Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-05-29
cheers. Then he galloped by where
we Wprn Il

Nhon Hc SdAcpcu ny Wner
we We're AID yelled:
Rally, men! Rally! Stonewal
jackson Is in their rear and giving ZEN
sutv
3 Then we cheered, too, until we wer,
noarse. The courier galfoped on, ant
presently our officer shouted:
Forward, men! Charger
And away we went, down the hill
and across field, right toward the
Yankee lines, yelling like Indians.
Il held the colors in my hand, and
ran little ahead. l didn't seem to
nave any feet; seemed to fly, and the
men followed me. Right toward the
blazing line we ran.
All at once I saw the colonel, who
was riding by me, grasp the colors, for
they were falling. I looked and saw
that my hand, my whole arm, was
gone, and hadn't felt it! / grabbed
the flag In my left hand.
can carry the colors yet, colonel
l said. don't feel any pain
II ran on some so steps, when the
blood began spouting from my shout
der. l dropped. Joe Ashe, one of the
color guards, snatched the flag, and
they all rushed on.
Il fell senseless. never knew an
other thing till weeks after, when l
woke up one day in Chimborazo hos
pital and found some funny looking la
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 so car
ried away by the interest he felt in his
own narrative that he had 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 dropped"
mo; to be sure not. l never went to
look for it,
"You couldn't fasten it on again,
thenw
"Of course not child. / am not a |
jointed doll"
What pity you couldn'tr' said the
child. what pity! And how do you
manage to dress yourself and tie your
cravat and shoes?" she asked, for she
had been burning to make these in
qulries ever since she had seen the one
armed Confederate.
Twas awkward at first, but learn
ed at last TO do it with the help Of my
teeth"
But how when you get old and lose
EN-" said Jennie, who was Of an in
vestigating mind.
Providence will raise me up some
other way" he said, with a pathetic
smile. "I'll have my wife to wait on
me-"
ITO be sure, I forgot; Miss Mary
Jane will. What did she say?"
Il got one Of the sisters to write her I
or me, and / set her free. l said I
wouldn't bind her to poor cripple like
me-"
"And she said no. STREE! s'pose,"
ried Jennie, full Of fiery zeal for her
lew friend.
Something to that effect" said Joe,
milling. Z
"She wrote me that she loved me
nore with one arm than she ever had
one with two; that whenever could
ct home she was ready" Here Joe's
yes filed, and he gazed steadily in !
he water =
well, now, joe" said Jennie, who =
'as suddenly struck with a bright :
lea, maybe If you would lose both =
rms she'd love you betterer and bet =
.rer."
Il believe I'm satisfied with what ?
le feels pow," said Joe, laughing. .
but why hain't you married?" con- =
nued Jennie, pursuing her investiga- .
Ons. =
Because l first had to get well, and .
len | had to get something to do. 10
Id been a mechanic, and I couldn't z
ork at my trade with my left hand. =
Captain Ramsey gave me a place on .
s boat, and I've been trying to learn .
wv to write. so that can keep his =
'oks. think Pm doing pretty well. =
,e?" <
He drew from his pocket little .
ank book in which were scrawled .
vers hieroglyphics, at which he gazed .
mplacently.
Why. yes" said Jennie approvingly.
here's t. with the cross mark, and O
ere is k with his broken back, and
ats an 81 | know him by his eye =
ow. You see. l can read little" +
e said proudly.
SO see." said he, laughing and put =
g up his book. Now. must go.
e sun has set. 1t Is time for me to
after things for the night"
lie stroked Jennie's curly head with
left hand and walked away, softly
ging in his mellow voice. "Iy Own
Try Ann" Z