The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-04-24

we were and yelled;
Rally, men! Rallyl Stonewall
Jackson is In their rear and giving 'em
sutp
Then we cheered, too, until we were
hoarse' The courier galloped on. and
presently our officer shouted:
Forward, men! Charged
And away we went, down the hill
and across deld, right toward the
Yankee lines, yelling like Indians.
Il held the colors in my hand, and l
ran little ahead. didn't seem to
have any feet: l seemed to fly, and the
men followed me. Right toward the
blazing line we ran.
"All at once l saw the colonel, who
was riding by me. grasp the colors, for
they were falling. | looked and saw
that my hand, my whole arm, was
gone, and l hadn't felt It! l grabbed
the flag In my left hand
1 can carry the colors yet, colonel
l said. L don't feel any palm
II ran on some 80 steps, when the
blood began spouting from my shout
der. dropped. Joe Ashe. one OF the
| they all rushed ON.
81 fell senseless | never knew an
other thing till weeks after. when
woke up one day In ChimboraSo hos
pItal and found some funny looking Ia
dies In black bonnets that the boys call
ed the sisters bending over me. II 1t
hadn't been for their good nursing.
| should have died"
Perkins ceased. He had been 50 ear
ried away by the interest he felt in his
own narrative that he mad gone quite
beyond his auditor.
But tell me, joe" Jennie eagerly
asked she had been impatiently wait
Ing for an opportunity for some min.
utes tell me, did you ever find your
arm that you droppedT
NO; TO be sure not l never went TO
look for It,"
You couldn't fasten Ii ON again,
them
"Of course not child. | am not
Jonted doll"
"What pity you couldn't suid the
child. what II pity And how do you
manage to dress yourself and tie your
crnvat and shoesfh she asked, for she
Ind been burning To make these In
quIries ever since she had seen the one
armed Confederate.
"'Twus awkward ut first, but learn
ed at last To do II with the help OF my
teeth"
but how when you get old and lose
emf said Jennie, who was of an In
| vestgating mind.
providence will raise me up some
other way" lie said, with Il pathetic
smile "I'll have my wife to wait ON
me-"
TO be sure forgot; Miss Mary
Jane Will What did she sayf"
81 got one Of the sisters to write her
for me- and set her free. l said |
wouldn't bind her 10 n poor cripple like
me-"
"And she said no, Stree! | s'pose,'
cried Jennie, full of fiery zeal for hel
new friend.
Something to that effect" said Joe
) -,",ss~e.
'She wrote ME that she loved III
more with one arm than she ever hat
done with two; that whenever | coul,
get home she was ready" Here joe
eyes filled and he gazcd steadily II
the water.
"Wcll, now, joe" said Jennie, wht
was suddenly struck with II bright
idea. maybe IL you would lose botl
arms she'd love you betterer and bet
tercr'
II L.irVe I'm satisfied with what
she feels now" said Joe, laughing.
"But why hain't you marriedW CON
tinued Jennie, pursuing her investiga-
lions.
"Bccause | first had To get well, and
! then | had TO get something to do. i
had been mechanic, aud | couldn't
work at my trade with my left hand.
So Captain Ramsey gave me place on
! his boat, and I've been trying TO learn
how to write, so that | can keep his
books think I'm doing pretty well.
Scef'
lie drew from his pocket II little
blank book in which were scrawled
divers hIerogyphIcs, ut which he gazed
complacenily.
"Why, yes said Jennie approvIngly.
"Thcre's n t. with the cross mark, and
there IL X with his broken back, ana
that's an - / know him by his eye
brow You see, | can read little"
shc said proudly.
80 See" said he, laughing and put
ting UP his book. "Now, | must go.
The sun has set. II Is time for me to
see after things for the night"
He stroscd Jennes curly head with
his left hand and walked away, softly
singing in his mellow voice, MY Own
Mary Ann"