The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-06-02
ORGANIZED A CIRCUS.
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That circus would have run all Summer
if the Chaplain of the Oath. who got in on
a complimentary. had not recognized a
part of the canvas as his. 1ou see, paper
was scarce sometimes in the Cumberland
Army. Il il the Chaplain being hard up one
day, wrote his sermon on the white duck
at the side of his cot. 1t was so nice to
lie there. out of the sun, and just think
and put those thoughts on canvas in black
and white. and there was his Sunday ser
mon now, He sat out the show before he
kicked ND a rumpus. There was no get
ting around that sermon in evidence-he
got his canvas. That incident caused
other claims. and piece by piece the big
tent came down; but not until all the
money in camp had changed hands and no
one had any other currency than Sutler' :
checks and trouser buttons. Any how the
regiment had been so reduced in numbers
that it was sent 70 the mountains for
picket duty and TO recruit its numbers.
The Atlanta Campaign was on; north
west Georgia was free from the cannon's
roar for the first time in nearly year.
Then the farmers wives and daughters be-
gan TO visit the camp, bringing all sorts
of truck to sell or exchange with the sol
diers.
1t was Georgia woman who invented
barbei-wire nails. She made peach pie for
us. The peaches were dried with their
hides on. the pits being left in for ballast:
the crust made of -four. water and unginned
cotton. In the effort to keep the crust
from crawling. the wire nails came into
use. Before a soldier would buy he asked
"Is it begged or sewed:" But all did not
bring pies: some had apples. melons, sweet
potatoes, and that liver inyigorating intox-
icant-buttermilk
FEMININE VISITORS.
One day there came to camp a nice,
mnfharIV n a pIrlo
daughters. They were seated in an old
homemade linch-pin wagon drawn by two
mules. one branded u. s" ard the other
&c. s." The pair owned four good ears
and only six good legs. In the back end
of the wagon was large cask of sweet
cider. and bags of red apples made up the
load
They lived far beyond Oak Ridge. in
that mountain drcamland, the Cohuttas,
away from the beaten track of the con
tending armies. but they had seen far too
much of wars tragedies. Two sons had
been killed that Summer at Resaca and
the father the Fall before at Chicka-
manga.
permit was obtained to sell the ap-
pies and cider. and 10 buy shoes. tea cot
fee and other luxuries from the Commits
sary. There was a crowd around the
wagon; in fact. they seemed TO have a
great affection for it and Rugged il close
went away full. Yet there was no money
coming in and 10 one seemed ready to buy
apples. \ gurgle in the barrel of cider
alarmed the old lady, and she jumped of
the wagon to discover that some cute
Yankee had bored hole up through the
bottom of the wagon-box into the barrel
of cider. and the juicy sweetness was
dripping in little streams into a dozen Oh
more kettles. The barrel was almost dry
nd r,I ax
brought tears to the sad eyes of the
mother and caused the daughters to be al
most frightened ont Of their senses.
A hundred soldiers were gathered about
the wagon. when the Officer Of the Day
rode up, and between sobs the mother ex
planned TO him the cause Of her woe.
Standing slyly beside the wagon was
face told plainly who had planned the
capture Of the cider. Evidently he could
not stand the pain and trouble he had
brought TO the defenseless woman, for al
the Captains request he jumped into the
wagon and helped sell the apples AL
though so bashful that he could scarce
look the girls in the face, yet. when hs
measured out a peck of apples to a com
rade and turned TO hand the pay to one Of
the girls. her eyes, so expressive OF graf
itude. thanks and admiration, met his
and they sent a strange thrill through tn,
heart of tbe soldier, and in fact | know
that they made prisoner Of him in
single fash.
How the apples did sell! What an effor
Leaf did make to get rid Of them. He hai
struck new lead. and in less than al
hour was as completely mashed as though
Lookout Mountain hal fallen on him. Be
sides, he was a fne-looking soldier in hi
suit of blue, and / have known many 4
girl to fall in love with Uncle Sans boy.
at very short range.
Our hero did not stop when the apple.
were sold, but went to the Commissary',
with the girls and carried their purchases
70 the wagon, and fed the mules ani