The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-17
CHAPTER XIV.


CHAPTER XIV.
Sis Father Comes Down to the Camp Of the
2OOth Ind. on an Unexpected Visit.
Mother" said Mr.. Josiah Klegg, ST.,
suddenly laying down the County paper. and
beginning to polish his spectacles with his
red bandanna, do you know what I've
the greatest mind in the world to do?"
1t was an evening in February, 1868, and
the family had been sitting for some hours
after supper around the bright fire, engaged
in various occupations
No, father said Mrs. Klegg, looking up
from her knitting with such interest that she
dropped several stitches The girls stopped
their sewing, and turned expectant eyes on
their father When Mr.. Josiah Klegg, ST.,
announced that he had a great mind to do
| anything that thing stood in imminent dan
ger of being done. He was not given to
visionary schemes, still less to idle speech.
He thought slowly and doegedy, but when
he had arrived at conclusion there were
200 pounds of solid, stubborn Interchangeable
Indiana farmer behind the conclusion.
''What is it, father ?" asked Mrs. Klegg,
making an automatic effort to gather up her
lost stitches.
''I've good mind to 90 down to Murfrees-
boro and see 81, responded the father
"Why, fathern' gasped the three women
folks.
"Go down there among them gorillas 2"
calculated Mrs. Kleeg
"And John Morgan raiders, echoed Maria.
"And Secesh soljers, butternut brigands,
rebel rascals,' added 'Tilda.
"Well, answered Mr.. Klegg, deliberately,
"they've been peggin' away at 81 for good
manv months now, and they haven't killed
him by a Jug full Guess kin stand 'em for
few days The papers say that the army IS
settled down at MurfreesbOro for the Winter,
and that the railroads runnin' all right from
Loovivile clean there. / kin do nothin'
round the farm for the next three or four
weeks, till Spring opens, except the chores
about the house, which little Jimmie Wat
kins kin tend to as well as / kin. I've got all
nv fences in good shape, and split all the
rails I need There's wood enough cut to
last the Winter out. I've hauled all the
wheat to town Pm goin' to till prices go
higher. / finished gittin' out my clover SEED
Yesterday, and now there's nothin' left for
month but to do boys work round the house,
or talk politics down at the store. I'd rather
90 down and see ST.
"Why, father" demonstrated Mrs. Klegg,
show kin you ever git along in them camps,
and live the way them soljers do?"
"You forgit," said her husband, with
touch of dignity, that | druv team for a
whole week in the Black Hawk war. l
wanted to enlist, but | was too young Then
turned out and drilled with the militia as
long as there was any musters. / know
good deal more about war than you think"
Glow do you s'pose you'll ever find ST in
all that ruck o. menu" said Mrs. Klegg,
doubtfully.
so, they all know 81 by this time" re-
| turned the father confidently. Besides,
he's an officer now. I'll go right to Gen.
Rosecrans's Headquarters He's probably
| right near him. where he kin have him at any
time. But don't write to 81 that Pm comm"
| / want to surprise him."
| As soon as it was seen that the father was
determined to go, mother and daughters
entered upon the scheme with the greatest
| enthusiasm.
Each began to think of some useful thing
that they could send to 81 to add to his COM
fort Mrs Klegg had already knit couple
of pairs of lambs wool socks, and was at
work on a third. Maria had knit pair of
mittens gay with the National colors and
representing the flag The blue field with
the white stars was around the wrists, while
the red and white stripes ran down the fin
! gers. When they were put on the effect was
picturesque not to say startling.
. When 81 holds up his hands" remarked
Matilda, they'll look like big hollyhock
blossoms, and the men'll wonder where he
got posies in Winter
Matilda contributed a d-hannel shirt,
upon which she had been engaged since the
beginning of Winter reminded her that such
a present would be very acceptable to ST.
| She had done lot of her finest stitching
upon it. Sis initials were wrought III white
ii 4 ~
maze of white lines representing hearts, an
chors roses, and flags of the Union. In the
center of these, in letters OF bold outline but
rugged execution, was the legend: Josiah
Klegg. His Shirt From Tidy"
Round is the ring,
| That has no end;
| So is my luy for you,
| Ny dearest friend"
g know it amt quite right to speak Of ST
as FRIEND" she explained, when she spread
the shirt out for the family's examination and
admiration; but l couldn't think of nothin'
to rhyme with brother''
81 could" said Maria, in her superior way.
| "Fd said sOmethin' like this
The rings no end
| From which to t'other;
| So is the love / send
My onelieSt brother"
maria, you always was so much smarter'n
me in writin' poetry" admitted Matilda.
" 1t would We bin ever so much nicer. But
it's too late now to do it over agin."
Annabel was sorely puzzled what to send.
She wanted something that would be indica-
tive of her feelings toward ST, and yet maiden
modesty restrained with the fear of sending
something that might be too significant She
spent sleepless night thinking it over, and
finally decided to send a new ambrotype of
herself, with lock of her hair. 1t is need
less to say that this kept 81 warmer than a
whole bale of flannel shirts would have done
thousand things occurred to the family
that 81 would enjoy, from a couple of feather
nIll0MS to q crock of ~ head -chaASa - of