The National tribune., 1901-09-12

Having again settled ourselves down at
Falmouth, in front of Fredericksburg, We
cast about for something to vary The
monotony- of camp life. The first thing
to be done, however, was to prepare fer
Winter, which was now upon us. We
therefore went to work, erected log
foundations over deep cellars, fixed our
wall and shelter tents upon them, devised
and built practicable treplaces with mud
chimneys, and soon began to feel very
comfortable
Our evenings in camp were spent cheer
fully and pleasantly.
LIFE IN CAMP AT FALMOUTH.
Before a blazing fire of no ordinary di
mansions, half Il dozen of us would be
seated under the canvas shelter in front,
watching with profound interest the sol
enn and systematic proceedings of one of
"ours." From one pocket he would take
a few lemons, which he would place, with
considerable dignity, upon the bed. Then,
STOPPING Down and making a few vigor-
Gus dives under that rustic couch, he
would reappear with two or three suspi-
cious-looking canteens; these, with
mysterious wink, he would deposit beside
the lemons; this done, half a dozen
anxious voices would cry out stimuli
taneously, Harry The individual adj
dressed, whose optics were rather sharp,
and whose sense of smell was rather keen,
would unthinkingly expose his proximity
by instantaneouSly introducing his head
well, gemmen?" Bring the-sugar-
Harry-and-one spOon-and, my Child
OF the Forest be expeditions"
Harry was commonly known as the
Child of the Forest. He looked more like
a victim fresh from the rack. de was
huge, ungainly, loose-jointed fellow, and
always, when walking, seemed to proceed
-. for ar1Tl IN tlUb
Well Harry would produce the sugar
from some mysterious corner, which was
placed beside the other necesSarieS.
Then a few anxious voices would in
sinuatingly hint, for the edifcati0n of one
of our circle (who had Joined the Child
of the Forest within, I'D make it pretty
strong, Nick, if l were you"
20, yes" the balance would chorus,
make it hot and strong" and then an
other ominouS silence would ensue, every
eye being bent on the dignifed COM
FOUNDER. Soon the mysterious decoction
would be completed; then half dozen
drinking tins would be filled with the
steaming and fragrant beverage yclept
"punch," and soon, very soon, emptled-I
Harry looking on at the rapid consump-
ton with what we should imagine to be
a fair resemblance of the grin of Il pleased
demon displayed on his huge face; and
with a chuckle, would turn about and
shuttle away to his cook-house, hidden IN
some remote part of which he would
watch the advent of some daring fellow
who would come to abstract some Of the
articles of the mess, and, when he up
peared, pounce on him with a tragic
growl, and a I've got yer now" but
sometimes, before he had concluded the
sentence, he would be knocked into ket-
tie of his own soup!
A draught from the steaming jug Of
punch completely changed the scene.
Good humor sparkled forth on every face,
the bright glow from the fire seeming to
increase in warmth, till we moved back
our seats, and threw ourselves into more
comfortable attitudes. Conversation
would soon merge into relations, home,
friends, and country; occasionally the mar
ratives would take a cheerful tone, then
melancholy, and at times even terrible;
and, amid a breathless silence, the nara
tor would proceed till our interest had