The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-12

con laconically.
How in the world did you get down
here?" said ST.
Another Post-Offce row brung me tc
| Washington to see Senator LANE" an
swered the Deacon. Congressman jack
Laws been cutting up some of his old
didOes, and it was necessary to block him
At Washington the Sanitary Commission
| got hold of me, and insisted that l should
| come down here at once with lot of sup,
plies. As l can't begin blowing for a
| couple of weeks yet, l thought l might as
well put in the time where l could be OF
more service than at home. How are you
| anyway"
We've had so many corners knocked
off between Joe Johnston and the awful
North Carolina roads, that we're most
dead, but we'll manage to pull through all
right, guess
you've got to pull through" said the
Deacon resolutely. Il won't hear of any.
| thing else. l have come down here to
help you, and you just must"
We'll do our very best, Pap"
| Here, get into your saddle and star!
your mules out that way ordered the
Deacon, walking over to where the team
ster sat asleep upon piece of timber, and
shaking him awake.
''G'way from here" sullenly growled
the teamster. "Le'me alone"
you've got to cuss him, Deacon" sug
gested Shorty in faint voice. "Teamsters
won't do nothing without cussin',"
Come, wake up! and do as l tell you,
said the Deacon impatiently, giving the
man another shake. I'm in hurry"
"G'way from here, sou blamed civilian.
you've got nothing to do with met" said
the teamster, opening his eyes little
more.
al 81, 49,, n..oo,, ,.o,,.,,a ;cc. ~. 4o
cuss him." reiterated Shorty. You can't
do nothin' with teamsters nor mules with
out cussin'"
my friend" said the Deacon per-
suasively, Il want you to start your mules
over there in that direction, and have the
rest of these wagons follow you. l want
to get these poor boys where I can do
something to make them more comforta-
ble."
.'And 1 tell you," snapped the teamster
savagely, $50 off and mind your own
blasted business. G'way from here, and
le'me alone. l want to rest. I've been in
the saddle all day. Clear out, or I'll make
you. I'm not in the mind for any foolin'."
Il tell you, Deacon. You must cuss him."
reiterated Shsrtys still more earnestly.
my good friend, this is no time for any
one TO be thinking of his own selfish peace
and comfort when so many men are suf-
fering from tleifs wounds got in fighting"
said the Deaeoni, in the earnest tones in
which he usually addressed a class meet
ing. ''This is the time for serious works
of necessity and mercy"
"Oh! What are you giving me, old
whangdoodle?I Wind? G'way from me
and let me Sleep Your boys have been in
there all daysSand they're used to it. I've
been in the saddle this whole blamed day,
and I'm dead TIRED"
How l wish Tiwas able to get out there
for minute nndbaa half" groaned Shorty
I'D make one fifule-skinner's heels break
his neck QUICKER than a hound could lick
n skillet. Why don't you cuss him, Dea-
CONF"
-..Andr youi insist. my friend, in sitting in
fering so terribly" said the Deacon, sit
ting down his lantern and rolling up his
cuffs.
The teamster slipped his hand back for
his whip to get its butt-a Transfers
weapOn-tO use as bludgeon, but before
he had hardly formed his plans of defense,
the DeacOn's mighty right caught him by
the collar, yanked him upright with
force that made his teeth crash together,
ed to unjOint him, and which took all
thought OF resistance most completely out
of his mind.
Deacon Klegg had not often laid hands
on man in the course Of his life, but
when he did so, the party of the second
part had reason to remember it for ever
afterward.
"You get in that saddle there" he said
sternly to the man, "and do as / tell you
before something worse happens"
The teamster meekly complied.
by the help of Gods grace, I'm usually
able to get along without cussin'," the
Deacon remarked to Shorty, walking back
to wake up the other Transfers and set
them to following the first ones lead.
"WlO ordered these wagons out? Where
are you going with them?" demanded Sur
geon Bartholomew, waking from the doze
he could not deny himself falling into as
lie stood beside his horse. He had mounted
and ridden up.
ats cur Regimental Surgeon. Doctor
Bartholomew, Pap" called 81 from the
wagon. Hes all right"
"Dr. Bartholomew, / am glad to meet
you," said the Deacon heartily. 81 have
heard so much good of you that I seem to
know you. I'm Josiah Klegg. Think 1
met you at Chattanooga"
"Yes. l remember you very well, Dea
con. Where are you going with these
waeons?"
Il got in here day before yesterday with
Schofield's army and load of sanitary
supplies l heard of the terrible fighting
III DenIDnNllle, WHICH Tile
Corps was cut to pieces. There have been
awful stories going on about that AS
there is n heap of Injiany boys in the
Fourteenth Corps, thought that wouI1
have enough to do to look ont for them
You know that the man who provides not
for his own household, denies the faith.
and is worse than an infidel; so l found
big house at the edge of the town, took
possession of it, put my stores in it. set
some niggers at work building fires and get
ting things ready, and then started out to
meet the train as it came in. I've been
mighty lucky in finding them and you so
soon. It's all at your service. Doctor, and
| am willing ia help YOU all l can"
"My dear Deacon" answered the Sur
geon, with tears of joy in his weary,
anxious eyes. HY0u are Il Godsend. How
could this war; have been fought so well
without the coiistant. effective help of the
good people at,diome? / have been worry
ing more thannI can tell you about what
| was going to d6'with these poor men af-
ter we got them TO Goldsboro. l knew
that in time We should be able to take en-
ceIlent care of them. but all hope of saw
ing the lives of,i,piapy depended upon doing
this at once-fiot next week-but tonight
and Tomorrow How on earth was GO
ing to be ablen1 to, do this in all the riot
and confusion Of a big army rushing into
this little town,-Iias made me sick at heart
all the way here,i Every minute that l
could spare fr6mssthe supervision of the
wounded, | hasea given to turning over
plans by wlicl'I could get immediate help
You have solved a great problem for me,
and / have no doubt that many valuable