The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-10

and ignoring all thought as to the damage to
the dwelling
No" said his father cbeerfullv. -
guess / los, little hair. but I could spare
that II was about time to cit it cut any
way. think We kin Ix up the fireplace,
SD
- Cuss the fireplace, 50 longs you're au
right answered ii. ~ little mud III
straighten that out" You got hold o. the
bucket where me and Shorty we bin savin'
mp our broken cartridges for q little private
Fourth o July some night"
But, -, said the Deacon sorrOwfullv,
determined 70 have it all ont at once
lhey re bigger thieves than Won said they
Wuz- hey We stole your ax-but III buy
YOU better one for 10 or II bits; they took
your pan and beans. an took vour camp
kittle, and finally all the wood that I'd cut"
lie looked 50 doleful thas the boys could
not help Laughing.
Don't worry about them, Pap" said ii
cheertuly. We'll fix them all right Let's
60 inside and straigbten things up and then
well have something TO eat
But You can't git nothin' to eat" per-
sisted the Deacon, because there's nothin'
to cook in"
Wen have something, all the same, said
Shorty, with wink OF enjoyable anticipa-
ton at 81
The two boys carefully slowed away their
oyercoatS, which were rolled up in bundles
IN way that would be suspicious to a sol
der. They got the interior of the cabin in
more presentable shape, and then Shorty
went out and produced a camp-kettle from
somewhere in which they made their coffee.
When this was ready, they shut the door and
carefully unrOlled their Overcoats. A small
sugar cured ham, box Of saTdines. a can Of
peaches, and couple of loayes of fresh soft
bread developed
"Aumyum murmued Shorty, glOating
over the yiands
Where in the world did you git them,
boys!' asked the Deacon in wonderment
" lat what IS set before you, and ask no
questions for conscience sake Pap " said 81.
slicing off piece of the ham and starting
to broil 1t for his father. That's what YOU
used to tell me"
81, " said the father sternly. as an awful
suspicion moved his mind Il hope you
didn't steal EN-"
Of course not, Pap. How kin YOU think
500"
Josiah Klegg." Numbered the father,
tell me how you came by them things?"
Well, Pap" said 81, considerably
abashed, q" it was something like this Our
squad was set to work 70 unload a car %
Christian Commission things. Me and Shorty
pulled Off our OvercOats and laid them in a
corner. When we got through cur work and
picked up our coats we found these things in
them. Some bad men had hid them there,
thinkin' they wuz their oyercOats. We
thought the best way WIZ to punish the
thieves by takin' the things away with US
Now, here's piece o ham briled almost as
nice as mother could do. Take it, and cut
you off slice of that soft bread"
81, the receivers as bad as the thief I
won't touch it."
Pap, the harms been done No matter
who done it, the Owner'll never see his
victualS agin. Jest as like he cribbed 'em
from somebody else. These Christian Com
mission things wuz sent down for us soljers
anyhow. We'd better have 'em than the
bummers around the rear. They'll spile, and
be wasted if you don't eat 'em, and that d be
a sim"
The savOry ham was very appetising, the
Deacon was very hungry, and the argument
was sophistical.
IN take it, 81, said he with a sigh ''I
don't wonder that the people down here are
rebels and all that sort o. thing It's in the
air. I've felt my principles steadily weakenin'
from the time | crossed the Ohio River"
10 be cOHiiHUed)