The National tribune., 1902-02-20

ne enthusiastic ZUUth Ind. nj once De
gan stripping for the coming campaign
to CharlestOn-they hoped and expected
They were stimulated by seeing daily
detachments of the Seventeenth Corps
march by them on the ThuDderbolt Road
to take ship for Port Royal harbor, where
the corps was to rendezvous for future
operations. 1t seemed as if this meant
that they were all going straight to
Charleston and evengefully destroy the
very fountainhead of secession.
"ConfOund those Vicksburgers," com
mented Shorty, watching them pour by
in an almost endless stream; Il hope they
aint a-Going to get the start on US. and be
| the first into Charleston. We want faiI
start for the 200:h Ind. I've some bones
to pick with Charleston myself. IF il
hadn't been for her you'd bin still hoeing
corn out in Injiauny. ST."
''Yes; and you'd never known me. Fol
none of us, Shorty" answered 81. "Thcrr's
offsets for almost everything, Shorty
What would you have done for a part
ner?"
That's so, 81; you're the best partner
man ever had" replied Shorty heartily
hut his thoughts were still on other things
than the firm manhood of his partner. rs
he reached in his bosom and felt pack
age of letters. Great Jehosenhat." he
mused "if South Carnliny hadn't bin so
cantankcrous. I'd never known that there
was such girl in the world az Maria
Elegg. She's worth. 20 times over. all
that I've done in the war. ] really ought
TO be much obliged to South Cnrnliny.
I must write to Maria this very after
noon. for 7 mayn't have another chance"
The orders for the new camralgu were
as stringent with regard to limitations on
t,s,- nr@r
| tory to the march through Georgia. with
the assurance that thcy would he still
more strictly enforced. There was to no
hut one wagon to regiment. and II not
heavily loaded. though it carried Ill the
| regimental paners and officers baggage.
No negro women were to be allowed along
under any preteXt.
at is inst as we'll" said the Adiutant
70 the Colonel. rs they considered the or
der, with reference to their cook. 81
really never intended to eXpOSe the rich
result Of my brain and my missionary zeal
to the dangers of such a campaign as this
nrOmiscs to he. You see. I selected Aunt
| Minerva Ann az my particular share Of
the work of uplifting the desnised bond
man. and I want to point with pride to
the result. I have taken an ignorant field
hand who had no soul above bacon and
collards. and I have transformed her into
sentient. civilized hHman being. clothed
like the lilies Of the field. and with n wn-
mans keen percentioDs as to true er-
eance of living. Think you I'm going to
exRose all that to the dangers Of a stray
bullet. or to clepement with some envi-
our BrieadierCaueral. whose soul thirsts
for good livipg?"
"And that wonderful vocabulary"
launched the Colonel. 'What would he
come OF us if we lost that? 7 hate to think
Of being dcrrived of it. even during tho
camnaign, which believe will be short
one"
"Tve arranged with Mrs. MrNair.
whom you know is an old school friend
Of my mother's.' confirmed the Adiutant
"and whom YOU know have been supnly-
ing with rati0ns. TO keep Aunt Minerva
Ann until we come out somewhere. and
are ready for her-nrohablv at Charles
ton. 7 shall leave Mrs McNair plenty Of
rations for them both and money enough
TO comnlete Amt Minerva AIMS outfit
Mrs. MrNair can do what neither of us
can-ahsOIuteIy control the negrpss. Aunt
Minerva Ann recognizes in her that mvste-
rious thing which the Soufhe-n negroes
call quality and Mrs. McNair's little
finger is tbi"Ier than vour arm Of author
ity. / think that she'll make first-rlasS
cook and hOnsekeecDer out of Aunt Mi
rerva Ann for me, if she has time
enough"
Everybody had pets, and kcepsakes and
souvenirs that they wanted the Deacon
TO take back home with him. for himself
or for the relatives and friends of the
boys.
They overwhelmed him with cages Of
mocking and other rare birds. and even
Guepr snakes: with pots Of orange and
lemon trees. jessamine, crane mvrtle. and
beautiful flowers, with cotton in the nod
and varions stages of growth same being
grown in their cabins: with specimen bags
Of rnbulled rice. etc. etc.
"ROys." protested the Deacon. "I'd aw-
fully like TO oblige you. and take some
thing home from every one of you 70 vour
mothers or aunts, and To show tn the boys
and girls at the schoOlhnuse, but 7 aint
no express company. I've bin packing
around some heeBskirts that made life a
vale of tears for me. and I don't know
whatd happen If started with vnune
Renagerie Of snakes and birds. But I'll
take as many as ] can
The Deacon felt stilI more strongly
like drawing the line when Pete and Snpdy
cape up with a healthy young alligator,
nearly three feet long. which thnV had
been secretly sheltering in their cabin ard
trying to get ipto the best condition for
erapd fight with similar one is the ros-
seesiop Of some mischievous cubs OF the
lot 0shtnsh. The fight was now declared
off. owing TO pressing engagements from
headGuarters. and they had conceived that
the next best thing would he to send the
reptile home by the Deacon, to impress
the boys and girls at the old school with
the monsters that their former fellow
schniars were encountering. They had
laborfously fashioned a cage out of two
rieres of plank. with hits OF telegram
wire for bars. and carried thNir net IN to
Sis tent in this and set il down before
the Deacon with an air of conscious pride
in their trophy.
''What have you got there, boys?"
asked the Deacon. with n benignant look
at the bright. expectant faces.
"Just the finest gator. for his age and
inches. in all this country" replied Pete |
heaming with pride "He's taking his
after-dinner snoOze now. He sleeps most
of the time. but when he wakes up he's |
Just a hummer He can whale gator
half as big again as him without any
trsnble q. he's first-rater. I tell yOu |
You oncht've seen him knock Snndy's feet |
out from under him quirker'n scat with |
enc flip of his tail Sandy come down |
like a thousand OF brick. ANYTHING that |
can catch Snndy's no slouch. betcher life"
"Yes. come down like I'd stepped on
a piece of ice" grinned Sandy, in pride |
over their treasure. He'd a bit my leg |
off if hadn't got out of the way so quick"
Good gracious,' exclaimed the Deacon:
what are you doing with such vicious
thing aroundT'
20. he's all right now" Sandy assured |
him. "You see that we've clinched these
wires top and bottom. so that the cage is |
good ard strong. Besides. it's so narrow