The National tribune., 1902-02-13
The Deacon Takes in the Sights Around Sa
vannah-orders to Move.

GOT about as nuCn neeu lOF SdthidIy sup
plies as a frog has for an umbrella. If
the men keep on filling out as they have
since they got into Savannah they'll need
. anti-fat medicine pretty soon. l suppose
you didn't think to bring any of that
along. l never did see men bloom out as
they have since they got across those
swamps, and at these oysters and fish.
Why, you couldn't hire one of them to
eat any of that condensed milk or des-
icatcd vegetables that you've brought
along. Why should they?"
That's so,' agreed the Deacon, with
the memory OF his dinner before him.
"A man that'd turn away from that
planked Shad and oysters for canned stuff
would be bigger fool than Il colt who d
leave Il clOver pasture for straw stack.
Precisely said the Sanitary Agent.
The best thing we can do with our stuff
is to keep it for a day of need. That
won't be long coming. | tell you. Shcr-
mans getting mighty tired of idleneSs,
and so are his men. \ little bit of loafing
goes a long way with nim. They're get
ting quite reStive. Shcrman's got his eye
on South Carolina, and so have his men.
They want to deal out to tho cradle Of
Secession good deal stiGfcr dose than
they did to Georgia, and they'll do it..
gia. while they're brimming over with 1t
against South Carolina. But they won t
have such Il picnic as they had i'll Geor-
gia.'
Why, do you think that the South Car
olinians are so much better fighters than
| the GcOrciansI"
Not a bit of it. On the contrary, quite
the reverse The war has lasted three
years and over now, and we have heard
of almost everybody doing lots of things
except South Carolinians. They seem to
have thought they did all that could be
expected of them when they fired on Fort
SUMTER
That's So | remember that | haven't
heard of a South Carolina General or a
South Carolina regiment since Maj. An
dersOn hauled down his flag They're like
my fee Penny, who begins barking when
a team crosses the criek below the house,
and by the time it's got opposite. and the
/ dogs have their mad up, skips back
through the palings and let's old Tower
settle with them"
.'The trouble is not going to he with
South Caroiinians 50 much as with South
| Carolina. The State is labyrinth of
Swamps and mOrasses. the rainy season is
/ coming on, and II will be very different
/ from the delightful marching through
| Georgia in fine Fall weather. Then, again.
we are good deal nearer Richmond than
when we started from Atlanta. JET
! Davis will have to do something to keep
lis from coming in through the back door
while Grant is pounding away at the front
one He is liable, any day, when he
! thinks Sherman is tangled mp in the
swamps. TO drop Richmond and even Nir-
gina, and rush his whole army down to
smash Sherman. He tried to do some
thing like that rat Chickamauga. and it
came rerilously near succeeding"
.To,-l .,,,I tff .
been on our side so far, and as were do
ing His work | believe He'll continue to
be. I'll trust Him"
That's all right. God helps them who
help themselves, -.-rt old Billy Sherman
and his men are most amazing helpers of
themselves. They are certain that he can
do anything, and he's just as. sure that
they can do anything. That's the kind
of men that God likes All the same.
harder nut to crack than Georgia was,
and that is what we've got to look ont for.
haven't any idea where Sherman is 20
ing, hut if my family was in Charleston
I'd move. But he's likely TO come TO the
coast. sooner or later, and lots Of his men
will he in very bad shane. when he gets
there, whether he is driven back or comes
of his own accord. Our best plan is TO
take that shin you came down in. and PVT
IN IT the supplies | have. and coast along
South Carolina. and wait for events. As
have other duties, | think shall turn
the whole matter over to you, and let yOu
take charge Of the vessel. and follow M
the movements of the army."
what, / 90 along with that shinF
gaSDed fhe Deacon. Il 90 around that
coast again? have another week Of 50
sick that I want to die in the morning
and he dead sorry in the evening that
hadn't? No, sir. All the thinking I've
hpcn able to do since I've come ashore
has been as To some way to get hack
home overland. I'd rather ride horseback
q thousand miles than go back bv sea.
No. sir You don't catch me again on
Hnvthng that floats. if | can helm il,
That's plain United States. straight from
The Wabash I'm BautiSt and like
cold water well enough for almost every
PURPOSE except. for n foundation for the
rlace where you live and take your
meaIs''
'WeI. you can't helD It. There are
t.coO miles Of rebels between here and
Indiana, any way you go, eXccpt by sea.
and if Won started out from here bv land
Won couldn't get 10 miles before vOu'd he
killed or picked up ana sent to Anderson
Vile"
well. I can't hang around down here
very long. And ] certainly can't spend
any time waiting for Sherman. I've got
Snring. Then I've got some hogs and n
few steers that are about ready for mar
ket now. They weren't quite up tn the
mark when sold the rest, so / held them
over awhile"
''You might go out TO the camp. and
stay with yomr son Il few days az 1 think
about it. III know where you are, and
can communicate with you if anything
turns up."
ST and Shorty We're impatiently wait
ing this decision. They had come in with |
the rest Of the squad on their horses. with |
one for the Deacon. and proposcd to talc |
him on a ride about the city. to show |
him its wonderful sights. The horses had
Jared ms well as their riders. and were ,
fat. sleckly groomed and full of life.
It is doubtful which got the most en-
ioyment out Of the ride, the Deacon. who |
was every moment forced to cXnressi0nS |
of establishment at what greeted his eyes |
in the wonderful. strange picturesque old
scmi-tronical city. or the boys, who felt |
sort of prOprietorship in all that they /
were able to show him.
There is always a funny little feeling |
Of ownership in anyone playing the guide |
or Snowman, as if he had in some wav |
made, prepared or possessed the land |
Scape, the sunset. or the town that he is |
showing, and the boys could not help |
strong idea that Savannah. even to its |
bright sunshine aud soft. fragrance-laden |