The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-09
"rHE DEACON LOOKED OUT AND RECOGNIZED LEVI"

| then began backing to opposite the spot
where it had started from.
THAT'S all right" said his railroad friends
encourasfngly. ''She's Just run back on the
other switch to take up couple more cars
She'll go ahead all right presently"
81 hope it is all right, )" said the Deacon, q
little abashed; but | never had any use for
boss that went back more'n he did for
|! rard."
But this was only the first of many SINH.
lar experiences, which occupied the rest OF
| the day.
Good gracious, do they want to wear the
track and wheels and mines clean out y
grumbled the Deacon mo wonder they're
all out o. order. If I jammed my wagon
back and forrard this way it wouldn't last a
month. No wonder war-taxes are high, with
i every body dom all they kin to waste and de-
| stroy property. I've a great mind to write
to Gen. Roseerans or President Lincoln.
calm attention to the way their hired men
monkey around, and waste time, and don u
accomplish nothin'"
| Sometime after dark, and after the Deacon's
| patience had become well-nigh exhausted
the railroad men came around with lantern
and told him that at last it was settled, ami
the train would move out very SON. There
had been conflicting orders during the day.
but now the Chief Quartermaster at Nash
vile had ordered the train forward. Sure
enough, the train pulled out presently. and
| went rattling up toward Shelbyville Again
the DeacOn's heart bounded high, and alter
watching the phantom-like roadside for
awhile, he grew very sleepy, and crawled in
alongside of 81 He walked up at daylight,
and went at once to the car-ioor hopefully
expecting to recognize the outskirts of Nash
vile, or at least MurfreesborO. To his dis
| may, he saw the same suffers shanty, mule
corral, pile Of baled hay, and the embalm-
er's sign on tree which had been opposite
them while standing on the track at Bridge
port.
Shorty swore volubly, and for once the
Deacon did not check him, but was sinfully
conscious in his heart of approving the pro-
family.
"Swearin's awful wicked and low,n he
said to himself "a sensible man can gi,
along without it ordinarily, by the grace o.
God and hard tryin'. though I've knowed a
yoke o. dumbed steers in stumpy field to
purity nigh overcome me. But the army's
no common experience, and | s'pose a man g
justified in Dustin out in a time like this.
Old Job was lucky that he didn { have to ride
on an army railroad"
His railroad friend again came up with
some hot coffee and brOiled meat, and ex-
planned that after the train had reached
station some miles out it got orders to run
back and clear the track for some trains OF
troops from the Army of the Potomac which
were being rushed through. The Deacon's
heart almost sank in despair, but he took the
coffee and meat. and helped the boys to it,
As they were all eating they heard a voice
outside which struck on the chords of their
memories:
"Vhere iss dat Yard Poss? Where ISIS dat
Yard Poss? Flint him unit sent him TO me,
Immediately"
THAT sounds like Levi Rosenbaum," said
Shorty.
ST nodded affirmatively.
The Deacon looked out, and recognized
Levi dressed in the hight OF fashion. On his
jetty curls sat glossy silk hat, his clothes
looked as if just taken from the tailOr's shop,
and they fitted him to perfection. A large
diamond flashed from his scarf-pin, and
another cleaned in a ring on his right hand
as he waved it in giving orders to the men
around. Every eye was fixed on him. and
when he spoke there was fastening TO obey. |
The Yard Boss was coming at run.
What are dose g0tton-gars still stdanding |
dere dis morning. after de orters gif you |
asked Lew. in tones Of sever |
est apprehension, as that official came up.
Why, Mr.. R0senbaum," said that official |
apologeticaliy was the same man who
had SO severely snubbed the Deacon the day |
YOU seo had the train made I'D |