The National tribune., 1899-08-31
as THE REBELS COMING AGAIN? GAsPED PETE"

to give 'em a good kick they're gone, the
devil knows where They're only an
aggravaticn. You never kin do nothin'
with 'em, and they kin do nothin' with
you. / never kin understand why God
Almighty wasted his time in maxim cav
airy of any kind, Yank or rebel. All our
own cavalry's good for is to steal whisky
infantry. The infantry's the only thing.
It's like the big dog that comes up without
any special remarks, and sets his teeth in
the other dog. The thing only ends
when one dog or the other is badly
whipped and somethin's bin accom-
plished"
"Will we have to fight them cavalry agin
tomorrow jest the same way?" asked little
Pete, still somewhat nervously.
Lord only knows" answered Shorty
indifferently, feeling around for his pipe.
"a feller never knows when he's goin' to
he knows when he's goin' to have the tooth
ache. The thing just happens, and that's
all there is of it,"
ST and Shorty, having finished their
suppers, lighted their pipes, and strolled
up through the regiment to talk over with
the others the events of the day and the
probabilities of the morrow.
Left alone, the tongues of the excited
boys became loosened, and ran like the
vibrations of cicada's rattle.
Wasn't it just wonderful?' said Monty
Scruggs. ut looked as if a million cir
cuses had suddenly let out over there.
''The Assyrians came down like wolf on
the fold,
And their cohorts were cleaning with
purple and gold
Only there didn't seem much purple and
gold about them. Seemed mostly brown
rags and slouch hats and long swords
Gracious, did you ever see anything as
long and wicked as them swords! Seemed
that every one was pointing directly at
me, and they'd reach me the very next
jump"
"Of course, you thought they We're all
looking at you" said Alf Russell. That's
your idea, always, wherever you are.
You think you're spouting on the plat
form, and the center of attraction. But
knew that they We're all looking at me, as
folks generally do"
More self-conceit," sneered Harry JOS
lyn. Just because you're so cookbook
ing, Alf. 1 knew that they weren't both
ering about any boy orator, who does
most of his shooting with his mouth, nor
any young pill-peddler, who sings in the
choir, and goes home with the prettiest
girl. They were making dead set on
the best shot in the crowd, the young feller
who'd come into the war for business. and
told his folks at home before he started that
he was going to shoot jeff Davis with his
own hand before he got back. That was
me. l saw the Colonel of one O the regi-
they came across the run. and tell his men
to be sure and get me of all Others"
why didn't you shoot him, if you're
SUI dead-shot?" asked Gid Mackall
why, was just loading my gun, when
saw him, and as l went to put on the cap
you were shaking so that it Jared the cap
out of my hand, and before l could get
another. the smoke became SO thick 1
couldn't see anything"
"I shaking?" said Glib, with deep anger
'Now, Harry Joslyn"-
Come. boys; don't have a scrap. now
pleaded the serious-minded ALT. Just
think how many dead men are lying around.
1t looks like raising disturbance at a
funeral"
''Thats so," said Jake Humphreys II
don't think any Of us is in shape to throw
up anything to another about shaking. !
own up that l was never SO scared in all
my life, and feel now as II ought to get
thank God Almighty that my life was
spared. amt ashamed to say So
Scruggs. heartily. "We all feel that way,
but hain't the nerve to say SO. wish the
Chaplain would come around and open q
meeting Of Thanksgiving and slF aye
suggested Jake Humphreys. Let ALI
Russell sing one of those good old hymns
they used to sing in the meetings back at
home"
AT home!" How many thousands Of
miles away-how many years of time
away-seemed to those flushed, over
wrought boys, bivouaclting on the dead
strewn battlefield, the pleasant cornfields,
the blooming orchards, the drowsy hum
OF bees, the dear homes, sheltering fathers.
mothers, and sisters; the plain white
churches. with their faithful, gray-haired
pastors, of the fertile plains of Indiana.
ing boyish tenor, that they had heard a
thousand times at devout gatherings, at
joyful weddings, at sorrowing funerals, in
that asrandest and sweetest OF hymns:
* !. the hail the power of Jesus name;
Nations before Him PROSTATE fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord Of AL"