The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-10
CHAPTER XVII.
The Deacon Rapidly Acquires Experience
of Life in tho Army

81 asked questions OF ms !atner about tn'
folks at home and the farm until the ole
gentleman's head ached. and he finally fel
asleep through sheer exhaustion.
The next day the Deacon took tompre
hensive survey of the house and was loud il
his praises of 81 and Slportys architecture.
Beats the cabin / had to take your
mother to, ST, when l married herr Inc
aid with Il Retrospective look in his
eye Z" though I'd got up sight better
one than manyo the boys had on the Wabash
Lays away over the one that Abe Lincon'S
father put up on Pigeon Crck, over in
Spencer County, and where he brung the
Widder Johnston when he married her.
remember it well. About the measliest
shack there wuz in the country. Tom Lin
coin, Abe's father, WIZ about as lazy as you
make 'em. They say nothn' will cure azi-
ness in man, but q second wife III shake il
up awfully. The Wilder Johnston had lots
o git-up in her, but she found Tom Lincoln
a dead load. Abe wuz made o. different
stuff
Yes" continued the father, growing
remlnlscential. There wuz 10 tin roof
sawed boards, glass winder nor plank door in
that little shack on the Wabash, but some o.
the happiest days in my life wuz spent in it.
Me and your mother wuz both young both
very much in love, both full o. hope
and hard days work. By the time you wuz
born, ST. we'd got the farm and the house in
much better shape, but they wuz fur from
being what they are to-day. "
If We only had deed for quarter
! section O land around our house we'd be
purity we'll started in life for young men, !"
ventured ST"
- I'd want it heap sight better land than
this IS round here, " said the Deacon, study
ing the landscape judicially. Most of it
that I've seen so far is like selfrighteousness
the more man has the worse he's off.
Mebbe it'll raise white beans, but I dom
know o. nothin' else except nggers and
poverty The man that'd stay round here,
| scratchin' these clay knobs. when there's no
law agin him goin' to Injianny or Illinoy,
haunt gumption enough to be anything but
rebel. That's my private opinion publicly
expressed"
Pap" said 81, after his father had been
day in camp q" / think we've done fairly
well in providin' you with house and bed,
but I'm ateared that our cookin's not quite
up to your taste. You see, you've bin badly
pampered by mother. | might say that she's
forever spilled you for plain grub and common
cOOkin."
Your mothers the best cook that ever
She kin make plain cornbread taste better
than any body else's pound-cal<e. But you
do well, ST. considerin' that your mother
could never git you to so much as help peel
mess o. 'taters. Your coffee'd tan a side o.
soie-leatber, and there's enough grease about
your meat to float a skiff; but / didn't expect
to live at a hotel when | come down here
The Deacon strolled down near Regimental
headquarters. An Aid came up and, salut-
ing the Colonel, said:
Colonel, the General presents his compli-
ments, and instructs me to say that he has
received orders from Division Headquarters
to send details of Corporal and five men
from each regiment there tomorrow morning
at Z O'Clock for fatigue duty. You will fur
nish yours
Very good" answered the Colonel, re-
turning the salute. 'Adjutant, order the
detail"
Sergeant Major" said the Adjutant,
after momentary glance at his roster,
send an order to Capt. McGillicuddy. of
Co. z, for Corporal and five men for fatigue
duty, TO report at Division Headquarters
at tomorrow morning"
The Deacon walked toward Co. Q's quar-
ters, and presently saw the Orderly hand the
Captain the order from the Colonel.
Orderly Sergeant" said the Captain,
detail a Corporal and five men to report
for fatigue duty at Division Headquarters to-
morrow at o'clock"
The Orderly-Sereeant looked at his roster,
and then walked down to Sis residence.
Klegg," said he, ''you Will report for
fatigue duty at Division Headquarters to-
morrow at 7 O'Clock with five men. You
will take Shorty, Simmons, Sullivan, Tom
kins, and Wheeler with YOU
VERY good, sir, " said 81, saluting.
ST, ,, said his father, with quizzieal
smile, i've bin wonderin', ever since |
heared that you wuz an officer how much o.
the army you commanded. Now | see that if
it wuz turned upside down you'd be on the
very top"
He leads the army when it goes back
ward" interjected Shorty.
Gracious, Pap" said ST, gOod-humoredly, |
II haven't rank enough to get me behind q
saplin' on the battlefield The Colonel has |
the pick o. the biggest tree, the Lieutenant
Colonel and Major take the next; the Cap |
tains aud Lieutenants take the second |
growth, and the Sergeants have the saplins.
Pm lucky if | git so much as bush. "
odd Rosecrans must have big saw-log,"
said his father
Not much saw-log for Old Rosey," said |
81, resenting even joking disparagement |
upon his beloved General. During the |
battle he wuz wherever it wuz the hottest, |
and on horseback, too. Wherever the trim
wuz the loudeSt he'd gallon right into it. |