The National tribune., 1898-11-24

MENTS.
though, should've had 10 go on without you.
Hurry along, now. We are going right across
the river"
Despite the Lieutenant's urgency, ST found
time to hand him a jar of honey and a small
crock of butter from their home supplies,
which he received with proper appreciation,
and handed over to the grinning negro boy
he had picked up somewhere in Tennessee
for servant They followed the Lieutenant
to where he had his squad of about 100 re-
cruits gathered He said:
Here, Klegg, yon will act as Orderly
Sergeant, and Shorty and the rest of you as
Sergeants of this detachment. Here is the
list of them, Klegg. Make up a roll and call
it whenever / order you to do so"
ST took the list and looked over the crowd
They were mainly boys of about the same
age and style as himself when he first en-
listed, but he thought he had never seen so
green, gawky lot in the world. Like him
then, every one was weighted down with a
bundle Of things that would evidently be con-
tributed to the well-being of the people along
the line of march.
1t seemed to him that they stood around
the platform in as ugly crookedness as a
Judgment of driftwood on Wabash bottom
after freshet.
"Where on the Wea prairies," muttered
Shorty. "did Old Abe pick up that job lot o.
wind shaken, lopsided saplings? Must've
bin pulled when green and warped in the
dryin'."
"Well, we've got to git 'em into some sort
o. shape" answered ST. You must help"
II help?" returned Shorty despairingly.
''You'll need West Point perfessor and a
hay-press to git that crowd into soldier shape.
| amt once"
"Here, Sergeant" ordered Lieut. Bower
sox, g line the men up, count them off, learn
their names, and give them little prelimi-
nary drill, while | 90 to Headquarters and
see the Colonel again about our transporta-
ton"
8 Fall in, boys; fall in, commanded ST.
The crowd looked at him curiously. They
knew that he wanted them to do something,
they were willing to do it, but they hadn't
the slightest idea what it was. They made
move by budding up little toward him.
''FaI in in two ranks, with the right
here shouted 81.
There was more inconsequent budding,
which seemed so purposely awkward that it
irritated ST, and he spoke sharply:
"Gosh all Krissmuss, what's the matter
with you lunkheads? Don't you know moth
ing? You're dummer'n lot o. steers"
Guess we know bout as much as you
did when you first enlisted, y said the smallest
of the lot, red-cheeked, bright-eyed boy,
who looked as if he should have been stand
ing up before a blackboard "doing sum "
in long division, instead of on his way to the
field of strife ''Show us how, and we'll
learn as quick as you did,"
81 looked at the fresh young boy. There
was something actually girlish in his face,
and it reminded him Of Annabel His heart
softened toward him at once, and he remem-
bered his own early troubles. He said gently
to the boy:
YOU'RE right; what's your name, my
boy?"
label" Waite.
"Well, Abel, we'll make a soldier out of
you in u little while. You're the smallest,
you'll be the left of the line. Go and stand
over there at the corner. Now, boys, all lay
your bundles down. Here, you tall fellow,
what's your name?"
james Bradshaw"
"Weu, Bradshaw, you'll be the right of
the line all the time, and the rest III form on
you. Come, stand here.'
Bradshaw shambled forward in a way that
made Shorty call out:
Here, Bradshaw, wake up! You amt now
follerin pillow over the last years corn-fur-
rers. Straighten up, lift them mud-hooks
livelier, and drop your hands to your side.'
The man stopped, raised his hands, and
looked at Shorty with his mouth wide OPEN
Come, Bradshaw" said ST gently, taking
hold of him, ''Ill show you. Now you
stand right here. Put your heels together.
Now turn your toes out. Throw your should
ers back this way. Close your mouth Put
your little fingers on the seams Of your panta-
looms that way. Now stand just So"
The poor man looked as miserable as if put
in a strait-jacket, but tried to literally
obey instructions.
Now, what's your name?" 81 asked the
next tallest man.
"SimeOn Wheelwright.