The National tribune., 1898-12-22

shook 'em, and tangled up the rest, but the
| beginnin's all straight"
| 81 believe that Sam Elkins down at the
station IS mixed it up" said Sophia,
with hope springing in her breast He
| never can get things straight. He was in the
class with me when | vent to school, and
too dumb to come in when it rained. He
| was the worst writer, speller and render in
the school Think o. him being telegraph
| operator. Why, he couldn't spell well enough
to make tally-marks on a door when you're
measuyin' corn. Railroad was mighty hard
up for help when it hired him. Let me
read that dispatch Josiah not killed.
That means ST I<legg as sare's you're born.
| 1t can't mean notiiin' else, or it wouldn't be
addressed to you, pap. Hospital at Chatta-
nooga Chattanooga's near where the battle
was tonight Badly wounded. That
means that Sis bin shot. Z. G.. Bowers
OK. What in the world can that be?"
"Bowersox 2" said her father, catching
the sound "Why, that's the name o. the
Lootenant ST and Shorty was under when
they came home Don't You remember they
told us about him? / remember the name,
for 4 man named Bowersox used to run a
mill down on Bean Blossom Crick, years ago.
and wondered if it was his son. He's sent
me that dispatch, and signed his name The
Lord be praised for His never-endin' mercies.
Sis alive, after all Lee me read that over
agin. )"
He took the dispatch with shaking hands,
but there was too much mist on his glasses,
and he had to hand it back to Maria to read
over again. to convince himself.
I'll tell you what let's do: Let's all get
in the wagon and ride over to the Station,
and get Sam Elkins to read the dispatch over
again." suggested Sophia "Pl just bet
he's mummixed it up"
Don't blame him, Sophy," urged Maria.
Z" think the rebels has got at the poles OF
wires and shook en- and mixed the letters
up. It's just like 'em."
Sophy's suggestion was carried ont. Abra-
ham Lincoln was directed to get oat the
spring wagon and the Deacon helped hitch
up. while the 6 women-folks got ready.
While they were at the Station getting
Sam Elkins to re-examine the dots and dashes
on his strip of paper the Eastern express ar
rived, bringing the morning papers. The
Deacon bought one, and the girls nervously
turned to the war news. They gave scream
of exultation when they read the revised re-
turns of the killed and wounded, and found
under head of Wounded, in Hospital at
Chattanooga:
Corporal Josiah Klegg, O. 2OOth Ind.
Private Daniel Elliott @, Booth Ind"
Mother and girls, Pm goin' to Chatta-
noogy on the next train," said the Deacon.
1t was only few hours until the train for
the East would be along, and grief was
measurably forgotten in the joy that 81 was
still alive and in the hustle of the Deacon's
preparation for the journey.
. No" he said, in response to the innumer
able suggestions made by the mother and
daughters g. You kin jest set all them
things back I've bin down there once and
learned something. I'm gon to take nothin'
with me but my Bible. a couple o. clean
shirts and my razor. A wise man learns by
experience"
Mother and girls were inconsolable, for
each had something that they were sure Isl
would like. aud would . do him good but
they knew Josiah Klegg, ST.. we'll enough to
understand what was the condition when he
had once made up his mind.
g If ST and Shorty's able to be moved, " he
consoled them with, Pm going to bring
them straight back home with me, and then
you kin nuss and coddle them all you want
to-"
The news Of his prospective journey had
flashed through the neighborhood, so that he
met at the Station the relatives of most of the
men in Co. @, each with burden of messages
and comforts for those who were living, or of
fearful inquiries as to those reported dead.
He took charge of the letters and money |
refused the other things and gave to the kin
of the wounded and dead sympathetic assur-
ances of doing everything possible.
lie had no particular trouble or adventure
until he reached Nashville. There he found |
that he could go no farther without procuring
a pass from the Provost Marshal. At the |
Proyosts office he found a highly miscella-
neous crowd besieging that official for"the
necessary permission to travel on the military |
railroad. There were more or less honest |
and loyal spectators in cotton who were
ready to take any chances in the yieissitu les
OF the military situation to get few bales of
the precious staple. There were Others who
were downright smugglers, and willing to
give the rebels anything, from quinine to gun
caps, for cotton. There were suite s. pedlers,