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

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New York, but Brainard, who hurried
back home to see his sick mother, did
not reach the medical examiner as soon
as we. After Hamilton, Cloyne and
had been accepted and sworn into serv-
ice we spent a pleasant hour or two at
the regiments recruiting headquarters
/ chatting with the officer in charge
who was to be major of one of the
regiments two new battalions. In the
course of time Brainard crept in, look
ing so dismal that ! at once asked him
whether his mother was much worse.
"That isn't the trouble" said he,
1.-THE surgeon has rejected me. He says
I'm under the regula ton height and too
slight for service anyway"
Suddenly the whole world looked
dark to me. Brainard was my dearest
friend, and my cousin May was very
fond of him, although Phil Hamilton
handsome, rich, stylish Phil-was one
of her most devoted admirers. The idea
Of going to the war again, and for three
years, without Brainard being where
could see him every day was too dread.
full to be thought of. My feelings must
have got into my face, for Brainard
put on a ghost of a smile and said:
Don't be dismal. Jack, for now you'll
have the chance to do all the fighting
for both of u.s."
This ought to have comforted my
patriotic soul, but it didn't. | was 81
dislOyal to my new VOWS as to de.
clare that If Brainard was not allowed
to enter the Thirty eighth | wouldn't
go either. J would do all in my power
to raise men to defend the Union, but
afterward would run away. and
Brainard and l would go to some other
state and enlist together, where Char,
leys smallnpss of stature might not be
against him.
But this resolution did not cheer
Brainard any, and he felt worse an
hour later when the three of us wha
had passed the mastering officer were
looking at one another in new cavalry
uniforms, while he was in civilians
dress. He felt Still worse when we all
went back to Summcrton and took sup
per together at our house, for my cous
in May noticed him scarcely at all, but
was very agreeable to Hamilton.
The next day. by special permission
of the major, Hamilton. Cloyne and
opened n recruiting office at Summer
ton. Brainard attached himself to III
as sort of civilian aid. He said if be
wasn't to BE- q soldier and fight there
was the more reason why he should
try to persuade other men to enlist
l Immediately notified my 81 men that
the roll was ready for them to sign
Hamilton and Cloyne had previously
looked at my list and assured me that
they would not accept any of these
men without specially credltng them
to me.
But somehow none of them made
haste to sign. Some had heard that
larger bounties were being offered in
other towns or states, so they were 60
ing to look about carefully and do the
best they could for themselves; others
had themselves seen the cavalry major
and obtained promises of commissions
If they would raise men; still others
had heard that so many men were en-
listing from day to day that wages for
work at home were going to be much
better. Several had spent their final
pay from the Ninety-ninth for drink
and been picked up, enlisted and mus
tered for other regiments before they
became sober.
Well, to make long story short, not
one Of the q did l ever secure for the