Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-10-06

Down she would plunge the dipper to
the bottom of the big bucket and bring
it up Hospitality full.
''The men crowded around her, full
of surprise and curiosity. Her little
sigh of satisfaction when some dusty.
throated old veteran drank deeply from
her hands was very evident. Once,
when young fellow asked for sec.
ond supply, the dimple came into view
for minute, the little face relaxed into
shadowy smile.
"'Nice?' she asked, kindly, STOPPING
to look under his cap, and ripple OF
sympathetic laughter ran through the
crowd.
'Taintlikely her folks Set her to
doin' this, said one soldier.
" 'Oh, they must have, said
another; let's ask her.
''She was leaning over the bucket
when he pushed his way through, but
she stood up instantly when he spoke
to her and turned, facing him.
z" Did your mother send you out to
do this, sissy?' he asked.
No. she answered.
Who did, then?' he persisted.
-" Nobody; finked about it my.
self, she said, gazing at him, little
frown between her eyes.
''Then, seeing that some explana.
tion was expected of her, she said,
quietly, though the dear voice broke
into sob over the words:
Ny papa died in the army cause
he couldn't have jink of water, and
down went the brave little head, and
the men suddenly became as still as
death.
''It didn't take me minute to get
through and snatch that blessed baby
in my arms. sat right down on
that horse block and cried over her,
without thinking once of how they
we're all looking at me.
"But bless me, when I did look up.
there they were, wiping their eyes on
their coat sleeves. Two or three OF
them knelt down, patting her little
shoes. Some of them had turned their
backs and stood looking hard at the
ground, while one soft-hearted fellow
sobbed like girl.
81 wanted to take her away, but
they begged hard to have her stay,
and she was so anxious to go on, after
she had had her little cry out, that left
her and hurried into the house. Dear
Jim, white and trembling, after I had
blurted out my story to the tableful OF
soldiers, insisted upon going out to
her, while mother cried, and Barbara
informed us dozen times that shed
always told us she weren't no lar
child
''When the soldiers fully understood
what it meant how they crowded about
her, touched to the heart by the pa
thetic little story. For two hours
she kept to her post gallantly, Jim
standing over her, proud and pale,
while Matthew carried water from the
we'll.
81 put the cap on so as they'd
know 1 was papa's daughter she
whispered to me, in full confidence
that every man in the regiment would
recognize it.
cold men, grizzly and worn, strug-
gled up, proud of word or smile; the
younger ones begged for kiss when
they pressed forward for drink, and
Captain Dorry,' as they called her,
ladled out the sparkling water, intent,
heart and soul, on serving her thirsty
soldiers. Then the time came for
them to move on, and Dorry was lifted
up on Matthew'S shoulder to gee them
go.
"From her high post she waved the
old cap good bye, while the men, led
off by veteran on crutches, sent up
for Captain Dorry' three rousing,
roaring cheers that rolled away like
thunder and echoed back from the
hills.
"They formed in line; the drummer
and the one lone tifer headed the pro-
cession, and down the road they came,
each man saluting as he passed, while
SHE, after one quick glance at Jim,
raised the old cap and stood with un-
covered head. The tattered flag dipped
to the gallant little figure; the last
blue coat disappeared; the sound of
the tramping feet died away.
1.-TWO months later this box came by
express, directed to Miss Dorothea
Atkenson, and in it we found the cup.
'''To Captain Dorry.
From her faithful, loving soldiers
So read Aunt Mary, lifting the cup
from it's velvet bed and looking at il
with dim eyes.
''My blessed little girl, how proua
she was. Nothing would induce ier
to drink out of it; she guarded it low.
ingly by day and slept with it perched
on the foot OF her bed.
"We learned afterward that every
man in the regiment had given his
mite toward the purchase of the cup.
Then they were disbanded and went
beyond the reach of her thanks. But
Tell them I love every one of papas
soldiers Dorry said to Jim, stretching