Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-12-01
A Nights Adventure.

"AlIS fair IN love, war, an ways o
gittin' whisky" said Pete Tinker, an
old ranger of the Shenandoah
Pete, a queer-looking fellow, with a
weazered face and weak voice. You
wondered how he could stand in the
sunshine without drying up. He was
a tall, thin man with long legs and a
box of body, and one of his eyes had
been shot out. its absence giving a
sinister look, or lack of look, to the
visionless side of his face But he
could see as much with one eye and as
well as another could with two, so it
was no easy matter to get on his blind
side.
YES" said Pete, that what Joe
Whalen, an old army chum O mine,
used to say-'all's fair in love, war an
ways O gittin' whisky Joe was a
soldier that had took to drinkin' on
account O. some trouble with his af-
fections, so he knowed all about love,
war, an ways O gittin' whisky He
belonged to an Ohio regiment, but
was, like me, Virginian by birth.
He was the worst sot that ever dis
graced an army by drinkin', an the
best soldier that ever frightened bat
tlefield with bravery. He was never
out O the guard house only when thar
was battle, an he never went into
fight without comm out wounded He
was not only full O pluck, an would
fight at the drop Of hat, but he was
the best Teller ever seen. He had
that kind O. good natur' that'll give
you the shirt off its back when it's
drunk, an then sneak around an steal
your coat.
Everything he laid hands on went
for whisky. The suffers tent was
kind o pawn shop fur him. Some
times he'd stagger onto the drillground
fur dress p'rade. mind you-with-
out coat ur cap on, an his galluses
draggin down about his legs, an
sometimes without shoes on, an even
his socks about halfoff. He'd "a gone
on dress p'rade without his breeches if
he could "a pawned EN- They got
so sick O. him they threatened to drum
him out O the army, but it wasn't no
use; he'd quit drinkin' when they'd
quit maxim it.
1T was gal, boys, that done it all,
an she was as purity as peach. They
had some trouble about his habits, an
Joe went to the dogs till he drove EN-
all out O. the kennel, an had full pos
session to hisself. Joe, like me was
one O the true blues O Verginny.
We was ca led blue bellied Yankees, ,
an had to cl'ar out. We was young
sprouts then, an enlisted under Shields
down thar at Winchester. He had a
friend corporal, that stuck to him
closer poor relation, but they was
always fghtin', Joe whipped him
every time. He'd be so drunk he
couldn't stand up, but he'd whip that
corporal, 'Peard like he was born to
do it.
II never heerd him mention the
gals name, but | knowed he was
thinkin' about her all the time I've
seen him often when thought he was
goin' to cry, he looked that down in
the mouth. This was when he was So
BERN up in the guard house. 1t was
hard to tell what thoughts was goin'
through the poor ieller's head then
1t jist peared like it was God a-talkin
to him / tell you, it made my heart
go out to him, an many's the time
I've slipped him drink to cheer him
up; for. knowed he was drinkin' his
self to death on account o the wors'
disease in the world-affections with
no prospect in 'em. tell you, it's /;
, grounding case when you We got you
happiness in another persons posses
sion It's like havin' your money il
another mans pocket.
But wanted to tell you how h,
come TO quit drinkin God bless hin
fur it: He'd done a brave thing il
holdin' an outpost frum a sudden at
tack O. the enemy, an capturin tina
colors an commandin' officer with hi
bare hands; an it come to the giner
ais ears. They couldn't promote hin
on account O. his habits; fur h
couldn't do anything but fight and an
git drunk, an he was always prowlin
around after stills. 1t was a wonde
he never got shot, the way he prowl