The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-02
y-. THAT DINNER. >u,

-
Como very funny tricks were played by
tho enlisted mon Of tho army on thoir off,
cers during tho rebellion.
Ono day Captnin Riplsa proposed TO
stsmo OF bis brother officers that they
should have grand dinner nt certain |
time and place. The time selected was "a
few days off and the place eawmill |
somewhere near tho Dismal swamp canal.
Or course tho people who were TO get up
tho dinner wero tho necessities Of the occa-
sion, but all this could DO obyiatcd by the
officers, who could buy tho catnbles and
hire the plates, knives and forks I'm Nor
folk. Tho idea was voted "a good ono, Hnd
preparations were made ~ carry IL out.
Men from Captain Ripka's company were
detailed to 60 to Norfolk and procure tho
necessary things, and among these meD
were two OF tho widest men In the COM
mand. They were young DIR. Theodore
Runkel md Carr Rapp.
IL would bo useless to tell of their es-
capndos while on this expedition. Suffice
to cay everything was provided In hand
some style by the puryeyors, and In due
time the dinner was ordered for certain
day. The dinner was to take place at
o'clock. In tho meantime the officers sat
about and talked Of their proposed feed"
and the time for them to sit down was
only too far removed for comfort. They
were hungry for homelike dinner once
more.
About IL o'clock on the day OF tho din
ner a group Of soldiers might have been
seon--in fact, they were seen-loitering
about In the company streets as II waiting
for something to turn up. At 2 O'Clock
1t evidently had turned up, for the soldiers
could be seen In the streets no longer.
Now let us proceed to the sawmill, where
the dinner was prepared.
OF course 10 men were about, but the
women folks had been most industrious,
and chicken, ham, potatoes and strawber-
ries and things had been prepared galore
A large dining table had beon spread he
meath the sheltering branches OF q sturdy
oak, plates had been laid for over dozen,
and now. all was ready. Only the guests
were wanted.
CGrr Rapp was a tall, good looking SOL
der, but he found 1t impossible to wear
stripes for any length OF time on account
Of certain peouliarities not necessary to
mention. His general get up as well as
his looks had made him quite q favoritc
with the ladies, and when he proposed to
ladies In Ssis mind, and he believed they
would grant his request without a mur
mur. The boys accepted the invitations,
and that was the reason why they were
not found In their company streets during
the afternoon. Somewhere about O'Clock
the ladies Of the sawmill had the pleasure
Of welcoming Rapp and his entire party.
They had come for dinner. Was 1t ready
yet? For they wero somewhat in a hurry,
and who knew but what the rebels might
be upon them ut any moment
The dinner was serye ed In fine style, and
the boys enjoyed 1t as only hungry soldiers
could. They finished up with beer and
cigars, and then, thanking the ladies foi
their kindness, accidentally upset the table
as they arose and spilled what was left on
the ground. Then they departed, but not
before the women had commenced to think
that perhaps there might be something
wrong about them, but they never for once
thought. that they had given the wrong
people the right dinner. At any rate the
dinner was ordered and paid for. That
was all they needed.
Now for the other fellows. At half past
8 jolly party of officers of tho Fifty.
eighth came riding up to the sawmill.
The table had been righted, and everything
looked as it had before, but it wouldn't
bear close inspection. The women now
saw that something was indeed wrong,
but they held their tongues
"Now, fellers," cried Captain Ripka as
he dismounted from his mule, "here's the
place where we get our money back, and
IL any man doesn't enjoy it why he's a
shad." How the captain did rub his
hands and caper about while he spoke
ttnfv, Of IL
had fairly set these men beside themselves,
and the way they behaved was like little
children. They wandered about and look
ed at everything, and then asked the cap
tain how soon the dinner would be ready.
In few minutes" I" said Ripka. But
while he spoke he was wondering why II
was SO late, why he and the others had not
been called long before. In the meantime
the women were sure mistake of some
kind had been made. but at last the old
lady came forward and spoke.
"What do you gentlemen wantp" she
asked. Every man who knew Captain Al
Ripka will see his face at this particular
instant. 1t was jovial and laughing most
of the time, but now 1t wore look OF
'wonderment
"We have. come for our dinner" said
she In surprised accents, ''the dinner we
iordered. Is IL not ready yet? II 1t is not,
we'll wait few minutes
BY this time the other officers had clus
tered around, and the captain was watched
with absorbing interest.
1.-The gentlemen have been here and
eaten the dinner" quoth the lady sadly.
"Whof" "Which!" "Wherep' "WhatP'
followed In quick succession from dozen
voices. The lady tried to explain, but she
couldn't satisfy dozen hungry mon.
Then she looked toward tho able, and the
eyes cof the officers followed her eyes.
Then, as II the whole thing had been pre-
concerted, they made rush for the table,
only to find IL bare OF food. Then there
was swearing done that would have put
to shame the army Of Flanders. Tho dis
appointments was heartrending, and Cap
tain Ripka's position was that Of man
In slough-the more he endeavored to
get out the deeper no got In.
But there was no help for IL. The din
ner had been consumed, and now nothing
was left to tell tho tale except that there
Is many slip 'twixt CUP and lip. IL had