Jim said. although
Barber Jim hadn't any idea that Bill Yds
within gunshot of Casey's, where we was
all CONTEMPLATING.
BOYS" SAYS Bill, as calm like as you
pIease. ..you can call me the Old name II you
want to. or YOU can call me any other name
and | won't kick. l guess the worst name
Won could give me wouldn't be too good for
me. But | want you to know that ham
got religion, and, there bcin no objection,
Ill tell you somepin that. BEN partners
of mine you ought to know.
Il wasn't more than kid says Bill.
''whcn the wor broke out. l lived with the
old folks down east-vas the ccuntryeSt
boy you ever seen. Readin' The SPRING
field Republican from day to lay. as how
the flag had been nSulted. how forts had
been fred on and how the union was in
danger, why, of course. my boy bloom
was up and ! was just everaStinly b1lin
over to jne the war and go to the front
and save the country. SO l run away from
home. 1t was hard on the old folks for
was their only child. and | can understand
now that their hearts was just sot Oh me.
Well. | walked all the way to Chatham
Corners and joined the cavalry they was
musterin' ill there. | was only sixteen
then, but | was big enouGh Tor twenty;
they needed recruits and they didn't ask
too many questions. At Washington
wrote back home and after that | got let
ters from mother or father twice a week
and it wasn't long before father sent me the
colt he had raised and broke and great
hopes of fer the next county fair trotting
match if | hadn't gone and joined the
cavalry. They never scolded me for run
ming away; it was always God bless you
and do your duty and things of that kind
they wrote, and mother always put in
D. S., saying, Willie, don't forget to say
your prayers
war, and you know what army life was.
Say my prayers? Why, who thought Of