Year: 1879




The main idea of this little story suggested by
ne s Called Pae IN Of
is the suggestion only, however, that is due to ihe
verses the tale, as it is here told Is the writer's
own.I


We were a party of artillerymen, rough,
Western m,n for the most part. Although
Ransom, our sergeant, was fine featured,
delicate handed fellow. not overbearing nor
proud, since he had always pleasant word
or kindly smile for most Of us, and yet,
with a certain distinction of bearing, which
made one wonder how he had come to be a
simple sergeant. I, at least, knew him to be a
gentleman, for although it is Il tale too long
to be told now why [ had left home and
friends and refined surroundings for the rude
life of private soldier in time of wa, I
could very we'll see that Ramson's past had
had been no less refined than my own; and
during the campaign Of 1864 we had been as
signed to the same post of duty, and frater-
nized at once, most naturally. l shared his
tent throua hout that busy summer, but
although he proved to be the most agreeable
Of companions he rarely spoke of his past
life, and when he did a cloud of such painful
remem brance seemed to pass across his fair,
handsome features that l soon learned to
avoid all allusion to it, and only enjoyed the
good fortune which had thrown this pleasant
deboDair comrade across my path.


For Ransom was the life OF our camp. He
had rich baratone voice, which had evident
ly been carefully cultivated, a wonderful
memory which retained with the most vivid
distlncness every occurrence, and powers Of
narration of the highest order, so that he was
eagerly welcomed at every camp-ire-eOr the
times when soldier is not on active duty are
very sure to be tedious. Neither Ramson nor
myself set up for saints among our wild
western confreres, and yet there were times
when their lawless ways shocked us both,
and this fact, probably, made our sergeant
even more willing to turn the thoughts OF the
rollicking boys to more innocent amusements
than even draw-poker and such like evil de-
vises. Even the charm Of draw poker would
often yield to Ramson's powers of entertain
ment. and first one and then another of the
great bearded gamblers would throw down
the cards and steal across to the little knot OF
listeners which were sure to be grouped
around the sergeant whenever the tinkling
of the guitar, which he carried everywhere
with him, was heard ic the stiffness of the
summer evenings.


We had chosen a very romantic spot for the
camp. We were part of the advance guard o
the army, and very well knew that across the
wooden hill to the right the enemy's outposts
were stationed, only stones throw, as il
were, from our own. Indeed, the pickets
often came in sight Of one another beyond the
rocky mountain stream which dashed arount
the foot of the hill, while the drums could be
distinctly heard when the wind blew from tht
west, where against the horizon the SOutt
Mountain rose, blue and misty in the summe
distance. It was a beautiful valley, smiling
and peaceful, when we first saw it, but
month of constant fighting had left its MARI
even upon the calm face of nature, for scarce
day had passed without q skirmish of SOM
sort, and one or two desperate battles hat
been fought.


It was only an evening or two after one Q
these skirmishes that we were grouped a
usual around the sergeant and his guitar
Somebody had brought some good tobacc
into the camp, and it was circulating freel
among the men. Every one OF us were sTob
ing as we listened to the sergeant, and th
pleasant evening "ind blew great whitfs {
smoke up the hillside, where it hung in littl
clouds among the bushes The tobacco itse
was sufficient to put us all in good hume
even had We not come out best in the fgh
and as we sat in the moonlight beside tt
stream, some one called out to Ransom Ito sin
avid, daredevil kind of song that was
great favorlte with some of the men.


There was no harm in the song, only a ha]
py-go-lucky species of composition, a hittr
off with considerable humOr the life of a SO
der in camp, and Ransom had scarcely U
tered the last words of the first verse befo
every man of US wass tartledby the reverber
ton of childish laugh, which came fro
some point in the tnickly wooded hillside clio
BY,


The moon was pouring her clear viii
light over the hill and upon the foamil
thread of water which dashed around it's bas





way over the great rocks which lay in t
water, tiny barefooted child, a little gi
who came quite confidently toward us aero
the stream.


She was such tiny tot of thing and s
looked so weird and eric standing there
the moonlight, with a little grey cap on b
head, beneath which a thick mass of CLOS
plack curls hung wildly over a pair of gre
bright eyes, that we all stopped smoking a
stared at her in unfeigned astonishment
4
and this little creature came across the strea
and up the steep bank toward us without
shadow OF fear or embarrassment upon
pretty gypsy face. She stopped when she h
climbed the bank, put ner bare feet togeth
straighted her baby figure, and lifted b


It happened that Twas nearest the ch
and held out my hand to her coaxngly.


"Who are you, little maid?' asked.


I'm Nina" she answered, unhesitating g
"and my boys call me the pride of the B
terry That's because belong to 'em, Y
know, and ride the guns"


''Ride the guns.' I calculated; "a lit
mite like YOU? And does your mother
you do thatss''


y "I'se got no mouver," she said, shaking |
Captain Ned took me for the betty's chi
He adopted me you know"


''Adopted you?"


eyes" she answered proudly, and then
threw around upon US all a quick, bris
glance, which would have been bold had
its audacity been tempered by such an


Quisitely truthful innocence.


"They don't know I came," she went


with a continuation of the gay child
laugh we had heard on the hillside 'sI or
out underneath the tent after Captain !
had put nae to bed. wasn't afraid to col
cause knew you were soldiers and sole
wouldn't hurt little thing like me. 4
good Mister Yankee men want some of Y


bacca!'


'sYou want some of our 'bacca, do y
Ii; Alo