Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-10-18

have mittened me if II hadn't been that
had the finest colt i'm the county.
The summer left college there came 70
me an overwhelming sense OF patriotic
/ duty
Mother was the first 10 notice nv ab.
/ sentmindedness and To her first confided
the great wish of my early manhood IL /,
hard for parents 90 bid a son go forth 10 do
service upon the battlefield. but New Eng
land in those times responded cheerfully
and nohlN o. Mr. Lincoln call
Tho Elghrh Massachusetts cavalry was
the regiment | enlisted I'm. \ baker :
dozen Of IL boys went together from the
quiet little village nesting in the shadow
of Mount HuNokc From Camp Andrew
wrote back "A pitcouS letter complaining
Of The horse that had been assigned 20 me
WANTED ROYAL We had been insrparable
IN times OF pcace-why should we not
share together the fortunes OF war;
Within fortnight, along came Royal, con
Quoted In all dignity by-you would never
guess-by Judge Phipps Full of patriot
ism and cheer was the Judge.
"Both OF We are thoroughbrcd, " said
he Yen come IN under the wire first
every time ! know We will
The judge also brought me saddle
blanket which susie had ornamcntcd with
wondrous and tender art
80 Royal and | went into the war to-
gcther There were times Of priyation and
OF danger, neither Of Us ever complained.
l am proud 10 bear witness that in every
emergency my horse bore himself with
patience and valor that seemed actually
human My comrades cnYiod me my
gentle. stanch obedicnt servant Indeed
Royal and ! became famous a. inscpartbie
and loyal friends
We were in five battles, and neither Of
Us got even 50 much as a scratch But
one afternoon in skirmi,h with the
rebels near Potomac mills bullet struck
me in the thigh, and from the mere shock
] fell from Royal back into the tangle OF
the thicket Tho fall must have stunned
me, Tor the next thing knew | was alone
deserted of all except my faithful horse
Royal stood over me, and when | opened
my eyes hc gave faint whinny. | hardly
knew what 10 do My leg panied me cx
cruciatingly. | surmised that | would
never be able 10 make my way back 10
camp under the fire of the rebel picketers,
for | discovered that they were closing in
Then IL occurred to me to pin note to
Royals saddle blanket and to send ROYAL
back 10 camp, telling the boys of the
trouble ! was in The horse understood
1t all OF he gallOped, conscious of tho
import Of the mission upon which he had
been dispatched.
Bang bang bang went the guns over
yonder, a II the revengeful creatures in
the faroff brush guessed the meaning of |
our maneuvering and sought TO slay my
loyal friend. But not bullet touched |
him-leastwise he galloped on and on til |
l lost sight of him.
They came for me at last, the boys did |
They were a formidable detachment. and |
how the earth shook as they swept along |
We thought you were goner sure
said Hi Bixby
Il guess | would have been il it hadn't !
been for Royal said l.
4 guess 80 myself, " said he When |
we saw him stumbling along all bloody, |
we allowed for sure you were dead
All bloody cried. is Royal hurt?"
as bad "a a boss can be, " said he
In camp we found them doing the best
they could for him. But it was clearly Of
no avail There was a gaping, ragged
hole in his side. Seeking succor for me-
Royal had met his death wound | forgot
my own hurt | thrust the Others aside
and hobbled where he lay.
FOOT olu 10y. i Cflcu As threw nv
self beside my dying friend and put my
arms about his neck. Then patted and
stroked him and called him again and
again by name, and there was look in
his eyes that told me he knew me and was
glad was there.
How strange and yet how beautiful il
vas that in that farof country, with my
brave, patient, loyal friends huttering
leart close unto mine, l neither saw nor
bought of the scene around mel
But before my eyes came hack the old,
amiliar places, the pasture lot, the lane,
he narrow road up the hill the river
winding along between great stretches ~
'rOwn corn, the aisle Of maple trees and
he fountain where we drank SO many.
many times together, and | smelled the
fragrance Of the flowers and trees abloom,
ND heard the dear voices and the sweet
ounds OF my boyhood days.
Then presently IA mighty shudder awak.
ned me from this dreaming And cried
ut with alright and grief, for felt that
was alone. Chicago Record