Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-12-20

HlOlltu uIt. llS rays lay Dloou Tcu on
the hills, but the shadows continued TO
creep up nevertheless. Ii was gone by
and by, and the east was in darkness
which soon extended to the four quarters
OF the heavens. Christmas night had be-
gun. and the sentinels on their beats
called, "All's well"'
"Ought 10 be snow tonight. It's Christ
mas" said Settle.
You have your wish" replied Mason.
"Ddn't YOU notice the clouds before the
dark came? Here's your snow"
Settle looked at the heavens, and
broad flake settled upon his upturned
face 1t was followed by another, and
then many more. and in five minutes
they were falling down upon the camp
like a great white veil. The ground was
soon covered, and the flakes continued
to come down until the snow lay several
inches deep. But 1t ceased by and by,
and clear silver moon sbone in the
cold, pale heavens. 1t was very beau
tiful To Mason, who had in his soul n lit
tie of the poetry of his native hills. This
was the grace of God after a month OF
battle lie sat in the lee Of tent and
looked at the white eXpanse Of the earth
and the dim line Of the horizon.
The content of the soldiers did not de-
crease. 1t was a we'll sheltered and well
provisioned army, and this was what
they wished. The solemnity which they
had felt at first began TO wear away, and
their spirits rose. The camp was filled
with jest and laughter. Bright flames,
Pickering over the snow, shot up from
hundred fires. and beside each some good
story was told The camp was luminous
with light and good feeling.
y clear voice was upIitted presently,
and some one began 10 sing. 1t was
song of Christmas:
"The shepherds went their hasty way
And found the Iowly stable shed
Where the VIRGIN mother lay;
And now they checked their eager tread,
For 10 the babe that at her bosom chung
mothers song the Virgin sung"
1t was trained voice that sang, and
presently others joined. The pure strain
rose over the hushed camp, and the
sentinels, walking back and forth in the
snow. trod softly. More hymns followed,
all that the soldiers knew, and then
they sang the same over again. Mason
listened for long time. but by and 10y
he arose and walked toward the outer
edge OF the camp.
Good fellow, Mason said Settle, fol
lowing the Kentuckian with his eyes,
but, like all the kentuckians of the
hills, he's a powder flash when you
touch him on a sore spot. I'd rather
have any man than Dan Mason hunting
me with his gun
Il amt got anything but cause TO
like him. said Johnston. Il recollect
how be took me off the field Of Shiloh
when ! had that bullet through my leg
and couldn't walk. Didn't seem to mind
the bullets any more than he would
hailStoncS.
Hes that way to his friends" re
sumed Settle, who had grown talkative,
"but its just as | tell you. lie don't
love his enemies, and | don't know
whether a man ought to, either. Ever
hear about the quarrel between him and
Tom Markham over a girl just before
the war came on? Markham lived close
by, and it was hot between EN-. They
say Markham wasn't fair-played some
low down trick-l don't know exactly
what il was, for the war began just then.
and Dan and ! came away 10 it, while
Markham joined the other side"
The others bent their heads nearer.
eager to listen to a good story, while
Settle proceeded with further details
MdSou continued MS Walk IutduW me
TO the farthest edge Of the camp. His
mind had gone back TO the same story
that Settle was telling lie was think
Ing of Markham and Of the girl over
whom they had quarreed. The hot
blood leaped to his head, and. clinching
his first. he shook it in the darkness Had
Johnston seen him then be would have
felt the truth Of Settles words that
u ng -l. =
enemies
In truth, it was never part of Ma
sons code TO love his enemies 1t had
been taught TO him in his native noun
tains TO exact an eye for an eye and
tooth for a tooth. Even now, as he
thought OF Markham and the great wrong
that he had suffered from him, he longed
for the time when the war would end
and be might seek his revenge. He bore
no animosity toward the soldiers on the
other side except this particular one
Markham. He fought the others from
sense of duty, and, the war over he
could be good friends with them But
there could Doe no forgiveness for Mark
ham. Again he clinched his hand and
shook it in the darkness. His sense OF
the wrong done him was as keen as ever
Two years Of incessant campaigning had
not diminished il. and when the excite.
mcnt and danger OF each great battle
were over be found that the memory Of
IL would come back 10 him as strong as
before
Mason stood at the northern rim Of
the camp. The sentinel who walked the
beat there was n friend OF his aud noe.
dcd al him as he passed The moon
shOne brighter and clearer than ever in
the cloudless skies. and Mason. looking
back AT the camp. saw it brilliant with
many lights. Clear and sweet still came
the words OF the hymn:
The shepherds went their hasty way
And found the lowly stable shed
Where the Virgin mother lay"
Then the song ceased suddenly as a
half dozen rifle shots rang loudly i'm
the frosty air Mason stopped quite still.
and all his thoughts passed abruptly from
peace TO war. lie looked toward an.
other bill, divided 10y shallow but wide
valley from the one on which the camp
lay-a hill on which clusters Of brushes
grew here and there, affording n cover
for daring riflemen. lie had marked the
place from the first and noted what a
good cover il would be for annoying
sharpshooters il the enemy were not
Effv rnftog Nom IL g..v,,,I 81