The National tribune., 1898-02-03

int, and IN my brains as we'll | dIdn
ever suppose that / could be so tired, and yit
be able to set up and take nourishment."
''Same here, 4" said 81. - Feel as if ought
to be wrapped in cotton-battin' an sweet OIL
an laid away for awhile"
The only thing about them which did not
show deadly lassitudc was their appetites
Fortunately, the COmmissary took liberal
view of the Regulations as to rations, issuing
enough to make up for those they had not
drawn during the times when his department
was not in working order. They ate ali these
and wanted more.
The Quartermaster had also succeeded in re-
establishing relations. They drew from him
new undertaking to replace that which they
had lost took a thorough wash-the first good
one they had had since Chistmas morning
beat and brushed much of the accumulated
mud-representing every variety of soil be-
tween Murfreesboro and Nashyile-ont Of
their clothes, cleaned and creased their heavy
brogans, and went with their comrades to di-
vine service, feeling that they had made every
provision required for proper observance of
the holy day.
ST had a really fine baritone voice, and led
the meeting in singing:
'Am a soldier of the CROSSE"
After church Shorty said:
o 81, when you were singing so loud about
being a soldier of the cross and follower OF
the Lamb | wanted to git right up and tell
YOU that you'd have to git transfer from the
2O0th Ind We've lots of cross soldiers
especially on mud marches, but we don't want
any soldiers in this regiment except for the
Constitution of the United States and the
laws made in pursuance thereof, against all
enemies and opposers whatsoever. either for
cign or domestic. An as for follerin' the
lamb you know as we'll rs | do the orders
agin fora9In'."
30, dry up, Shorty. l don't believe going
to church done you a mite o good. / tell
you it done me lots
There you're mistaken answered
Shorty. 1t just done me lots o. good.
Kind o restored communications with home
and respectable folks once more, an made
me think | still belonged to what the
Biographies call civilized and partially -civiized
people, something that we seem IN great
danger o. forgittin', the way we've bin goin'
on
The good Chaplain's lervent appeals to de-
vote the day TO earnest consideration of their
souls welfare could not keep them from
spending the hours in planning and discuss
ing further Improvements on the house.
= We must have real door, :" said Shorty
looking critically at the strip of canvas that
did duty for that important adjunct.
8 Muslin looks shiitless, an besides, / think
it's unhealthy. Lets in drafts, an will give
us colds"
TOO bad about our ketchin' cold, said
ST sardonically. " Most o. the time lately
we've bin sleepin' out with nothin' around
us but the State line o. Tennessee"
Don't be too flip, young man." said
Shorty severely. : You have not had a home
with its blessin's long enough to appreciate
it. | say we must have a real door an q
winder that'll let in light, an bedstead an
a floor o planks."
eve ought to have 'em, certainly" agreed
ST. g But must have 'em is quite another
thing. How are we goin' TO git EN-. There's
40, 900 men around here, snatchin' at every
piece o plank as big as your hand"
We'll" retorted Shorty, were goin' to
have real door, a winder, and plank floor,
all TIE same. They're to be had somewhere
in this country, an they'll have to run mighty
hard to gitaway from US"
The next morning the Orderly Sergeant
said
"Corp'l Klegg, you'll take five men, go
down to the railroad, and report to the Com
mlSSdiy 10 lodst tuc wagon WITH Tdtlol1S.
ST took Shorty and four others and started
off on this errand He was soon so busy
rolling heavy pork barrels from the car into
the wagon that he failed to notice that Shorty
was not with him. Finally they got the
wagon loaded and started, with them walk
ing alongside, putting and sweating from their
vigorous labor
They were not 100 yards away from the
train, when the Conductor came storming up:
See here, Lieutenant" he said to the
Commissary. ''some o. them men o yours
sneaked around and stole the hind door off my
cabeose while you was loading up"
g don't believe a word of it." said the
Commissary, firing up at once. Mine amt
that kind of men. I'd have you know they
don't steal. What reason have you for saying
so?n
THE door was on the car when / came out
to meet you, aud ROW it's gone, and there's
been nobody near the caboose but your men,"
. know my men were working hard all
the time right under my eyes, said the Lieu
tenant, growing angrier every minute.
They re not the men TO steal anything, and
if they were they didn't have any chance.
They were too busy. You can satisfy yolr-
self that they didn't. You see none of them
have the door with Them and you can search
the wagon. Get right in there and loo, for
it,"