The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-03-14
Al, AROUND THE CAMP FIRE.


enclosed. 1t was written by one
Thomas Place. Where he came from
or what end he made of himself 1 do
not know, but he must have been all
right to have written anything SO good
as this. HENRY w. BURRILL.
Hartford, Conn.,, March 4, 1907.
AROUND THE CAMPFIRE.
Comrades look backward through the days
that are past;
Brush aside the mists by memories DER
cast,
And lifting the curtain higher and higher
Surround again tonight the old campfire.
Bring your armful of rails, You know how
they burn,
As you sit BY the fire let each take his
turn,
And some way or other bring up to our
The scenes of our campfire to cheer us
tonight.
You remember our friends on picket or
raid,
Those southern pine rails-and how soon
with their aid
We started the blaze which, when burning,
would light
Those gloomy pine woods on the dark
winters night;
And gathering round in the heat AID the
smoke,
While warming our shins we would crack
our jokes,
On the farmers hard work in splitting the
wood
To MAKE the Yankees fire for cooking
their food.
And many's the time on picket or scout,
With feet to the fire and head pointing
out,
You slept the sweet sleep of a tired-out
To wake up with jump unable to stand !;
The soles of your boots being next to red
hot,
And the words that you said then hope
you've forgot
Or coming in from post, find no bed left
for you;
With hands almost frozen and nose that
was blue;
The fire from distance you could only
feel,
Or smell the roasting of darkey's heel.
You make up your mind that there's room
for you, too,
And you start for the fence, knowing well
what to do;
a large armful of rails will make it too hot,
And roast the boys out and give you
spot.
And with smile you wait for the fire to
burn,
Watching the sleepers as they draw up
and turn,
Till the circle is widened, there's room
enough now;
You retire in your clothes-have you for
That bed by the campfire on the cold
Was then as restful as though made of
down.
With overcoat, boots and rubber blanket
Rifle and sabre, and cape over your head,
You could sleep and dleam-almost beyond
belief,
Till with kick and call-"Turn out
third relief!'
With stretch and a yawn-"You don't
"Pm on first relief, and on post number
three"
Then over you roll and get nearer the heat,
Wishing the sergeant knew you by your
feet.
Or sitting round the fire what yarns you
would spin,
With, ooh, that's played out" Or, ''that's
too thin;'
As you told of the days when home on the
farm,
Of the jokes on the girls when you meant
no harm.
how quickly the hours of dark, stormy
night,
By the side of The campfire would take
their flight,
Laughing and joking of the days of your
youth,
And for better effect, never stretching
the truth.
There's another scene-one you cannot for
Around the campfire in sunshine, snow,
or wet,
We hungry and tired would seek for
And while the glow of the fire lit up each
face,
Would watch with eager eyes the water
boil,
Not fearing the smoke would our COM
plexion spoil.
Twas making the coffee, and well it was
made,
Without any cook, Or coffee pots aid.
Such coffee! It's odOr in memory smell,
And of its flavor there's no word can tell,
For Uncle Sam knew what was best for his
When camping on the field away from
home joys
You remember the cups and likewise the
pail,
A suffers peach can with wire for a bail.
But the coffee within like amber so clear,
With sugar, no milk, you drank without
fear.
Methinks l now see with smoke covered
thick,
The coffee pail hanging OH the end of
stick,
Or sitting on rail the cups in row,
All fire stained and burned as black as a
crow.
Then, just as the coffee was almost done,
Some clumsy fellow you know, just for
fun,
Would step on the end of the rail and spill
it,
With no more water in the canteen to fill
it.
Then your temper was lost as well as the
drink;
OF the words then uttered, I'd rather not
think.
1t was indeed trying for mortal to bear,
Yes, almost enough to make saint swear.
1t showed the old saying-"of many Slip"
Far better than word, 'twixt the cup and
the lip"
The pail was the safest if you'd patience to
wait
AS you guided the stick like fishing with
bait
Over the hottest places, and soon it did
cook,
Then dash of cold water, and then the
pail shook