The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-26
" Pride Goeth Before . Fall. and Naughty
Spirit Before Destruction"

"Pride Goeth Before = Fall. and Naughty
Spirit Before Destruction"
ST and Shorty got the common feeling o.
| men of some months service that they had
| fully mastered the art of war, and that there
| was little, if anything left for them to learn.
1t did not take some men even so long as
months to acquire this pleasant idea of them
selves. Some entered the army feeling quite
capable Of giving advice to the oldest Cen
eral in it, and they were not slow about offer-
ing their opinions.
81 and Shorty had had successes enough
since their enlistment to develop self
confidence, which might be pardoned if it
expanded into self-sufiiciency and vanity.
The 200th Ind. had been sent out on re-
connoissance toward ShelbyviIle. No sign of
rebels in force developed in any direction, and
81 and Shorty got permission to 90 off on a
little scout of their own.
- No use o. huntin' rebels with brass
band, " said 81, who. since his association with
Mr.. Rosenbaum, had gotten some idea that
stealth and cunning were efficient war powers.
We kin just slip around out here somewhere,
and if there is any rebels find 'em, and git
more information than the whole regiment
kim"
rebels as / am for some fresh buttermilk,"
said Shorty. Somehow, I've been banker
ing for buttermilk and cornpone for days
| haint had any for coon's age, and it'd go
mighty good as a change from camp TatiOns
Buttermilk and rebels sometimes grow near
together. You look for one, I'll look for the
other. Mebbe we kin git both''
. wouldn't mind havin' some buttermilk
an cornpone myself" said ST. "But I'd
like much better to drop on some rebels some
where, and bring 'em into camp, and show
that we kin git moro information than the
whole regiment kim"
All right" assented Shorty; task the
Captain to let US go. I'll be bound we'll
find something worth goin' for, if it's no
more'n chicken for the Captains supper.
I'd like to take in one for him. He's been
mighty good TO me and you in several ways,
and I'd like to show him that we appreciate it. !"
As the regiment had gone as far as ordered
without discovering anything that in the
least threatened the peace in that portion of
Tennessee, it would start on its return, after
the men had rested and had dinner. 81 and
Shorty, consequently, had no difficulty in Sc
curing the desired permission.
They cut off through side-road, which
gave promise of leading into better-settled
part Of the country than that they had been
traversing A mile or so of walking brought
them in sight of the substantial chimneys of
farmhouse showing above the trees. A
glimpse of a well-fenced field reused warm
hopes in Shorty's heart.
"Now, / think we're comm to better
thing than we've ever struck before,'' said
he, as they stopped and surveyed the pros
pect. "We've got out o. the barren plateaus
and into the rich farming country. That's
likely farm jest like they have up in
Injianny, and it's way off where they haint
knowed nothin' o. the war. No soljer's ever
been anigh 'em, and they've jest got lots and
plenty o. everything. They've got great
big barnyard full o. chickens and turkeys,
pigs and geese and guineas. There, you kin
hear the guineas hOllerin' now. There's cows
layin' in the shade chawin' the cud, while
their calves are cavortin' around in the sun,
hogs rootin' in the woods pasture, horses and
sheep in the medder, and everything like it
is at home. And down a little ways from the
house there's cool spring-house, with clear,
cold water wellin' up and ripplin' out over
the clean white sand, with crooks o. fresh
milk setting in it with cream half an inch
thick, and big jars o. buttermilk from the
last churnin', and piggins o. fresh butter,
anu IncDDc Il DIg cIOCk lull U SucdfhttSc
ST, do you like smearkase?"
"'Deed | do answered ST, his mouth
watering at the thought. "My goodness,
you jest Orter eat some o. mothers smear
kase She jest lays over all the women in
the country for smearkase. Many's the time
I've come in hot and sweatin' from the field,
and got a thick slice o. bread clear acrost the
loaf from one o. the girls, and went down to
nbonSa o,,d er,rooI ~ with fraSh Int
ter and then put thick layer o. smearkase
on top o that, and then got about quart o.
cool milk, that was half cream, from one
o. the crooks. and then -
Shet up, 81, " shouted Shorty. desperately
"Do you want me to bang you over the head
with my musket? Do you spose | kin stand
everything? But l believe there's jest sich q
springhouse down there, and we'll find it
plumb-full o. all them sort o. things. Les
mosey on"
10 you think there's any rebels around
here 2" said 81, the caution which experience
had taught him making temporary reasser-
ton of itself.
Naw," said Shorty, contemptuOusly,
there amt no rebel this side O. the Duck
River, unless some straggler, who'd run if he
saw us. If we ketch sight o. one we'll take
him into camp, jest to crafty you. But l
amt lookin for none Buttermilk and corn
PONIES what want"
The scene was certainly peaceful enough
to justify Shorty's confidence. A calmer,
quieter landscape could not have been found
in the whole country. A negro was blowing
in distant field, with occasional sonorous
yells to his team. He did not seem to notice
the soldiers, nor did gray-haired white man,
who was sitting on the fence experimenting
him. A couple of negresses were washing the
family linen by fire under large kettle on
the creek bank, at some distance from the