Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-11-29
Grewsome G anne Of seyen-IIn.

l
Il have seen gambling IN nearly all
its forms" said an old employee of the
Postoffice Department to a Washington
Post man the other day, but | think
the most unique performance / ever
witnessed along that line was a game
of seven-up during the civil war. /
was a member of an Ohio regiment that
had part in some of the fiercest fight
Ing of the whole four years struggle.
Among my comrades were three pri-
Yates who We're devotediy attached to
one another. They were the Aramis,
Porthos, and Athos of the regiment,
with D'Artagnan left out During the
days in camp they were inseparable,
and they spent most of the time play
ing seven-up. They did not gamble,
for 1t is doubtful If their friendship
would have remained as steadfast ii
money had been laid on the cards.
1.-THE trio made compact, which was
of them was killed In battle the remain
ing two would play one game of seven
up on his dead body. OF course the
agreement was made with all the dare
devil carelessness of the soldier, but
1t was as binding as If 1t had been an
oath-bound pledge on more serious
subject. Possibly they never thought
they would have 10 execute it. At any
rate it was known throughout the reg
iment that the contract had been made,
and it was the subject of more or less
comment.
But the time came when they were
called upon to perform the agreement
1t wac at the bloody battle of Stone
River that one of the triumvirate died
with bullet through his heart He
was one of those chosen to add to the
awful carnage of theday. Then came
the opportunity to see the true mettle
of the soldier of that day, The other
two carried the body Of their dead COM
rade off the field when the fighting was
over, and laid it in their tent. | was
there when they came in They looked
at the lifeless form for a long, long
tine, and at the same moment each
looked at the other
1.-THE pack was produced, the cards
were shuffied and dealt. TIE faded
blue coat of their comrade, with the
bullethole through the chest was the
table on which they played. The tears
rolled down their cheeks so that they
cold hardly see the spots, and the sobs
stified their voices until they could not
say whether they begged or gave
They played the game out, but | don't
believe either knew which had won"
Bread on the Waters.
In 1864 several wounded Union and
Confederate soldiers lay in farmhouse
in Shenandoah Valley, and a Southern
mother came there every day to nurse
her son. She brought him beef tea,
which she had procured with great diff
ficulty, for Northern soldiers had burn
ed her home and her property was
swept away. Lying in the next cot, a
Yankee soldier watched with eager,
hungry eyes while she fed her boy, and
Christian pity finally triumphed In her
enemy's behalf. She gave him part of
the precious broth, and then tenderly
bathed his face and hands.
Years afterward, the son of North
ern Senator came from his Virginia va
cation, bringing new acquaintance.
1t was the only living son of the lady
who had nursed her soldier in the
Shenandoah farmhouse. She had made
every sacrifice to educate him for
civil engineer, but being poor and with
out influence, he had never been able
70 secure a good position. The Senator
found the man well qualified, and OBJ
tanned for him q satisfactory position.
Inclosed with the necessary papers, he
forwarded a letter 20 the Southern
mother, saying: Il was the wounded
soldier to whom you gave that bowl of
BROTH"
General Lee and His Fruitful Hen.
II was General Lees custom to leave
his tent door open In the morning for a
sprightly hen that had gone into the
egg business promptly and thus had
saved her head. When she stepped in,
General Lee would put aside his work
and walk post deferentially upon the
outside until hei cackle announced the
mysteries of egg-'aying at an end. She
roasted and rode n his wagon, was an
eyewitness of the battles of Chancel-
louisville and Gettysburg, and was firal-
ly sacrificed upon the altar of hospi-
tally at Orange Courthouse, in LISA.
Ladies' lone Journal.