The National tribune., 1903-06-18

jump-ups more'n you can help. We want
'em to look as bright and fresh as pos
sible. Some of you start out and gather
all the flowers and posies you can. Wen
make this the front end of the church,
and put up big arch of flowers. Then
we'll fix up right about where that big
log lays for the oSher end of the church.
Sam Plopper, you go down to headGuar-
ters, and see if you can't get hold Of
big garrison flag to hang up back there.
Get all the flags you can. Pitch in, live
ly, boys, for we've power Of work to
do. but we'll make this place an aston
isher to the ress of the brigade. The
heel on anything that it undertook, and
it's too late to begin now. I've got to
go to guard mount now, but I'll be back
as soon as it's over" =,
81 object to the whole business"
shouted Sim Dickinsheets. ''Nobodys got
license from the General Conference to
start church, and it's all out Of order
"Come, Sim," said the Orderly-Ser-
geant, coming up. "What are you doing
here? l thought you were dead anxious
to go to sick call. Didn't you hear sick
call blow just now?"
20, bother sick CALL" answered Sim,
pulling off his coat. I'm going to help
the boys here"
those who had been marched up to the
hospital tent suddenly decided that they
had more interest in what Co. Q was do
ing than the Surgeons prescriptions, and
bolted away, one Of them jerking away
while the doctor was still locking at his
tongue and feeling his pulse.
The whole regiment was soon on the
ground, and later all of the brigade, who
were not on guard or in the guard-house.
Everybody was eager to do something,
and every one had some good suggestion
as to beautifying the place and making it
look more churchlike. The only available
Chaplain was the young Episcopalian
Kankakees. The Deacon and Mrs. Klegg
had WINGED at this, but Maria's sadden-
ing face, as they proceeded with their
anxious discussion, oyercame the Deacon,
and he decided:
"Well, Mother, I never did expect to
have anything to do with the Episcopal
ians. They're entirely too near the Pope
of Rome for me to have the slightest
liking for them, but if Abraham Lincoln
thinks this man is a good enough Chris
tian to send down to preach to and bap-
tie and bury our soldiers, he ought to be
good enough to marry our daughter. l
don't see, though, what's become of all
the Baptists who started out as Chap
"The Baptist Herald had list of them
that d been killed while trying to take
care of the wounded. Father. and lots
more who'd died in hospital. 1 guess
they've all been doing their duty quite as
well as other people," said Mrs. Klegg,
rushing to the defense Of her Church.
'If 4! thought they hadn't I'd take away
at once. Gen. McGillicuddy said that
under his commission he had authority
to perform the marriage ceremony, and
that if We wanted him he'd be only too
glad"
mo" decided Mrs. Klegg, Maria and
Annabel in the same instant. "Thatd be
of the peace. It'd be legal but not re-
spectacle"
ats settled, then, that we take the
Episcopalian preacher, with his robes, and
his book, and his risin' and falling said
the Deacon, ather ruefully. ''Well. this
is wartime, and we've got to stand lots
Of things that don't suit US. I guess I'll
go and help the boys fix up"
81 and Shorty had now gotten well
enough to leave their beds at times, and
totter about a few steps. with the assis-
tance Of canes, or the strong arms of
Maria and Annabel. In the middle of the
day the girls helped them outside, where
in the big hickory rocking chairs, looked
over the active scenes In town and the
camps. and felt themselves once more
part Of the great world and the army.
These were moments of rarest happi-
ness to both the boys. 1t seemed as if
they had never before seen or appreciated
the beauty and worth of the priceless
treasures which Fate had bestowed upon
them.
"You'rs an awful sight purifier than
you used to be Annabel, aint your 81
asked, after a quarter of an hours close
and speechless study Of the sweet girl
by his side.
"Why, law no, ST." answered the blush
ing girl. II amt nearly so pretty as I
used to be. OF course not. I'm an old
married woman. now. Getting awfully