The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-23

4
Copperheads's chargin', did you? You only
found men wicked that'd be wicked any
place, and really good men jest as good there
rs at home?"
It's jest as you say, Mr. Bennett" an
swered the Deacon, coughing to gain time
| for diplomatic answer, and turning so that
| the boys could not see his face. "a wicked
mans wicked anywhere. and he finds more
chance for his wickedness In the army. A
| good man ought to be good man wherever
he's placed, but there are positions which
are more tryin' than others By the way,
Maria. bring US in some apples and hickory
| nuts. Bring in basketful o. them Rome
Beauties for Mr.. Bennett to take home with
him. You recollect them trees that budded
| with Rome Beauty scions that got up the
| river don't you, Bennett? Well, they bore
this year, and I've bin calculatin' to send
over some for you and Mrs. Bennett. l tell
| you, they're beauties indeed. Big as your
| fist, red as hollyhoek, fragrant as rose,
and firm and juicy. have sent for scions
enough to bud half my orchard. / won't
raise nothn' hereafter but Rome Beauties
and russets''
The apples and nuts were brought in, to-
gether with some of Mrs. Klegg's famous
| crullers and pitcher OF sweet cider, and for
| awhile all were engaged in discussing the de-
licious apples To paraphrase DR.. johnson,
God undoubtedly could make better fruit
than Rome Beauty apple from young tree,
growing in the right kind of soil, but I'M
doubtedly lie never did. The very smell OF
| the apple is mild intoxieation, and its firm.
juicy flesh has q delicacy of taste that the
choicest vintages of the Rhine cannot surpass.
| But Mr. Bennett was persistent on the sub
| loot IF IN, fha He p
| fused the offer Of another apple laid his
| knife back on the plate, put the plate on the
| table, wiped his mouth and hands, and said
Deacon, these brothers and sisters who
have come here with me tonight are, like
| myself, deeply interested in the moral con-
dition of the army, where we all have sons
or kinsmen. Now, can't you sit right there
and tell US of your observations and expert
ences, as a Christian man and father, from
day to day, of every day that you were down
there? Tell US everything, just as 1T hap
pened each day, that We may be able to
judge for ourselves"
ST trembled little, for fear that they had
his father cornered. But the Deacon was
equal to the emergency.
. It's Almost too late, now, Mr.. Bennett,
he said, looking at the clock, 8 for it's long
story. You know / was down there quite q
SPELL We can't keep these boys out o. bed
late now, and by the time we have family
worship it'll be high time for them to be
tucked in Won't you read us chapter o.
the Bible and lead US in prayer, Brother
Bennett?"
While Shorty was rapidly gaining health
and strength his mind was ill at ease. He
had more time than ever to think of Jerusha
Briggs, of Bad AK, Wis. and his surround
ings accentuated those thoughts. He began
by wondering what sort of a girl she really
was, compared to Sis sisters, and whether
she was used to such home as this? Was
she as handsome, as fine, as high-spirited as
Maria?
Then his loyal soul reproached him. If
she would have him he would marry her, no
matter who she was. Why should be begin
now making comparisons with other girls
Then, she might be far finer than Maria.
How would he himself compare with her,
when he dared not even raise his eyes to
Maria?
He had not written her since the Tul-
lahoma campaign. That seemed an age
away, so many things had happened in the
meanwhile.
He blamed himself for his neglect, and
resolved to write at once, to tell her where
he was what had happened to him, and that
he was going to try to visit her before re-
turning to the field. But difficult as writing
had always been, it was incomparably more
so now. He found that where he thought of
Jerusha once, he was thinking of Maria
hundred times. Not that he would admit
to himself that there was any likeness in his
thoughts about the two girls. He did not
recognize that there was anything senti
mental in those about Maria. She was
simply some infinitely bright, superior sort of
being, whose voice was sweeter than a
birds, and whose presence seemed to
brighten the room. He found himself IN
comfortable when she was out of his sight.
The company of ST or his father was not as
all-sufficient and interesting as it used to be.
When Maria went out of the room they
became strangely dull and almost tiresome.
unless they talked of her.
Worse yet. As he grew stronger and
better able to take care of himself Maria
dropped the familiarity of the nurse, and be-
gan putting him on the footing of young
gentleman and a guest of the house. She
came no more into the room with the basin of
warm water, and got him ready for his break
fast. She toned down carefully with every
improvement in his strength. First, she
merely brought him the basin and towel, and
then as he grew able to 90 about she would
rap on his door and tell him to come out and
get ready for breakfast. Shorty began to feel
that he was losing much by getting we'll, and
that his convalescence had been entirely too
rapid.
Then he would go off and try to compose
his thoughts for letter to Jerusha Briggs,
but before he knew it he would find himself
in the kitchen watching, with dumb admira-
ton, Maria knead bread, with her sleeves
rolled to her shoulders, and her white, plump
arms and bright face streaked with -four
There would be little conversation, for Maria
would sing with a lark's voice, as she worked,
some of the sweet old hymns, chOrding with
Amanda, busy in another part of the house.
Shorty did not want to talk. 1t was enough
for him to feast his eyes and ears.
They were sitting down to supper one
evening, when little Sammy Woggles came
in from the station.
"There's your Cincinnati Gazette" he
said. handing the paper to the Deacon, and
there's letter for ST."
.'Open and read it. Maria" said ST, to
whom reading of all letters meant labor, and
he was yet too weak for work.
''It's postmarked Chattanooga, Tenn.,D
said she, scanning the envelope carefully,
and addressed to Sergeant Josiah Klegg,
2OOth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Bean
Blossom Creek Ind"
SergeantW calculated ST, Shorty, and |
the Deacon, in the same breath. care you |
sure it's Sergeant ?u