The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-01-20
WHY HE ENLISTED
By BARTON PlTTMAN.

ceeded toward the headquarters of the
colonel of the regiment. After the SAL
utations had been exchanged before the
tent of the comniand ing officer the vol
untecr adore ssed the colonel, saying:
"Cap'n II you need any more OF HaE-
cock county boys, I'll get'm for you."
"Ifthey're all as fine-looking physical
specimens as yourself" said the colonel,
jovialy, I'D like to have whole army
of them: our regiment will be filled up
in day or so. but I'll let you know in
time"
After they had left the quarters OF
the colonel and were stretched upon
the grass in the shade the newspaper
man took occasion to put his favorita
question: "Why did you enlist?"
Sometimes this question eliciis an out
burst of patriotic ardor which fills the
air with stars and stripes and eagles;
some times (most frequently it calls
forth hard-luck story, (which paints in
glowing colors the virtues of the victim,
but on, this occasion tho answer was
merely: "Well, have nothing to lose"
"But," protested the newspaper man,
"there's no telling how long you'll have
TO be from home, and there's no man
that will take the same interest in run
ming your plantation that you do, for l
presume you are farmer?"
that's true, sir; that's true" was
his deliberate response; "but you see
things amt just as they was Before
Mary left took interest in everything,
but now--I ies' turnt the farm over 10
acouple of fellows and though nights
wells to come to the front and fight for
my country. I'm "a years old, and !
amt never done nothin' but farm, and
! thought I'd take little fightin' in
niue jes' at this stage"
Here a forced smile played over his
rugged. care-worn features. The COR
respondent wished to follow the clew
just thrown out about the desertion of
Mary, but didn't know just how TO pro-
coed. well, don't want to discour-
age your patriotism" he said, "bu,
you're giving up the peaceful leisure of
rural life for the dangers and excite
ment of a campaign in which disease is
as much to be feared as Spanish bull
let's"
Stranger" said the volunteer, "that's
jes' it From the way you talk bout
peaceful leisure ] see you amt never
lived in the country. Farmin's good
thing if mans got money or don't
mind workin', and / don't, but that was
jes' the whole trouble. l bleve now
when l think Of it that If had had
more time 10 make her happy she'd
been contented to stay. but it seemed
to me we was married at the busiest
time of the year, and then afterwards
it looked like l had jes' as much to do
at all times. l always had to look after
the mikin' at daybreak, and then be-
sides the regular work there's enough
chores and the like to keep fellow
hustlin' all the time. Even on rainy
days there's harness to mend and such
But, friend" and here his face bright
ened up until it was radiant with the
reco;lec;ions, 'if you could have seen
that little wife of mine in the dairy,
you'd a seen the prettiest sight you
ever saw. In little speckled calico,
skimmin' the milk and washin' the
crooks. singin' the whole time, jes' as
happy as lark. Sometimes it seemed
to me she was more like an angel than
a woman. But beg your pardon, SIR,
he concluded, refilling his pipe, you
said you wanted to meet all the Han
49, 1>kx