The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-24
SWORD"

Never do in the world, Pap" protested
81. Better burn it up at once. It'd be the
next worst thing to givin' it back to him
It'd jest be pamperin' and encouragin' lot
o. galoots that lay around the hospitals to
keep out o. fights. None o. the wounded or
really sick'd git the benefit of q cent of it.
They wuz all sent away weeks ago to Nash
vile, Louisville, and back home. You Jest
ought to see that hummer gang. Last week
me and Shorty wuz on fatigue duty down
by one o. the hospitals. There wuzzent no.
body in the hospital but few shell-fever'
sbirks, who're too lazy to work on the fortii-
cations, and we saw crowd of civilians and
men in uniform set down to finer dinner
than you kin git in any hotel. Shorty
wanted TO light some shells and roll in
rgst en- but | knowed that it'd Jest
make muss that we'd have to clean up after
ward =
But what am ! eoin to do with it?"
asked the 1}eacon despairinGly. " | don't
want no money in my hands that don t belong
to me- and especially sich money as that,
which seems to have Il curse to every bill. II
We could only find out the men lie tux it
from -
BE about as easy az drivin' load o. hay
back into the field, and fitting each spear o.
cut, " nterjeeted Shorty.
''Or / might send it anonymously to the
Baptist Board o Missions" continued the
Deacon.
Nice way to treat the little heathens,"
objected ST. ''Send them likker money"
The Deacon groaned.
"Tell yOu what we might do Pap" said
ST, as a bright idea struck him. There's
wilder, Union woman, jest outside the
lines, whose house WIZ burned down by the
rebels. She could build a splendid new
house with $l00-better'n the one she wuz
livin' in before. Send her S100n
''Not bad idee," said the Deacon ap-
provingly, as he poked the ashes down in his
pipe with his little finger.
"And Pap" continued ST, encouraged by
the reception of this suggestion, there's
poor Bill Ellerlee, who lost his leg in the
fight. He used to drink awful hard. and
most of his money went down his throat.
He's got wife and two small children and
they haint cent to live on, except what
the neighbors gives. Why not put up 5000
in an express package and send it to him,
marked from an unknown friend 2"
Good, accorded the Deacon.
"And Jim Pocock," put in Shorty, seeing
the drift. He's gone home with a bullet
poor. Why not send him 500 the same
way?"
Excellent idee," said the father.
"That leaves 800 yit," said ST. off you
care to, you kin divide it between Shorty and
me, and we'll use it among the boys that got
hurt, and need something"
A dubious look came into the Deacon
face.
You needn't be afeard of us, Pap" said
ST. with little blush. . | kin promise you
that we won't use q cent ourselves, but give
every bit where it is really needed"
believe you, my son." said the Deacon
heartily. We'll do jest as you say"
They spent the evening carrying their plan
into execution.
At the o'clock roll-call the Orderly-Ser-
geant announced:
SEQ. q to go out with forage train to-
morrow morning"
This was joyful news-a delightful varia-
tion from the toll on the Notifications
''Taps found everybody getting his gun and
traps ready for an excursion into the country
You'd like to go with us, Pap, wouldn't
you ?" asked ST. as he looked over his car
tridge-box to see what it contained
Indeed | would" replied the father.
"Tll 90 anywhere with you rather than
spend such another day in camp You don't
think you will see any rebels, do you?" he
asked, rather nervously.
Don't know; never kin tell, " said Shorty
oracularly. Rebels is when and where you
find 'em. Sometimes they're schooner than
a chaw of terbacker in Sunday school. You
can't find one in whole County. Then, first
thing you know, they're thicker'n fleas on
dogs back But we won't likely see no
rebels tomorrow There amt no great passed.
o. them this side o. Duck River Still, Well
take our guns along, jest like q man wears
breast-pin on a dark night, because he's used
to it,"
Cant you git me gun, too? I think
it'd be company for me. }" said the Deacon.