Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-03-25
HOMESlCK.
A Malady from Which a Majority Of
the Soldiers of tie Civil
War Suffered.

pluSu, sBdu were ahecleu WIFI Ihls
malady. if it may be called one, that
has never yielded to science or medi-
cine.
The man is an exception that has
had an army experience and has failed
to pass through this ordeal; yet there
were such men-men who, it seemed,
never looked on the dark side of a pic
ture, but had the power to dispel
gloom and despair from the minds OF
men under the most adverse circum-
stances. And it was these men that
did as much to sustain the armies as
did all the medicine administered.
But though it generally dwarfed
mems ambition and energy, time rare
ly failed to give relief.
But there were extreme cases. We
have in mind a young man who was
well connected at home, and when he
entered as a private many of his
friends were open to predict that he
would soon be wearing an officers uni
form. but was a victim of homesick-
ness from almost the first day he en-
tered the army
He was brave. and never shirked at
duty, till his disability made it neces-
sary to send him to the hospital There
was no disease of any part of the sys-
tenn, yet longing TO be at home con-
stantly preyed upon his mind. and he
died from. the doctors said, homesick-
ness.
Another instance: poor young
fellow. who had never been accustomed
to hardships. continually pinned for
home, never engaged in any amuse-
ment, and avoided conversation. Aft
er a hard days march. with a heavy
heart and seeming not to care whether
he lived till morning. he refused his
supper. and as soon as the camp fires
were started he wrapped himself in
his blanket to pass the night as only
can men who conclude that the whole
world is against them
But there were livelier spirits
around that camp fire.
The conversation had turned on dogs
where a grizzly bearded soldier from
one OF the mountain districts OF Geor-
gia. who was lying sprawled on the
ground. raised himself upon his elbow
and said:
We'll. boys speaking of dogs. had
two er the finest bull pups yer ever
lain yer eyes on
Sucked eggs. guess" pretty
good on all the meat and bread they
could get. | reckon" were specimens
of the remarks brought about by the
declaration.
No. it's Their grit they had that I'm
talking erbout. Yer see, it wuz er
nifty col mite. an them two dogs got
ter a'tin'. II wuz Jest. too COZ fer or
feller 10 Eit up. so list law thar an
listen to them fit in the piazza. an
roun' the house. an under the house.
an thin out in the yard and down by
Their crib. but after awhile they got
way off. an as | knode wuz losin'
er lot er good sleep er listening at
them dogs. I iist pulled the kiver down
close an went to sleep.
But way mos day | woke up ergin.
an hearin' something out in the yard
er goin' lump. tump!' but 1 never
thought what it wuz till got up an
went out doors.
What do you reckon | foun'? II
wuz them thar dogs that had eat each
other hoddaciously up 'ceptin' erbout
er foot er each ones tail. that we're
er snappin' as hard as they could"
Then n lazy-looking youth. who
seemingly never saw any trouble in
his life. remarked:
THAT reminds me err the time me
an pap had er dog once.
81 wanted to make er coon-dog ont
hrIt hn1 I,ot
make er catch-dog out en- him. Well
| knew it would be er hard job to
make er catch-dog outer him. but
give in, an let the old man have his
way
Pap didn't jist want him to catch
hogs, but he wanted him to catch
cows, too.
THE old man he knew jist how tc
learn him that, as he had learnt a
hundred in his time
He told me to hold that pup an
he would go a-trotting off on his all.
fours, like er calf. and when he got
erbout er hundred yards off for me to
turn him loose and sick him on.
and that is jist what did: an as
dad got over ground very slow. that
pup was soon swinging him by the
year Then came some fun.
Dad said: Take him off. I saw
But | said: 'Whoopee! hold to him.
old fell
But dad yelled out ergin: Take
him off; he's er tearing my year Off.
Swing to him, Tige! | said.
Dad jest kept hollerin: %. Lordyl
o, Lordy! and jist kept sticking him
on, and that pup jist kept holding on.
Finally. ! told dad to stick him out,
that 1 knew it was hurting nifty bad
but that it would be the making of the
dog.
Dad couldn't stand insult an in.
jury, both, so he slung that dog loose
with a mouthful of year, an this chap
had to clean up"
After lying wrapped in his blanket
listening to these and similar stories
our homeSick friend was revived roea