The National tribune., 1902-02-13
dress parade

lucy All lHeu up presently III luI HS
as neat and trim as Sherman's men hat
suddenly grown to be in while in CAM
at Savannah, and awaited her next orders
| Aunt Minerva Ann cast d critical eye
over them, generally approved, but gave
Pete a cuff for having loOsed the last tive
buttons of his too-tightly fitting blouse
and remarked severely:
What you mean, yOu slOvenly fraZZle
oman, by coming up heah half-nakedT
Then she mOtioned to Uncle Ephraim
who majestically waved the Deacon to his
seat at the head of the table, and indi
Gated, one after another. the seats that
/ 81, Shorty and the rest should occupy. in
| due order of precedence, on either side OF
him.
She had provided napkins for the Dea
con and the squad, and the feast was be
gun by Uncle Ephraim serving. with Z
/ flourish, soup to the Deacon, in 4 fine
china plate.
It was a soup that the Adjutant had
spent much thought on, and was really Sc
! fine that the Deacon committed the sole
| cism of asking for second helping. Aunt
/ Minerva Ann gasped at this. but re-
strained herself, out of respect to him and
ST, and remarked sententiously:
! DE attic-wet oh de dinner-table don't
commit ob n gentleman habin two plates
oh soup Ephraim. defagrate de dishes
and serve de oysters"
81 declare" said the Deacon presently
this meal is ever 50 much better than
! that l got at Wizards, high-priced as il
was. The victuals are better cooked and
better served, and Aunt Minerva Ann is
treasure for anybody"
Hear that. Auntie?" exclaimed ST.
"Pap's a judge of cooking, | tell you
When Il man that has Mother to cook
for him praises somebody else's cooking
I
it means whole lot.
''Yes. Auntie," added Shorty, "you can
consider you've graduated-got your de
gree, received your sheepskin. and can
best cook in the United States"
Thank you, sah," said Aunt Minerva
Ann, with a fair imitation of the cour-
tesy she had seen the Savannah DANES
make: ode Adjutant's bin enjoying de
horsepitality OBJ de fines quality in Sa-
vannah. an he say fO' sure dat / had some
refectations dat none oh dem kin tetch.
an me an him's both studyin' to ketch
mp to dem ebberywhar."
There was Il clatter of hoofs, and Col.
Boonesteel rode into camp. He dismount-
cd with dignity, and mOtiOned to Uncle
Ephraim to take his bride.
Instiuctively Uncle Ephraim dropped
his napkin, and spTang to obey. but was
stopped by the sharp command Of Aunt
Minerva Ann:
"Fph. Won black frazzleonian. what you
mean? Gwine to tetch-a boss while you's
waitin' on de table? What I done tole
vou, time an agin. bout dat? Go back
dar, pick up dat napkin, an lay it away,
an Git clean one, an tend to your per-
feShun."
Uncle Ephraim meekly obeyed. Col
3oneSteel glared at the negress, and she
returned naughty stare.
"Who's you, any way?" she asked, with
front unabashed by his stern look. Com
ing round heah, gibbin' orders. an in
terruptin' de dinner? You doesn't belong
any business heah, go to de CunnePs
tent"
The boys rose and saluted, which m"di
fed Aunt Minerva AIMS attitude little,
but still she could not forgive the inter
ruption to her private dinner party, and
continued to confront the Colonel with
uninrhing eyes.
''Why, Colonel. this is a surprise. Very
glad to see you" said 81. won't You
Auntie, put plate on for Col. Bone
steel
"Thank you. Sergeant" replied the
Colonel with dignity, as he drew off his
gantlets. 81 may as well admit that that
is Just what I came out here for. I found
the food at the hotel where | put M so
villainous that it brought on a return of
my sea-siclnpss. | feel that it is my dirty
toward my Government TO have my health
restored as soon as possible. that-it may
have the full benefit OF my abilities. II
might have gone to the headquarters of
some of my old friends. but I could think
of nowhere that I was likely to get as
good a meal as that l had here, and it
seemed TO me that just such another one
would 20 a great ways toward NV proper
And nowhere could 7 find
better friends than the men whom I once
commanded. And I reasoned that any in
fraction of discipline in such an associa-
tion with enlisted men would he more
than compensated for in the benefit to my
health, which is the important thing for
the Government"
Every glad TO have you with us, |
said 81, not listening to or nm
the Colonel's labored expIana-
lion. 'Sit right down there by Pap.