The National tribune., 1902-11-06

answered the Adjutant cheerily. There's
where my justlyfamed strategy will come
in. l thought it all out while | was talk
ing to the Colonel. 1t would have taken
a common man month to do the fine
thinking ! did in a quarter of an hour"
That's one advantage of belonging to
the 200th Injanny." interjected Shorty.
You just naturally know things that
other people don't. and can't learn"
Il thought over a dozen plans for ar
ranging wagon that we could take right
along with us, and yet would not be SUBJ
ject to being gobfled by some Quarter
master under orders to seize every wagon
over the specified number, before l hit
on the right plan. but it was a daisy when
1 at last got it," said the Adjutant.
There's come out from Cheraw the
widow and two children of an old class
mate of the Coonel's in college. who mar
ried one of the Coloners young friends,
and took her back with him to South
Carolina, where he entered the ministry
but Joined the rebel army, and was killed
last Spring in the Wilderness. The
widows hOuse was burned when the rebels
evacuated Cheraw, and badly off as she
was before. she was now without a house
to shelter her head. She heard of Col
McGillicuddy, and made her way with
her children into our camp today, hoping
that he might be able to do something
toward getting her sent North to her peO-
pie. He has been puZzliug ever since as
to what provision he can make and
have urged upon him that the only thing
was to fix up a wagon and take them
along until we strike somewhere where we
can communicate with the coast. We shall
do that pretty soon, l am sure. What l
propose we do is to lay down blankets on
the bottom of the wagon, and then spread
all these carpets, curtains, etc, out care
fttlt ltxr fI.av,N
fully with other blankets. This will make
a nice bedroom for the widow and her
children, and nobody will dare venture
around a lady's bedroom"
Big head, that" said 81 and Shorty
nOdding to each other.
You've some things in there that
you'd like. to send home, and so they'll
go right along with the rest"
THANK you, Adjutant," said 81, while
Shorty could only blush.
The other wagon" continued the Ad-
jutant, will have to go along as their
kitchen. You know that women and chill
dren have to have all sorts of different
food from soldiers, and the wagon will
be necessary for them. It'll be a mighty
mean man that will monkey around a poor
widows kitchen"
You're mighty right" Shorty solemnly
agreed, beginning to catch on to the Ad-
jutant's plan"
consequently, it will be a good place
to keep most of this wine, brandy and
cigars"
Shorty indicated that he caught on by
an emphatic wink.
'Of course, III have to crowd good
deal of that wet goods into the headquar-
ters wagons, somehow"
TOO bad to put such a load on you,
Adjutant," said 81, with 4 twinkle in his
eye.
That's true. That's true" said the Ad
jutant, with n deep sigh. But there is
one comfort. The load will tighten as We
move along"
''As the Division and Corps Headquar-
ters find out the quality of stuff you've got,
I'm inclined to think it WILL" ventured
Shorty.
"These bronze things, intended for For
rest, Mosby, Wheeler, John Morgan. ct
al, We'll wrap around with old clothes,
and put in the mess-chest. Art is better
than food, any day, or almost any day.
The mess-chest things have been so
knocked about that jOstling around in the
wagon won't hurt them. You get the
wagons arranged as l say, and I'll go for
the widow and her children: We cannot
get these things too soon under the protec-
ton of her presence"
The boys went eagerly to work arrang-
ing the wagons as the Adjutant had plan
ned. Shorty carefully wrapped his lace
handkerchiefs and bolt of flOwered silk in
his poncho, and laid the bundle on top of
layer of heavy ledgers and journals in
the front end of the wagon, to make it as
safe as possible from water from above or
below 81 gathered his possessions into
"A wine-basket and wrapped them with Il
piece of tent, tied small rope in hard
knots around them, and placed them be-
side Shorty's. Monty Scruggs put his pre-
cious black-letter law-boOks, with the
treasures Of the other boys, in similar re-
ceptacles. On layer of cedar boughs,
blankets were spread, and then on the
carpets, rugs, curtains, hangings, and other
rich stuffs were smoothly and carefully
laid out, and covered with another layer
of blankets. AS the provident Mr.. Dilber
had sent his goods out in two new wagons
covered with new, thick cloth, an excel
lent bedroom was provided for the widow
and her children. The kitchen was at
tended to with nearly as much care, the
wines and liquors being completely hid
den by the foodstuffs and cooking utensils.
By the time they were finished, the Ad-
Ijutant came back, carrying the youngest