News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-05-28

ItdSOu as we were
brought fa~ to face with it proved de-
pressing. First, it became evident that
all of our fellow townsmen who really
wanted to go to the war had already
enlisted. Again, offers of bounties had
Increased so rapidly that men who
looked at soldering as mere matter
of hire and pay were waiting for high
er offers to come.
Besides, the old patriotic enthusiasm
which had caused men to enlist at the
first notice of a new call for volun-
teers lad entirely disappeared, perhaps
because an end had been put to the ear
ly impression that the war would be
only a sort of picnic, ending in the
speedy suppression of southern NAL
contents. Worse still, increasing taxa
ton was causing a number Of the ear
lier hot blooded patriots to become
very cool and conservative and wonder
whether the north hadn't perhaps been
too hasty and whether the disagree.
ment might not better be settled by
words than bullets.
Yet none of these depressing infu.
ences seemed to affect the class of men
among whCm Mick McTwyny was
working for Mick's list had crept along
until he had a full dozen of men ell.
listed and sworn in. They were the L.
worst characters of Summerton, and
the natives rejOiced to learn that they
were to go where they might be effect,
lively killed. ! had my doubts as to
their value to the Union cause, al
though Cloyne said they would be as
useful as better men in the work of
stopping bullets and that a barroom
loafer often fought better than an ac
complished gentleman.
AS for Hamilton, Cloyne and me, we
got less than a dozen men between us
in the three weeks in which we worked
at Summerton and its vicinity. Anoth-
er personal encouragement slowly
worked its way after each trip that
any of US made to headquarters in the
city. We found at the majors office
from time to time about % quite fine
fellows, all Of whom were trying to get
recruits, all hoping or expecting to be
made officers, yet the entire number of
commissions, including the majors
own, could be but 10 to the battalion.
How were the conflicting claims to be
adjusted and by whom? asked Cloyne
this question, and he replied sadly:
"Therell be no claims to adjust IN
less the other claimants are getting
more recruits than we"
1t seemed he was right. If Hamll- |
tons wild offer could not bring men to
our office, how were poorer men to Sc
cure recruits? Yet Mick -McTwyny-
ali, there was mysterious, provoking
engaging, affrighting puzzle!
When ! hadn't my own disappoint- |
ments in mind, l couldn't help worry
ing over affairs at home My father
and mother grew more and more Silent. |
Little Ned cStnplaned that there was
no one to play with him, and my cous- |
in May was becoming more deeply liz
terested In Hamilton and Brainard. |
Which she liked best could not dis. |
cover-probably because May herself |
did not know. She wasn't old enough |
to know. She treated Bralnard as q |
schoolboy friend and Hamilton as an |
adult and gentleman. She was right in |
both cases, but | couldn't help see
ing that both of my comrades were
very fond Of her, and l feared that |
when the time for parting came one Of |
them would have to suffer greatly.
Which would it be? j could not for |
the life OF me tell for which l would
feel worst should he be the least IA
vored.
One day word came by mail that the |
major would like to see all of us at |