The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-03

~$~ e1gerness at the
noise of rumors
1t cast its eyes upon the roads
which were growing from long
troughs of liquid mud to proper
thoroughfares. A river, amber
tinted in the shadow of its banks
purled at the army's feet, and at night
when the stream had become of q
sorrowful blacliness, one could see
across it the red, eye-like CLEANS Of
hostile camp1res set in the low brows
Of distant hills. .......
Once q certain tall soldier developed
virtues and went recolutely to wash @
shirt. He came flying back from the
brook waving his garment, banner-like
He had heard tale.
We're going to move tomorrow
sure" he said, promptly, to group in
the company street. Were going
way up the river, cut across and come
around in behind them"
To his attentive audience he drew g
loud and elaborate plan Of very
brilliant campaign. When he had
finished the blue-clothed men scat
tered into small, arguing groups be
tween the rows Of squat brown huts
Smoke drifted lazily from a multitude
of quaint chimneys.
"It's a laundering 'lie!" said lout
young private. II don't believe the
derned old armys ever going to move
We're sot. I've got ready to move eight
times in the last two weeks, and We
amt moved yet"
The tall soldier felt called upon t.
defend the truth Of Il rumor he himseli
had introduced. He and the loud one
came near to fighting over it.
Many of the men engaged in the
spirited debate. One outlined in c
peculiarly lucid manner all the plant
of the commanding general. He was
opposed by men who contended thai
there were other plans of campaign
They clamored at each other, numbers
making futile bids for the popular ut
tention.
There was q youthful private who
listened with eager ears to the words
of the excited soldier and to the varied
comments of his comrades. After re
ceiving fill of discussions concerning
marches and attacks, he went to hi
hut and crawled through an intricat,
hole that served it as a door. II,
wished to be alone with some new
thoughts that had lately come to him
He lay down on wide bunk tina
stretched across the side of the room
In the other end cracker boxes wer,
made to serve as furniture. They wer,
grouped about the fireplace. Equip
ments hung on handy projections. Th'
smoke of the fire at times neglected
the ebay chimney and wreathed int
the room. And, too, this tlimsy chin
ney of clay and sticks made endless
threats to set afire the whole establish
ment.
The youth was in little trance o
astonishment. So they were at las
going to fight. On the morrow, per
haps, there was going to be battl,
and he would be in it. For time h,
was obliged to labor to make himsel
believe. He could not accept with as
surance an omen that he was about t,
mingle in one of those great affairs o
the earth.
He had, Of course, dreamed of bat
ties all of his life-of vague, blood.
conflicts. In visions he had seen him
self in many struggles that had thrilled
him with their sweep and fire. Blu
monotonous weeks of camp life hat
made him finally regard himself a
merely part of vast blue demonstra
tion. He had come prepared to devas
tate the enemy; instead, he was mad
to sit still in one place and try to keeI
warm during the winter. He decide,
then that war was legend.
However, he was now told that h
was going to fight. He was mutely as
tonished, and lay in his bunk trying t
prove mathematically that he woul
not run. Here was great problem
He was forced to admit that as far a
war was concerned he knew nothing G
himself. .s,a.....
A little panic fear grew in his min6
AS his imagination went forward t
this fight, he saw hidcous possibilities
He contemplated the lurking menace
of the close future and his mind faile
in an effort TO see himself standin
stoutly in the midst of them.
He sprang from his bunk and bega
to pace nervously to and fro. GOO