The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-18
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY


from the rebel artillery had been directed so
badly that they had long ceased TO excite any
special interest among our men. Occasion
ally short bout occurred between some of
our guns and those of the rebels, which
would shake the earth and fill the air with
bits of screaming metal, but as O'Neil ex-
pressed it automatically:
9 It's loike whin the divvi1 whit to shear a
hog-great cry and little wool"
Very few were hurt of our side, and still
fewer of these seriously. The boys saw the
crimson-striped jacket of one artilleryman
stripped nearly from his body by a fragment
of she'll, which seemed to tear his side open
and let out his hearts blood. He fell to the
ground, but to their intense surprise jumped
up again, and disdaining assistance, walked
back alone to the Surgeon, who found that,
instead Of the cannoneer's side being tore ont,
only small portion of flesh had been scraped
off one of his ribs. The artilleryman listened
disdainfulIy to the description of his wound,
and at the conclusion said impatiently:
so. is that all? Well, we'll; hurry up
and stick on some of your glue, and femme
git back to my gun. l was just a-gittin' a
fair range o. Mr. Reb's gun, an in another
shot or two I'd o. knocked him 40 ways FOL
Sunday"
In spite of the Surgeons remonstrance he
| went to his gun.
The wagons brought up rations for all and
tents for many. The encouragement of large
reinforcements and the comfort that came
from an abundance of food seemed to mitigate
| the inelemency of the weather, although ice
and snow still covered the ground and q
| storm of sleet and hail set in about dark.
Friday night was passed much more comfort
ably than Thursday night had been.
| The File had secured an ak, and with this
| they constructed shelter of poles and brush
| that protected them from the driving sleet,
but it let the rain drops in in very comfort
| less fashion. Finally the sleet on the brush
| forming the roof and sides froze into solid
sheet of ice and left to them nothing but the
cold and dampness inside to contend with.
| Despite the fearful weather and the fact
| they had now been under fire three days and
nights, the File abated none of their reselu-
! ton, but took turns as usual through the
night in going on the line and helping
keep up the fire on the rebel pickets. 1t was
explained that this was desirable, as it helped
| to wear the rebels out by keeping them all
| the time in their trenches in the Indictment
weather, and i'll consequence the resistance
| they would make to the final assault would
be less spirited, AT this Bronson smiled a
little grimly as he thought of the effect it was
having on our own men, and a Capt. Moore
walked away he saId
"Thats all very we'll, boys; it reminds me
of story heard the other day."
'"What was it," asked Walter.
"Tbe story went" said BrnsOn, "that one
bitter cold night last Winter an Irishman
living in little town in Illinois had q dog
that would insist on staying in the house,
though his companionship was very undesr-
able for many reasons When Pat went to
bed he put the dog out, but he jumped in
through the window again before Pat was
warm under the covers. Pat got up again
and turned the dog out with a savage kick,
put some old clothes in the hole in the window,
and crept shivering to bed. In another in
slant back came the dog through another
part of the window. There was fire in Pats
eyes as he sprang from the warm bed, seized
the dog by the nape of the neck and dashed
out doors with him. He didn't come back
Immediately. And Bridget became alarmed,
and rising fastened to the door, from which
she saw Pat, with only his shirt on, standing
hide of the dogs neck in his remorseless
grasp.
''Pathrick, me darlint," she screamed,
fwat air you doin there? Come in, afore
We catch yer death o. cowld !"
''Divil bit nv it." answered Pat reso-
lutely, though his teeth chartered as if with
ague. ''Oi'm goin' ter howld this domd
haste out here till Oi Erase him ter death"
And it sarved the botherin' brute just
roight to kill him in that way" said O'Neil
solemnly, and with his customary entire obiv-
ion of the point of a joke, where an Irish
man was concerned.
To be coptiuuedl