The National tribune., 1902-02-20
"THE DEACON EXAMINED THE REP
TILE THROUGH TT BAR :"

out to various headquarters and offices
near by to execute some final commits
| SiOns for the Colonel. promising to stop
on his way back and say goOd-by.
Sis back was hardly fairly turned when
Shorty. who had been watching his chance
appeared with the mOckingbird in a gilt
| cage.
BEST | could find. Deacon. Do you
think she will like it - he asked anxiously.
I'm sure she will" answered the D"a-
con cordially. Maria sings Listen 70 the
MOckingbird.' Looks like fine bird"
Pine aint no name for it. Got a voice
like silver hugle. Almost rs sweet as
Miss Maria's own Whistles ike an angel.
| never heard an angel whistle. but it's
the way ! think angels whistle when
they're feeling real good. You jnst wait
till you hear it. Especially Ever Of Thee
You'll not forget TO tell Miss Maria that
Ever of Thee is nv favoritn and 7
wish the bird wonld whistle nothing else"
''No: I'll he sure to tell her"
"Well. good-hy. Deacon. ! must hurry
along before 81 comes back and catches
me. Pleasant trip TO ynn."
"Good-by. Shorty. Take care of your
The Deacon set the cage in the back
corner of his room and throw his over
coat over it. that 81 might not notice it,
AS Shorty diSapneared over the gang
wav. Pete and Sandy slipped in, carrying
n long box
''Sav. Deacon. we kuowpd you'd take
This home to onr mothers If we come to
you again and told Won how badly we
wanted IT to go. Tt'T inst break our
m"thers' hearts if they don't get him
He'll remind them every dav of me and
Sandy. sneciaIlv when he's asIeen and you
rnnt wake him. Thnn. the people nm
there'll he ticklnd tn death to sne a real.
live alligator that we've kptched"
"Apd he won't wake nm at all until
warm weather COMES in the Snring" add
ed Sandy. ''Nehhe we'll he homo hv that
time. and we'll take him and nut him in
Rean Plassnm Crick. and what fun i'm
he to watch him chase and eat mn the
Sr"knrs. the snakes and the mustrats
ThntH just be great sport for all the
boys"
GIVE never yet sent ANYTHING home tn
mother that 7 thought she'd really care
for" mined I'm Pete.
'Well. we'll bows" said tho Deacon.
overcome nv the nIeading. "Rring II in and
nHt 1t under the bed. away back. where 81
won't see it"
This was Int the onpning WEDGE The
other boys We're waiting 10 500 what sue
cess Pete ard Sandy had. The Deacon
"ould refuse none Of them. and soon I'll
the snarr under the berth was packed with
souvenirs for hnme-snakes bats. ard
birds in cages, and packages of almost
evcrvthirg else that the boys Thought |
would interest the home folks The Doa-
cnn Doomed the hndc,nthrS 50 as tn con |
cral them from 81. and trusted to Provi- |
dence for the rest
Mr.. HiGginhottnm. the Englishman. |
came on board. He had hpea soiacing his |
disappointment. feeding the fame of his |
wrath Mt everything American. and brac-
N hiOcaIf 1D nUaipct tha nf |
sickness nv f''ing IN with brandy. and |
was in n condition verging on unroa rinus- |
ness with every prospect of soon crossing !
the line. He took the room NEXT tha Den-
CONS. while cordially damninr it, the shin |
the sea the country Cen Sherman the
American army. and everything that he
could readily remember.
ar 7 wasn't a weak. sinful mortal nv
self. struggling for the grace Of Cod" the
Deacon mrttered. I'D wiring that beef
eaters neck 7 hnne he'll Guipt down be-
fore 81 comes in. 81 haint made his pro-
fession of religion yet and there's more
nf the Old Man in him than in me-"
He advised the cabin peoplp to got the
into his room and nnirt him.
When 81 came he was in roo mnrh If n
hurry to notice anything. He clasped his
fathers hand. saying:
"Good-hy. Pap. Love to- all the folks.
must skin lively. It's setting in to rain
ana looks as IT ts going tO hR regular |
Dld Niagara Falls of dnwn-nonr."
"GoOd-hy. 81. Take care Of Yourself"
When ST arrived at regimautal head
Iaurters, the Adiutnnt handed him this
order:
Headquarters 200th Ind Infantry Vols.
In the Field, Near Savannah. Ga.
l. In accordance with orders from Army
Headquarters TO detail not to exceed FIVE
ner centum of each regiment To serve as
'OragPrs. mounted. Sergt Josiah Elcgg.
20. Q. is hereby detailed to command such
squad and perform the duty. He will
select such men to compose the squad as ,
10 deems best suited for the duty. not ex- !
'eeding 90 in number. including himself.
md report their names at once to these !,
BY command Of Col McGillicuddy.
Attest: Basil Bruce. Adjutant.
Later came the order for the regiment to
move out promptly at o'clock the next
morning, to Savannah, and then take the
Dad to Sisters Ferry. 40 miles up the Sa- :
rapnah River.
''That throws US on the flank" 81 COM