The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-07-14

wished / was n dog, so that / could
coil all around myself like" and he
shuddered at the memory.
"All right, Tommy" | said; you
come with me. and you shall have as
good blow out as you had at the mis-
sion last Christmas"
"You don't mean itl' he cried.
"But do mean II. Come along"
took him 10 neiQhboring restau-
rant and ordered dinner, or rather let
Tommy de Kid order for himself, and
he did IL in way that showed he was
thinking Of the quantity rather than
the quality.
/ had been a prisoner Of war and /
knew what It was to be hungry, but
] must confess that never up 20 that
time nor since bud seen such capac-
ity for beefsteak. onions. bread and
butter and coffee as that boy displayed.
Now and then he would stop with his
mouth full To say:
EYED better, see, boss. IL yer pile III
stand It, IL | tackle anodder steak"
was beginning TO feel that the boy
might injure himself, when 10 my
great relief he finished up the last sec
ton OF a mince pie, pushed back his
chair. and said with a sigh of supreme
satisfaction:
"Well, / never thought a fellow
could feel so good"
suggested that he walk down to
camp with me, and he agreed. On the
way TO the city hall he darted from my
side to thrash a boy OF his own age
! against whom he had grudge, and he
did IL, / am satisfied. far moro thor
oughly and quickly than he could have
done before dinner. ! have noticed
that men fight better when they are
well fed
Tommy de Kid could read and write
| little, his learning, as far as IL went,
being largely obtained through the
medium OF theatrical posters. But
never before met human being SO en-
tirely alone in the world, or who APP
peared 10 have less TO hold him 20 life.
He told me that he twas just dyin'
TO be sojer, but dem goold lace duff
fers bounced" him when he tried 20
enlist.
The officers OF my regiment were
from the camp, and thithcr went,
after bidding Tommy the Kid, good
highland telling him that II he showed
up in the morning he could have all
the breakfast he could stow away.
Tommy must have hung about the
camp all night. for when | appeared
ut roll-call at five the following morn
ing, he was on hand, and greeted me
by waving his ragged cap above his
head.
The men gave the boy breakfast and
Col Fellows, whom interested in the
case, told me that he needed ano Their
drummer, but as the boy was under
age, he could not be enlisted without
the consent of guardian.
"But," added the lsind-hearted
colonel, with smile, there is no rea-
son why you can't take the boy before
Judge, have yourself appointed his
guardian, and then, il you want 20 en-
list him, youll have no one 70 object. +"
stated the case 10 Tommy de Kid,
and he said:
DO il, boss; jest be gardin' to me,
an den won't lseer IL you fill me up
wild dinner, and den take me out and
shoot me dead"
followed tho colonels advice, and
before noon | was Tommy dc Kids
guardian, ans Tommy, himself win
my consent, was soldier Of the re-
public
had him measured for a uniform az
once, had his hair cut, and ran him
through Turkish bath, and so trans
formed him that TO use his own lang
uage he didn't know himself from a
gineraLn
For purposes of recognition he was
entered on the regimental rolls as
"Thomas Lincoln but from first 70
last he continued To be known as
Tommy de Kid
never saw better illustration OF
the effect OF good feeding than Tommy
presented. Two days after he joined
we were ordered 70 the front, and be.
fore he had been one month with US,
his checks were rosy, he seemed To
have grown several inches, and he car.
ried himself like soldier
Although has past life was such az
would have ruined most boys, Tommy
was at heart n gentleman. lie made
friends OF all who knew him, he never
complained, aud after his first action
at Gettysburg, his character for un'
daunted courage was established.
"rhe great pint he would say Il
me, sis To lick dem Johnnies; den wen
dey cries 'nufI, why I'm for lettin' uI
ON EN-. If deyll gree not TO do SO nc
more
That was the boys military creed
and Il was not a bad one.
We had fought from the WILDERNESS,
TO Cold IIarbor, and from the James u
Petersburg. Our regiment dwindled
away under disease and the bullet, but
Tommy dc Kid continued To prosper.
On the march the beat of his drum
rang down from the head of the col
umn. in action he gave his time TO the
care OF the wounded, and handled q
muskct when that was impossible
But no matter where placed he did hii
full duty. From first 90 last I never