Middletown transcript., 1910-05-28

INK SUIuL0ESO Va ShO OesOeAS
tigued, and glad to drop down al
most anywhere to rest. Those
who had been on the reserve
were caring for the dead and
wounded, and in the hospital
tent were those who wore the
blue and those who wore the
gray, groaning with the wounds
received in battle, and being
treated by the Union physicians.
Near the hospital abouta a dozen
Union men were sitting up on the
ground, around . fire OF sticks
and limbs, trying to"cook coffee. "
On the right and on the left, IN
front of them and in the rear,
could be seen the dead bodies,
dressed in the uniform of the
foe.
They were just taking the COT
fee from the fire when a soldier
came up, and discovering that
the dozen men were of his com.
pany, said:
How is it, boys; are you dry ?
{ Trying to cook our coffee, Ned,
said one of the soldiers, but l
guess it will be Virginia mud and
water mixed together.
I've got something good, said
the first speaker, producing his
canteen, which had hung across
his shoulders.
What is it ? asked one.
Whisky, replied Ned.
You're q trump; that's jolly
that is just the stuff; ;that'll revive
us; and other expressions OF
satisfaction and pleasure were
made by the men.
Here, sergeant, said Ned, reach
ing the canteen toward . tall,
noble.looking fellow who had
been silent, throw aside your
temperance principal for once
and take q drink.
Not any, Ned, thanks, replied
the one addressed as sergeant.
Come, now you have fought
like a tiger all day. You do not
know but what you might have
to rally in five minutes.
True Ned, but excuse me.
Nc drop?
Say, sergeant, said Ned,if it is
agreeable to the boys, we shall
adjourn the drink for five min
utes and you tell us how you
came to be such an advocate of
tenn aa1ce.
I second the motion, said an.
other soldier.
And so do i!
And /, too!
Well, boys, said the sergeant,
] win tell you. tits short story,
and therefore soon told. When l
was nineteen ! hand to leave
school owing to the death of my
father: / came home to help my
mother, who needed me. My
father had been a prosperous
farmer, he had that frugality and
sturdy industry characteristic of
the Vermont farm ers. My
mother I always considered the
most handsome woman on earth,
at least she appeared so to me,
and as q mother, there never was
one better.
After my father had been dead
about 8 year, somehow I acquired
. passion for hunting, fishing,
and especially cooning. There
was nothing that delighted me
so much as it did to take my dog
and go out with some of the |
neighboring boys and bring home
. number Of coons. One night,
three or four Of our neighbors
came to our house after me.
They thought they had found a
new place. corn field-where
there was plenty of game. II
needed no urging. | kissed my
mother good-by, told her that
would not be late, called my dog,
and away we went.
] drank some whisky, and on
my return reeled and staggered
around the yard a little in q vain
attempt to find the steps to the
house. I stumbled over some
thing, fell down, and was unable
to get up. After a little / went
TO sleep regular drunken sleep.
1t seems that in the night some
time my mother became eanxious,
because I did not come hcme.
She had not been 70 bed, had
fallen into q slumber upon the
couch. She awoke, as said be.
fore, sometime in the night, and
fearing that harm had befallen
me, arose from the couch, put
her shawl over her head and
started out to find me. And she
found me in q condition most de.