The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-04

lor We commended with them or many
closely contested fields OF battle
We always found they could fight
when they were ready. aud the,.
were generally ready. except some.
times, like US. they oversight them
selves ana had not smoked their pipes.
OFTEN they supplied lis with guns,
ammunition. good blankets and rations
with genuine coffee. 1t was we'll they
did. for we would have suffered with
out these things. hut In our cagcrncss
we forgot to thank them for their
Kindness. and hopo 1t Is not too late
to do SO now. There were two pri-
Yates In Company ID who were often
without bread and meat, out Of doors
ana most Of the time out of clothes. but
they were never out of Tobacco or nine.
Toward the last Of the war n con
script an old men Eve boys thought
him an old man. though he was not
forty). who was fond Of his pipo. hut
seldom had any tobacco but depended
on borrowing. One cold morning as wo
were seated around the campfire
smoking he came up with his pipc
empty, lodging the shells, which
passed harmlessly over our heads. lie
asked for little bit Of "baccur' to
put In his pipe. One of those who were
never out of tobacco said: "Iiand mo
your pipe old man. and take a seat
on the stump by me and I'll MI st for
you. The FIRST thing that miscellaneous
fellow did was to put some powder in
the poor fellows pipe. then put 20
oacco on the top of that. He lit it and
nanoeo 1t back 10 him. The old man.
with many thanks. began TO smoke.
lust az the fro got to the powder a
shell burst near. Tho old man fell
over the stump and said: "Oh. my Lord,
I'm dead; I'm gone. Tell wife and chill
dren gpod-bye; I'm dead" When 40
found out what hurt him he swore
NED never smoke any moro OF that
fellows t"tobaccur." Shortly after that
we had "scrimms &c" with the Yanks.
and Just as rapid flying minie bali.
passed that conscript he lodged his
head and struck his nose with n BAN
hoo hriar. and. clasping his bleeding
nose, he turned to the friend who FUR
ntshed him with the tobacco, etc. anu
said: rs my nose gone? ?" The truthful
noy said. Yes, old man, cut off as
clean as my hand"
Then the old man cried and said,
What will my wife say when 20
home without any nose. nose noseP"
He turned to a hoy on the other side
of him and asked II his nose was really
gone sure enough. The>boy answered.
Take your hand away and let me Sec
.
scratched by a briar." The old man
was very much relieved that lie could
30 home to his wife and carry his nose
with him.
At Five Forks the same liberal bow
that furnished tho old man with The
tobacco was trying to fry little piece
OF fat meat close to the brcastworks.
when up walked the conscript with his
pipe In his mouth upside down and
his cap on hind part beforc.'. and
said: "Will you go to the doctors
with me and swear that have gone
deranged?" The accommodating hoy
said, Yes. and Ill swear that You did
not have far TO GO" The old man said
that he was natural-born fool trying
TO Joke then. The boy said :.'oid man,
VIII YOU so to the Doctors with mo
and swear that 7 am II natural-born
fool. didn't have to 20 deuanged."
Just then a shell came along in a
hurry and Knocked ali of the meat,
With the frying pan. into the fire The
hoy exclaimed, THAR. all my fat Is in
the fire" After that the old man left
In hurry, following the she'll. but he
never overlook II nor did 1t overtake
him. for ut least the old man went
home safely to his wife and children
with his noae. for the scratch had
healed.
b