The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-06-25
"Don't mention it," said Private
Brock. "I'm glad it happened

There was general roar OF laughter
at this very blunt admission, and
Brock, seeing that he had made some
sort of mistake, added, as the flush of
his face almost equaled the red of the
huge bandana about his neck:
"That is to say, sub, it coulden't er
happened at better time, subj"
81 am decidedly of your opinion com
rade. What is your name and com
mapd?
"Well, sub, that wasn't 'zackly what
l come here to tell you, sub; but my
names Brock, sub, jist Private Brock,
sub; Kaintucky infantry, sub. "But
l wanted to say"
eco ahead and say it, my friend.
You are all right"
"I'm monst'rous glad to hear you
say so, gin'l, sub. What | want to
say is, sub, that a man what can make
sech a speech as that'n or yourn, yon-
der, ought to be back up north larnin'
them blame stay -at-homes some er
this truck you been tellin' us to-day.
We know all about it. Them's the
fellers what needs it. Go back thar.
gin'l, sub, en- po' it into 'em, red-hot.
You kin resign. l can't. Eff could,
I'd go with you, fur I'm no SLOUGH Of
talker myself, when l get started,
SUBJ"
Il see you are not" laughingly put
in the general.
Eyes, sub" continued Private Brock,
"You are the best single footed talker
at l evan hearn, gin'l, sub, an I'm er
shotin' fur you from A to lizard. Go
back thar, sub, en- run for congers, or
sompen, an shoot it to 'em. Eff you
should evan want me to hep you, if it
faint nothing mo- than to hol' boss,
jess say the word an I'm with you, an
if evan l get a chance to vote fur you,
you kin count Brooks vote, TO- you
hear fun the fus precinck."
In the meantime Gen.. Garfield had
mounted and as he dashed away be
said:
"Good-by, Comrade Brock; I'll
think of what you have said.'
"That's right" said Private Brock
to himself. "We can do the fighting
and one gin'l mo- or less don't make
much diff. What's wantin' now is
larnin' fur them fools up yam"
1t was probably not Private Brooks
suggestion that caused the voters of
Gen. GarfieId's district in Ohio to
nominate and elect him to congress
while he was on the field as soldier.
But they we're doubtless impressed
by some of the same influences that
Brock was, and the young brigadier
went on attending to his duties among
the solons for the nation while Private
Brock kept marching on, and fighting
on, and fighting on, in the field. He
couldn't resign and doubtless had no
desire to do so, but one day, two years
and more afterward, piece of she'll,
the other portion of which had taken
different directions when it exploded
at Armstrong Heights, in the seige of
Knoxville came scurrying along and
utterly ruined Private Brooks fatigue
hat, that had many brass emblems on
it, and it also tore a place in Private
Brooks head that was not altogether
picturesque.
But the surgeons on the field sewed
up the rent, and he didn't need new
hat for long time.
Private Brock achieved his resig-
nation, however, through that cut in
his head which seemed to have let
in new ideas. He was discharged
because he was supposed to be in
sane, but he was impressed with the
idea that he was needed at Washing
ton to advise with Congressman Gar
field and he took up his residence in
the national capital.
Quickly Ex-Private Brock found his
self-selected protege, and being re-
cognized the congressman gave him
employment about his domestic es-
tablishment.
Aware of Brooks battle-won in
trinity the statesman general took
with apparent seriousness much ad-
vice from Mr.. Brock concerning the
conduct of national affairs, and re-
ceived most humbly Mr.. Brooks
expressed appreciation of his congress
sional career.
This continued until Mr. Rrock,s