The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-30

as the Lord made little apples" answered
Shorty. They can't get away from him
any more than lame mud turtle can
from hungry niger. But didn't some of
you say something about M, about
some ladies being down here!" he con-
tinued. unsuccessfully trying to repress
| any show of eagerness i'll the momentOus
question. where are they:'
30, they're asleep yet. They must be,
for they couldn't help being awful tired.
Think of their long journey, and then the
way they worked yesterday. / declare, it
| hour than the people down here would in
week. Those contrabands got some
| ideas from your mother that they'd never
dreamed of. l heard one negro woman
saying that If dat's de way Yankee wom-
ems 'gwine to wuk rs, l sartinly beleab
| I'd heap RAIDER stay wild ole Missus. y
''Taint time for nobody to be up yet
said Pete, beginning to feel the depriva-
ton of his early morning sleep. "Reveille
hain't sounded yet"
",There it goes now" remarked Sandy
| Baker, making for his cot. He was too
much of boy to think of getting up be-
| fore he was compelled to.
From distant camp amid the white
blooming magnolias a fute-toned bugle
sent floating out upon the heavily fragrant
morning air the gay lit which opens the
soldiers day:
Il can't get 'em up: 1 can't get 'em up;
l can't get 'em up in the morning.
The Corporal is worse than the private.
The Sergeant's no better than he.
The Captains worse than the Sergeant.
The Major is the worst of them all.
o, can't get 'em up;
| can't get 'em up;
l can't get 'em up in the morning"
In the next camp the fife and drum an
swered it with the boisterously vivacious
jig, which for Il century had Weakened
American soldiers, from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from Canada to Mexico.
From hundred other camps flies, drums
and bugles swiftly Joined in the swelling
chorus of martial airs, filling the sun
gilded atmosphere as full of gay. inspirit-
ing strains ut is was already of the sweet
breath of millions of fresh, bright flowers.
Tens of thousands of young soldiers
sprang from their cots at the first notes.
and added their glad cheers to the music,
the sunshine and fragrance of Spring.
They Had rested and recuperated from
their Winter of tolls and hardships.
Heaven was smiling on them and their
Cause. and they We're eager for action.
The boys hearts rose with those of their
comrades in the camps. They yearned to
be with them. to spring into line. and an
swer their names at the morning roll CALL
with spirits eager for whatever the day
might bring.
But We can't even so much as walk
yet grOaned Shorty, with glance at his
partners thin face.
"All this racket II wake Annabel and
Mother up" said 81. expectantly.
The Deacon. whose camp experience
was making him quite military, rose at
the call of reveille, and DOMINIC his
clothes FASTENED in to see how the boys
were, and was greeted with a spontaneous
vivacity that filled him with gladness.
Why, boys, you're as peart and sassy
as jay-birds, and You don't know how glad
it makes me-" he exclaimed, going from
one to the other and shaking their wasted
hands Il felt that wash that me and
Otterbein Kramer gave you would kill or
cure you, and | was mighty fearful it'd be
the first. l didn't see how you were GO
ing to lose all that we scrubbed off YOU |
and live: Seemed as if you never would
ing ! ever done. | came around about |
midnight, and took Il look at you, and |
you were sleeping like babies''
70. were feeling like two-year-olds,"
said 81, sinking back weakly on his pillow.
And hungrier than Young crows for corn
Where's Mother and Annabel?'
I've just walked them, and they're
dressing. Your mother is going into the
kitchen to fix you something to eat, but
Annabei will come right in, as soon as
she can get that canary cage in which
she walks reconciled to the rest of her
How women ever do it it beats
me. Carrying the plaguy things tied up
in bundles was as much as my life was
worth every minute, let alone wearing 'em.
But women have their own idees.'
And Maria?' Shorty asked in despera-
ton. Nobody was mentioning her. and a
chill of fear seized him that his share was
after all dream.
She'll be in. too" beamed the Deacon.
who understood and symapthized with his
prospective sOn-in-law. "She's having the
same morning rastle with her Empress
Eugene. as l think the slick counter
Jumper that sold me the hoop-skirts called
EN-. Several times caught myself wish
ng | had 'em wrapped around his blessed
,eck, and where could fling the whole