The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-28

The faithful old striped carpet-sack wa
brought out, and its handles repaired witt
stout straps. The thrifty Deacon insisted OF
taking home some of Sis and Shorty's clothe
to be mended. The boys protested
| We don't mend clothes in the army
Pap" said 81. They amt worth it. W,
! just wear them out, throw 'em away. anG
| draw new ones"
| The Deacon held ont that his mother an6
| sisters would take great pleasure in working
on such things from the feeling that They
were helping the war along. Finally thu
matter was compromised by putting in some
socks to be darned and shirts to be mended
Then the bullets, canister. round shot, fIag-
| ments of she'll, etc, were filled in.
u declare" said the Deacon obviously.
rs he hefted the carpet-sack . It's goin' to
be job to lug that thing back home. Better
hire mule-team. But I'll try it. Mebbe
it'll help work some o. the stupidity out oil
Abraham Lincoln"
The whole of Co. Q and most of the regi-
ment had grown very fond OF the Deacon,
and when it was noised around that ne was
going. they crowded in to say good-by. and
give him letters and money to take home
The remaining space in the carpet-sack and
all that IN the Deacon's many pockets were
filed with these.
The next morning the company turned out
to man and escorted him to the train. with
81 and his father marching arm-in arm at the
head, the company filters playing
Amt glad to get out of the Wilderness,
Way down i'll Teune see,
and Abraham Lincoln, laden with the striped
carpet-sack, the smashed muslet and other
relics, bringing up the rear, under the super
vision of Shorty.
Tears stood in the old mans eyes as he
stood on the platform of the car, grasped Sis
and Shorty's hands in adieu. His brief fare
well was characteristic of the strong, self-con-
tanned Western man:
''Good-by, boys. God bless you Take
care o. yourselves. Be good boys. Come
home safe after the war"
The boys stood and watched the train with
sorrowiul eyes until it had passed out of sight
in the woods beyond Overalrs Creek, and
then turned to 90 to their camp with great
load of inconsistencies weighing down their
hearts
Just think of it; he's going straight back
to Gods country" said someone near
A sympathetic sigh went up from ALL
Shet up" said Shorty savagely 81
uch NHhp w HCSsi a WOiti " tiidb
lie pulled his cap down over his eyes.
rammed his hands deep in his pockets, and
strobe off, trying to whistle,
When this cruel war is over"
but the attempt was dismal failure ST
separated from the crowd and joined him.
They took an unfrequented and roundabout
way back to camp
81 feel all broke up ST, said Shorty. az
hot, n,,,3
thing to stir US up"
ST understood his partners mood, and that
it was likely to result in an outbreak of some
kind. He tried to get him over to the house,
so that he could get him interested in work
there.
They came to little hidden ravine, and
found it filled with men playing that most
fascinating of all gambling to the average
soldier-chuck-a-lu There were score
of groups, each gathered around as many
"sweat-boards. Some of the men 'run-
ming" the games were citizens, and some
were in uniform. Each had before him a
small board on which was sometimes painted,
sometimes rudely marked with charcoal num-
bers from one to six. On some of the boards
the numbers were indicated by playing-cards
from ace to six spot, tackled down. The man
who ran " the game had dice-box, with
three dice. He would shake the box, turn it
upside down ON the board, and call upon the
group in front of him to make their bets.
The players would deposit their money on
the numbers that they fancied, and then,
after the inquiry, "All down? !" the banker"
would raise the box and reveal the dice
Those who had put their money on any of
the three numbers which had turned up,
would be paid, while those who bet on the
other three would lose.
Chuck-a-luck was strictly prohibited in
camp, but it was next to impossible to keep
the men from playing it. Citizen gamblers
would gain admittance to camp under various
pretexts and Immediately set up boards in Sc
Guided places, and play till they were dis
covered and run out, by which time they
would have made enough to make it an in
iucement to try again whenever they could
ind an opportunity. They followed the
,rmy necessarily for this purpose, and in the
aggregate carried off immense sums of the
soldiers pay. Chuck-a-luck is one of the
arrest OF gambling games, when fairly
played, which 1t rarely or never is by pro-
gambler A tolerably quick, expert
nan finds little difficulty in palming the dice |
before a crowd of careless soldiers so as 10 |
ransfer the majority of their bets to his |
pocket. The regular citizen gamblers Were |
by numbers of Unsuitable chuck-a-
uckers in the ranks, who would set up
board at the least chance, even under the |
nemy's fire, while waiting the order to
move.
Chuck-a luck was ShOrty's greatest weak |
ess. He found it rs difficult to pass
huck-a-luck board as an incurable drunksrd |
oes to pass dram-shop. ST knew this, and |