The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-10
Just a little


"Si. I'd trust you as I would no other
man in Co. Q or the regiment. I'll -
Then his Spartan virtue reasserted itself:
''No, 81; you're too young and skittish.
You mean WELL but you have spells,
when -
Fall in, men," said Lieut.. Bowersox.
busting out from a good meal in the
officers room. Fall in promptly. We
must hurry up to catch the Looeyyille train u
The Car for Louisville was filled with
characters as to whom there was entirely too
much ground for fear-gamblers, skin
game" men, thieves, and all the human
yermin that hang around the rear of great
army. Neither of the boys allowed them
selves a wink Of sleep, but sat bolt upright
the entire night, watching every one with
steady, stern eyes. They recognized all the
rascals that they had seen running games "
around the camps at Murfreesboro, and who
had been time and again chased out of camp
even the whisky seller with whom Sis
father had the adventure. The Provost
Guard had been making one of its periodical
cleaning-ups Of Nashville, and driving out
the obnoxious characters. Several of these
had tried to renew their acquaintance by
offering drinks from well-flled bottles, but
they were sternly repulsed, and Shorty
quietly knocked one persistent fellow down
with quick whrl of his gun barrel When
Shorty was hungry it was dangerous to trife
with him.
They arrived at Louisville late in the
morning, and were hurried across the river to
Jacksonville. Fortunately they were able to
find there an eating-room where guns were
not barred, and Shorty made amends for the
past by ravaging as far as his arms could
reach, holding his precious gun firmly be-
tween his knees.
Say, pardner," said the man who ran
the establishment, "rd much rather board
you for day than week. Rebels must've
cut Off the suppy-trains where you've bin.
You're not comm this way agin soon, air
you? I'm afraid / won't make 'nough this
month to pay my rent.
Lieut. Bowersox came in with telegram
in his land.
I'VE won't go on to indianapolis" he
said. = Pm ordered to wait here for our
squad, which will probably get here by to-
morrow evening""
A wild hope flashed up in Sis mind.
Lieutenant" he said, 1--WE live right
over there in Posey County. Can't you let
us go home We can make it, and be back
here before to- morrow night"
doubtfully, as he mentally calculated the
distance to Posey County. 81 hadn't ought
to let you go. Then, you can't have more
than an hour or two at home -
30. goodness; just think o. havin' one
hour at home" calculated 81.
at seems too bad" continued the Lieu
tenant moved by Sis earnestness, to bring
you this near, and not let you have q chance
to see your folks. It'll be q risk for me, and
there are not many men in the regiment I'd
take it for, but I'll let you go. Remember,
it'll make whole lot of trouble for me if
you're not here by tomorrow evening"
well be here by tomorrow evening if
alive" 81 pledged himself.
''Well, then, go, said the Lieutenant
Sis head fairly swan, and he and Shorty
ran SO fast to make sure of the train that
there was suspicion in the minds of some
of the citizens that they were escaping from
their officers.
Sis heart was in q tumult as the engine
bell rang its final warning and the engine
moved out with increasing speed. Every
roll of the swift wheels was carrying him
nearer the dearest ones on earth. The
landscape seemed to smile at him as he
sped past.
g Isn't this the grandest country on earth,
Shortly" he bubbled over. Its Gods
country for fact. So different from old
rundown, rebel-ridden Tennessee Look at
the houses and the farms; look at the people
and the livestock. Look at the towns and
the churches Look al everything. Here's
the country where people live. Down
yonder's only where they stay and raise
Cain"
Yes" admitted Shorty, who had not so
much reason for being enthusiastic; . but
the Wisconsin boys say that Wisconsin's as
much finer than Injianny as Injianny's
finer'n Tennessee. I'll take you up there
some day and show you"
Don't believe dumbed word of it,
said ST, hot with State pride. God never
made finer country than Injianny. Wis
consin's nowhere -
Then he bethought himself of the many
reasons he had for gladness in his home-com-
ing which his partner had not, and said
Il wish, Shorty, you WIZ goin' home,
too, to your father and mother and sisters,
best girl. But my father and