The National tribune., 1903-06-11

Wedding-PresSnts Begin to Come m.
The Aid did not overstate the deep in
terest felt throughout the entire camI,
over the coming wedding.
Despite the earnest protests Of Gen.
McGillicuddy To- be allowed to 90 forward
with the advance against Johnston, the
General in command decided that the bri-
gade had endured such hardShips in the
march through tie CaroHnas. and had
suffered so severely at Rentonvi.le, that i
was urgent in ,eyery way that II should
be allowed to remain in reserve at COOS
boro while other troops whose service
had not been so hard nor 50 recent. should
take the front. Therefore. the 20Oth Ind,
| the 1st Oshkosh, the Maumee Muskrats,
and the Kankakee Prairsc Hens were sent
| into pleasant camps under the fiowerlng
magnolias on the banks Of the Neuse Riv-
er, with orders to make themselves as
| comfortable as possible and get in readi-
4 ness for any emergency and the time
when their services might be needed.
1t was a delicious experience for the
war-worn boys. who speedily made their
| camps rs attractive as picnic grounds,
| with scrupulously clean streets, on eithef
side of which were the companies shelter
tents, generally shaded from the sun by
Of fires, except for cooking, and each tent
had a plank floor, a most agreeable
change from the mud on which the boys
had slept during the Winter. The OH.
GERS tents We're even more luxurious. ana
the parade ground was hard, smooth and
| clean enough to satisfy the most exacting
Of Inspectors. There was just enough
every man thoroughly awake and ready for
duty, and the rest of the time was spent
| in luxurious resting.
For while it seemed like heaven, Sust
having sunshine all day. and to be free
from the necessity of wading through mud,
pulling cut mired trains, and building
corduroy roads. 1t was delicious not to
cold, pe.ting. bOne-penetrating showers.
For some days the boys worked with n
will, making their camp thing OF
beauty and n Joy forever, and there was
no end to the labor and ingenuity they
expended in having their surroundings as
perfect as hands could make them, and
the admiration and envy of the other regi
ments. But after they had done all they
could think of, and had soaked into their
systems what seemed whole words of
rest, the novelty of the situation began to
wear off, and the long Spring days spent
\ in lying around even such tents as theirs
grew monOtOnOus.
The wedding came rs a most agreeable
| sensation to relieve the sameness of the
! eVery-u1y livery uldu III thS
gade knew and admired Shorty, even
though quite number Of them had come
out second best in various little encounters
| they had had during their three years
service with him. SOld.er-like, they were
very proud Of him and all that he did, and
disposed to extol him at the expense Of
other brisades not fortunate enough to
possess such an ornament. Each man
became Mt once anxious to contribute to
the gaiety Of the occasion and show his
good will toward the big red-headed Serg-
cant, who was feading in the way they
desired to go in marrying the girls they
| left behind them.
In the long marches every member OF
the regiment had acquired nick-nacks of
one kind and another, and these stores
were now remarkably drawn upon. 1t was
astonishing what homogeneous things had
charmed some. A big hulking woodchopper,
who swore like whole colony Of pirates,
had carefully wound mp in his only linen
handkerchief a beautiful ivory lidded
! Bible, such as girl would carry at her
first communion. Another had sandal
wood fan. Many had fine pieces Of jew
elry, watches, chains, rings and brooches;
while the smaller articles of wearing ap-
parel, such as silk hose, ribbons, gloves,
! soft. fine silks and iaces were numerous.
The Union soldiers were not loo.efs nor
thieves, but in the marches whole towns
were sometimes evacuated and the houses
fired. The boys often put out these fires
and carried of the little things left lying
around. Then 1t frequently happened
that people started 10 flee, carrying their
household goods, and, finding them a bur
den, threw them away. Very naturally,
if there was anything in these leavings
that the boys could carry off with them
on the march, they did so.
Pete and Sandy had had their two heads
together for some time, eagerly discussing
some project. Pete held no grudge
against the Deacon; and in their cub fash,
ion the two youngsters worshiped the
ground Maria walked on.
"You reckon she'll take itW asked
Sandy fearsOmely as he turned a small
package over in his hand. '1t's mighty
iittle," he added, "an' she might think ii
amt worth nothing"
Mss Maria hsia w"1a condanis taks it a: sh right
brick, and besides that. she knows we
amt got no place to buy nothing else,
even il we have got money" slapping his
pockets with a magnate's air.
"Well, shall we try hcrY' asked Sandy.
81 guess wen have to strike her ma
first" replied Pete slowly.
well, go on, then" and Sandy thrust
the package into Pete's hand; "I'll foller.'
"Say, Mis- Klegg," said Pete bashfully
to that matron, who was sitting busily en-
gagged in the problem of some mystery of
white linen. His difiidence was something
quite unusual. After the first two weeks
Of his service Pete was no exception to
boys of his age in the army, who speedily
grew impudent and saucy in direct reverse
proportion to their size. A boy of 10 who
did not know more than the whole War
Department, or hes:tated to yell at Brig
ader-G General, was phenomenon, and
Pete was no phenomenon.
"What is it, Peter?" asked Mrs. Klegg
kindly, looking over her glasses at the boy
for the bashful phase Of his character had
not been presented to her lately.
mis- Klegg," said Pete hesitatingly,
"ain't it the way for folks to give presents
to other folks when they are marriedT'
"Yes, Peter" answered Mrs. Klegg,
encouragingly. "Up home all the neigh.
bors usually send in something to the
young couple to help them start in life.
1t is a very pretty custom when it is not
carried too far, and folks don't give what
they can't afford to-"
THAT'S what me and Sandy, thought" 7"
returned Pete. "You know, we think n
great deal of Serg't Elliott, and we've
been talking it over and studying about
what we would give him when he got
married" -
"Nonsense, Peter" said Mrs. Klegg de-
cidedly. Nothing of that kind is expected
from little boys such as you are"
Il s.yU- o:,,X I;&tl. horc .o:a d.. Al,