The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-09
oUELLING A MUNITY.

| Mrs. Klegg, in her quiet, placid fashion.
| Believe I'll go in, too, and lay down a
| little while, though l hate to miss seeing
all these wonders of the mighty deep, as
| the hymn says"
"Let me help you, Mother" said Maria,
| the unsteady deck. Il wish this boat
wouldn't see-saw morn dozen wars at
once. l really believe that's what's max
| ing the things | ct taste bad"
Come out of here, you toad-stool from
a Baltimore dive" commanded Serg't
Downing. catching the Boatswain by the
hair. and giving him persuasion with the
butt of his musket. Come out here, and
get to work. ,
"Stop beltn' me-" begged the Boats
vain. 81 hain't bin ADDING nothin'.
tried to stop 'em, but they would go
ahead"
.'Gi' i'm another, sojer, for that, the
bloody little liar" growled one of his ac-
completes. "Hit was i'm that set up the
ole job, hand rung the rest hof hus hin.
Els an old blockade-runner, hand 'ad just
come through the Yankee lines. ED fixed
hit hup with the rebs hon shore there,
hand got the Mates hand the rest hof hus
to jine. e promised hus 10 times has
much as we could make hin q blockade
runnin' trip. Gi' hit to him.
| Small choice in rotten apples" ad-
| judged the Sergeant. shake you off.
scourings and lot of pirates up in a bag.
and there's no telling which'd come out
first. The devil'll boil all of you in the
! same pot. Git to work in a hurry, every
mothers son of you, and see that you jump
| to obey orders. or you'll get large-sized
bayonet-holes in you, without any chin
| ming. Get, tell you"
The rest of the trip was made with the
most exemplary order and discipline.
hr,<r Al. f1vI
upon the vessel speeding through the calm
waters of Pamlico Sound, and presently
| awoke three women who had been having
| a very sick time of it, until the vessel,
| after wrenching struggle with the con-
| flicting currents of the inlet, ran into the
| land-locked sea, and sleep came to their
| tired souls.
Pale as to face, and feeling overpower-
| ingly fabby as to mind, body and estate,
getting out on deck for welcome breath
of the bright fresh air of Spring.
"My, but that coffee smells NICE" muir
INJURED Mrs. Klegg. as the fumes arose
| from the galley, where breakfast was pre-
pairing. Il thought last night I'd never
| want to eat another thing g longs l
| lived, and my worst enemy couldn't be
meaner than to mention yictuals to me"
Good morning, ladies. l hope you
passed the night comfortably" said Capt.
Ellison, who had been on the lookout for
them.
1T was the only time in my life when
| No. 6 didn't seem to do no good" sighed
Mrs. Klegg. "Only appeared to make
! things worse"
"If you call comfort thinking every min
ute you were going to meet your Creator
with a camphor bottle in your hand, we
had it," remarked Maria, grimly.
"MariaI' calculated the shocked Mrs.
Klegg.
ITS so, and I don't care" repeated the
| obdurate young lady. "There are many
| ways of going to heaven, but / always said
l don't want to go smelling of camphor.
| How far is it to Washington? I'd rather
| walk back, if it isn't more'n a thousand
miles,"
Lets go down to breakfast" said
Captain Ellison. 81 think you'll find Capt.
McTwigg much more sociable than he
was yesterday. well probably reach
Goldsboro about noon"
The dull booming of heavy guns came
| floating down the river, as they sat at
table.
"a battle?" gasped the women, stop
ping their meal to listen.
Sounds more like firing salute"
answered Capt. Ellison, after listening a
little while. ''Too slow and regular for
battle. Probably some good news. I'll
go on deck and see if can find out any
thing"
"As I supposed" he said. when he
came back. "All the vessels in sight are
running up their flags, and their crews are
cheering. They say that the news has
come that Richmond was taken this morn
ing"
Lets thank God for His goodness to
this suffering land" said Mrs. Klegg, re-
yerently. at has come at last what we've
been praying for all these years."
ITO be cnntinuedl