The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-08-15

fort on the part of his officers to make
him fight, but against that hot blood
which sooner or later comes to most
men on the field of battle. Pardon
feared to break away from the religion
of his forefathers that had been taught
him by his gentle mother, but he did
not fear the enemy.
The regiment was kneeling behind a
stone wall waiting a charge Of the en-
envy. On came O line of brown, like
dead leaves and dust rolled forward
by a gust of wind. The captain OF
Pardon Lawrence's company stood, his
eyes darling first at this death whirl
then along the line of bis men, whose
guns were pointed horizontally, all ex-
cept one that was inclined upward 1t
was Pardon's.
"Hi, you, there-lower that musket!"
Pardon's musket sank to level, but
when the order came to fire 1t bObbed
up as IL worked by machinery The
captain saw and remembered. Thrice
the brown line was driven back before
1t failed to come again, and every time
Private Lawrence's gun, just as the
word Fire" was given, went up, the
charge going toward the sky. Not only
the captain saw, but Pardon's COM
rades, and there sprung up against him
a fierce antagonism.
'Traitorw
"A Confederate sympathizer"
"a Quakerp"
'4Quaker be hangedl That don't
count when we're fighting"
''The next time I'm behind him in a
fight I'm going to shoot him."
Pardon heard these comments, but
they did not ruffie him-indeed, a
faint flush OF satisfaction came upon
his cheek, for he was thinking of the
placid bosom Of his native Lake Cham
plain and of his little mother I'm her
prim dress when she had said to him
at his departure:
"Thee will find 1t hard, Pardon, to
do the will Of the Lord, but he will
give thee strength"
When the fighting was over the cap
tain called Private Lawrence to him
and asked him why he had fired In
the air instead of at the enemy. Par
don told him."
"Why did you enlist?" asked the
captain.
81 didn't; ! was drafted"
Corporal Of the guard" cried the
captain. st
The corporal came. and the captain
ordered him to take the refractory
private to the guard tent and keep
him there till he was called for. Then
the captain went to the colonel and
reported the singular case. An order
" was sent to direct the corporal of
the guard to bring Pardon to the colo
ners headquarters.
81 have called for you." said the
colonel with all the sternness he could
command, ito tell you that unless you
will promise me that there shall be
no more Of this failure to fight. this
flinching. this cow"
Does thee think l don't shoot be-
cause I am afraid?" cried Pardon,
flushing.
"No, not that. but The colonel
was puzzled. stake him away" he
said
Not long after this scene Mr.. Lincoln
was sitting In his Office, when 1t was
announced to him that the colonel Of a
regiment had visited Washington to
consult with the president concerning
a matter of life and death to private
soldier. Mr.. Lincoln was busy, but
gave orders that the officer should be
admitted at once. When he came In
Mr.. Lincoln began to rise from his
chair, and the colonel thought he would
never stop rising.
another leg case, colonel, sup
poser" said the president YEARLY.
Many cases Of cowardice and conse
uuent death sentences came before Mr.
Lincoln, and he always called them
leg cases. "You can't get me to shoot
man for running away in battle
wouldn't do It, A man can't help be-
ing a coward any more than he could
help hump back If he were born
with one. I have been scared myself
and know what 1t is. In any contest
or controversy arising between the
head and the heels never knew the
heels to get anything but the best o.
It."
"This is not that kind Of case al
all, Mr.. President" replied the colonel
and he explained that he had Quaker
In his regiment who wouldn't fght
and wouldn't run. y
Mr.. Lincoln was much relieved.
"Why. that's plain enough. colonel
be said. There is only one thing tt
do. Trump up some excuse and sent
him home. You can't kill boy like
that. you know. The country needs al
her brave men wherever they are
Send him home"
The colonel returned to camp. ant
the next day Pardon was ordered t.
the surgeons headquarters. There h'
was subjected to a rigid physical ex
animation. at the end Of which the off
Ger certified on a discharge blank tina
Private Pardon Lawrence was physi
cally incapacitated to do the duties of
soldier. When the papers reached thu
Itching, torturing skin eruptions
H. : II