The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-10

warming.
With tin roof, a real door, a glazed win
dow and plank floor, 81 and Shorty's house
was by far the most arist0eratic in the can
Torment of the 20Oth Ind if not in the en-
tire Winter quarters of the Army of the
Cumberland. A marble mansion, with all
the modern Improvements, could not more
proudly overshadOw all its neighbOrs than it
did.
Even the ColOnel's was no comparison to
it, A tent-fy had been made to do duty for
roof ut the COlonel's. 1t could not be
stretched evenly and tight. 1t would per-
sistently sag down in spots, and each of these
spots become a reservoir from which would
descend an icy stream. A blanket had to
serve as a door, and the best substitute for
window glass were Commissary blanks
creased with fat from the headquarters frying
pan. The floor, instead of being of clean,
new plank, as Sis and Shorty's, was made
of the warped and weather-beaten boards of
a stable, which had been torn down by a
fatigue detail
81 and Shorty took as much pride and
pleasure in their architecture as any nabob
over his million-dollar villa They were
constantly on the alert for anything that
would add to the comfort and luxury of
their home. In their wanderngs they
Glanced to come across an old-fashioned bed
stead in an clubhouse. 1t was of the kind in
which the rails screw together, and the bed
is held up by strong cord crossing and re-
crossing from one rail to another. This
looked like real luxury, and they at once
appropriated it, without any consultation
with the owner, whoever he may have been.
ltd be a waste O time, anyhow, re-
Hoe oHal
ably over there in Bragg's army"
They made tick out of the piece of
wagon-cover, filled it with beech leaves, and
had bed which surpassed their most ex-
travagant ideas of comfort in the army.
"Shorty," said ST. as they snugged them
selves in the first night, ''this seems almost
too much. Do you ever remember settin'
the whole night on rail, with nothin' over
us but clouds leakin' ice-water?"
''Shut up" said Shorty, giving him kick
under the blankets. DO you want me to
have nightmare
They got number Of fiat stones, and laid
down little pavement in front of their door,
and drove an old bayonet into the logs to
serve as a scraper. They vigorously insisted
on every visitor using this before entering.
For common Wabash-bottOm fy-up- the
cricks and private soljers, you're putin on
entirely too many frills, " said Sol Murbury
the WagOnmaster, angrily, as it was firmly
insisted upon that he stay outside until he
carefully cleaned his shoes on the bayonet.
50 A man that's afraid O mud haint no bust
ness in the army. He orter stay at home an
wear Congress CATERS an pantalets You're
putin on entirely too many scollops, | tell
you You knowed all bout mud in the Wa
bash bottoms. You had huff of it there, the
Lord knows"
Yes, we had" replied Shorty; but we
was too well raised TO track any of it into
anybodys parlor."
''Parlor," echoed Sol, with horse-laugh.
Lord how fine we are, just bekaze one O.
us happens to be measly little Corporal. In
some armies the Wagonmasters have Corporals
to wait on 'em, an black their boots. Now;
I'll tell yo' what I've come for I've lost my
scoop shovel, an I've bin told that you felers
stole it, an are usin' it to bake hOe-cakes on.
I've come up here to see if you've got it, an
I'm goin' right in there to see for myself, mud
or no mud"
We hain't got your blamed old scoop
shovel you can't git it; you amt goin' in
there until you clean your feet, an not then
onless we conclude to allow you, Shorty re-
piled.
M goln IN there, or break some WABASH
looms neck" said the Wagonmaster wrath
fully.
II always did like to get chance to
lick mule-whacker," said ST, pulling off his
overcoat. "And the bigger and the more
consequential he is, the better. I've never
licked Wagonmaster yit, an Pm just achin'
for chance"
The Wagonmaster was the bully of the
regiment as Wagonmasters generally are.
When ST came into the regiment, green cub
just getting his growth, and afraid of every
body who assumed little authority and had
more knowledge of the world than he, the
Wagonmaster had been very oyerbearing, and
at times abusive. That is the way of Wagon
masters and their ilk. The remembrance OF
this ranked in Sis mind.
On the other hand, the Wagonmaster failed
to comprehend the change that a few months