The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-04
JUST AFTER TIE WAR.
How Two Boys Spent Few Days OF Their
Vacation.
PITTsBuRG. PA.


10 s 5.-aD: -, PIrTsBURG, PA.
DEAR CHARLIE: Your brother Liant and
I, after talking over how we should put in our
vacation, concluded that railroads, steam boats,
and horses were too monotonous and that we
would take walk of two or three weeks, with
Niagara Falls as our destination. So, one fine
morning in September, 1865, with hsversacks
sluug over our shoulders, we started from our
house and laid our course due north. Joe went
with us as far as the Sharpsburg Bridge and,
bidding us good-by, We left.
We went as straight north as the road would
take us. The first day made 20 miles; the
second day we stopped at the farm house Of John
Crow. Farmer Crow caught up with US as We
were climbing steep hill, and invited US to
get into his wagon saying al will give you a
lift over this pinch" As soon as we were seated
beside him he began to question US, and in a
short time knew all about US; our names, bust
ness and that we were walking for pleasure.
There were no tramps in those days. In
that case" he said, "you might as well come
with me and stay at my house all night"
Turning his horses into a long. shady lane, we
soon reached a fine old Pennsylvania farm
house. As we rode along he told MS that the
farm had been occupied by the Crow family
for over 100 years. He pointed to rail fence,
an old style fence built of chestnut rails that
he declared was over 100 years old. We simply
said "cS estnuts" never dreaming that % years
We busted off, washed up and were shown into
the house. and sat down to a supper good
enough for hungry men. After the blessing
we fell upon the good fare as only hungry young
fellows can.
There were at the table Mr.. and Mrs. Crow,
the Misses Crow, Master Crow, German farm.
hand about so years old, little Dutch girl that
] took to be his daughter and Liant and /.
Having satisfied my hunger, / was about to
push back my chair and leave the table, when
/ glanced at Liant. He sat with his hands folded
and his eyes cast down. / hesitated, and Mr..
Crow returned thanks l confess that / felt
like q pagan who for the first time sees the
forms and ceremonies of Christianity, but
recognizes their perfect fitness.
We all went out the porch, lit our pipes,
and settled down comfortably to talk. The
war was just over; nothing was talked off but
the war. Mr.. Crow had lost q number of
friends and relatives among them q nephew,
very near and dear to him. When he mentioned
his name Liant knew him well, and could tell
the farmer all the particulars of his DEATH as
Liant was in the same battle in which the young
fellow had lost his life. Liant told him how
the boy had been shot through the arm and
sent to the rear but when told that his Captain
had been shot and the Lieutenants wounded,
he took stick (he could not carry a musket),
and rushing back. led his company into the
fight, and lost his life right in the bloody front.
OF course, we were all uch affected. partcu-
larly the old gentleman aud his wife. You know,
Liant was a master hand at story telling The
old German was stirred up to relate his expert
ences, and told us how near lie lost his life when
fighting. 1t was on the Rapidan. and he had
all his accouterments on. From his knapsack,
hanging down behind, was his fryingpan. He
said reb shot him right through his frying
pan. 1t was a very narrow escape. Calling to
the little girl. he said:
Katie, fetch dot frypan. ] show de gentle
men how near ! was TO be killed."
Katie brought the fryingpan, and there was
the ragged hole made by the minie-ball almost
in the center. 1t was a close call. / thought
it an incident worthy of the poets Hottest flight
and being filed with the af1atus called divine
] assumed the role Of Silas Wegg, and dropped
into poetry, thus:
It was n valiant soldier man
Went marching down The Rapidan;
A Johnny Reb let fly his lead
And shot him in the fryiugpan.
Oh, the fryingpan. the life-preserving fryingpani
Let mothers pYaIe of yemorseiess fate1
sing 10 you of the fryingpan.
Then every soldier declared TO a man
That there could be no better plan
To save his life and get home TO his wife
Than TO carry behind him "a fryiugpan.
Oh, the fryingpa, the life preserving fryin gpani
Let others pirate OF rcmorseless fate,
sing TO you OF the fryingpan.
We left next morning after family prayers
and break fast (Rrace before aud thanks after),
with all the Sickle pears our bagersaeks would
hold. He was much offended at our offer TO
pay him. We walked along, smoking our pipes,
for long time, when Liant remarked with
epigrammatical terseness, " He was the whitest
crow ] ever saw"
Yours sincerely, ". K. MCDOWELL