fess her true sex and the circumstances upon, thus the Doctor rejoined, while a of her being in the ranks. She had en- smile faintly illumined the face of the listed in the town of Danville, Montour Board: "I am happy to assure you, my county, Pennsylvania, under the name of honest-hearted friend, that the GovernJohn Evans, and gave as her reason for ment is prepared at once to relieve your such a romantic and hazardous undertak- mother of so unsuitable a burden, and asing, the fact that her father was uncom- sume your entire charge and expenses promising in his hostility to her marriage during the next three years, without the slightest recourse to the maternal fount for support or succor." The young draftee appeared a little bewildered, and, referring to the papers to ascertain what was the matter, found that the humanitarian clause in the Enrolment Act was not precisely in his favor, though he had thought it to be. He had innocently got the point twisted round just contrary to its word and intent, and found, greatly to his'satisfaction,' that he was just the kind of young buck to do his country a favor.

No Fancy for Salt Pork, Hard Tack, and
Minie Bullets.

Katie Maxwell, with as loyal a spirit in her bosom as ever an American maiden owned, sat knitting alone in the parlor with Mr. Owens, threatening violence in one evening; she heard the bell ring, and case she disobeyed his commands; where- knew by the sound whose hand had pulled upon, after having been secretly married, the wire. Her fingers grew unsteady, and she donned the United States uniform, en- she began to drop stitches. So she let the listed in the same company with her hus- stocking upon which she was at work fall band, endured all the hardships of the into her lap. She sat very still now, her camp, and the dangers of the field, saw her heart beating strongly. The heavy tread husband fall dead by her side, and return- of George Mason was in the hall. Then ed home wounded and a widow-young, the door opened, and the young man enrather pretty, and, of course, the heroine tered. She did not rise. In fact, so of the neighborhood. Though of Welsh strong was her inward disturbance that parentage, she was a genuine Yankee in she felt the necessity for remaining as expatriotism and "smartness."

Got the Point Twisted Around Wrong.

ternally quiet as possible, in order to keep
from betraying her actual state of mind.
"Good evening," said Mason, almost
gaily, as he stepped into the room.
pausing suddenly, and lifting both hands.
in mock surprise, he exclaimed,

Then

A rural conscript appeared before the Eastern Board of Enrolment, Providence, Rhode Island, and desired to be exempted forthwith, in order that he might return to his country home. "What are your claims?" demanded the Doctor. "I'm entirely dependent upon my mother for sup- Katie did not move nor reply. Her port!" was the innocent reply. Where- heart was fluttering when he came in, but

"Blue yarn and soldiers' stockings--blue yarn and soldiers' stockings! Ch, Katie Maxwell!"

in an instant it regained an even beat. There was more in his tone even than in his words. The clear, strong eyes were on his face.

"Ha! ha!" he laughed, gaily, now advancing until he had come within a few feet of the maiden. Then she rose and moved back a pace or two, with a strange, cold dignity of manner that surprised her visitor.

"What a good actress you would make!" he said, still speaking lightly, for he did not think her in earnest. "A Goddess of Liberty! Here is my cane; raise your stocking and the representation will be perfect."

"I am not acting, George."

"In the field!" he said in astonishment, and not without confusion of manner. "Yes, in the field! in arms for your country!"

He shrugged his shoulders with an affected indifference that was mingled with something of contempt, saying blandlyfor he did not give himself space to reflect

"I've no particular fancy for salt pork, hard tack, and Minie bullets."

"Nor I for cowards!" exclaimed Katie, borne away by her feelings; and she pointed sternly to the door.

The young man went out.

As she shut the door she sank into the chair from which she had arisen, weak and quivering.

She spoke with an air of severity that The blue yarn stocking did not grow unsobered him.

"You are not?"

der her hand that night; but her fingers moved with unwearied diligence through all the next day, and a soldier's sock, thick, and soft, and warm, was laid beside her father's plate when he came to the evening meal. Very sweet were the approving sentences that fell from his lips, and they had balm in them for the pain which had wrought at her heart for many hours.

"No; I cautioned you this morning about trifling with things which should be held out of the region of trifling," she answered steadily; "If you are not sufficiently inspired with love of country to lift an arm in her defense, don't, I pray you, hinder, with light words even, the feeble service that a woman's hands may render. I am not a man, and can not, For Life, if the Nation will Take Me. therefore, fight for liberty and good gov- On the Sunday afternoon after the fall ernment, but what I am able to do I am of Fort Sumter, Theodore Winthrop was doing from a state of mind that is hurt walking with a friend in the woods upon by levity. I am in earnest; if you are Staten Island, near his home. No man not, it is time that you looked down into could have a clearer conception of the your heart and made some effort to under- significance of that event. An American stand its springs of action. You are of in the noblest sense, he felt that the time man's estate, you are in good health, you had come in which the nation's liberties are not trammeled by any legal or social could be maintained only as they were hindrances. Why, then, are you not in won. "To-morrow," said his friend, "we the field, George Mason? I have asked shall have a proclamation from the Presimyself a hundred times since morning this dent." "Then to-morrow," he answered, question, and can reach no satisfactory I shall enlist. I wish to enroll myself answer." at once in the police of the nation, and Katie Maxwell stood before the young for life, if the nation will take me. I do man like one inspired, her eyes flashing, not see that I can put myself-experience her face in a glow, her lips firmly set but and character-to any more useful use." arched, her slender form drawn up to its In this spirit he acted, and such was his full height, almost imperiously. evident ability that in a month he was aid

and military secretary to General Butler. foot for marching. The old man was and held at his disposal a first lieutenancy somewhat puzzled to know what possible in the army. He lost his life in the expe- arrangement could have been made which dition that left Fort Monroe. June 9, 1861, would allow all of the family to go, but at Bethel, the rebel riflemen stating that the explanation of the boy solved the diffithey several times took deliberate aim at culty. "Father, said he, with a confir him, as he was all the time conspicuous at dential chuckle in the old man's ear, "the the head of the advancing Federal troops, fact is, I've let the farm on shares!" loudly cheering them on to the assault Father and four sons went with the FourHe was shot in the side. teenth regiment.

Making a Family Matter of It. Something to Cogitate Upon. Before the departure of the Fourteenth The movements of the Mackerel BrigBrooklyn regiment for the seat of war, a ade have engaged to such an extent the man who carried on a blacksmith shop in pen of that eminent historiographer, Mr. connection with two of his own sons, went Kerr, that no additional fact need be to head-quarters and concluded to enlist. stated in speaking of their interest and He said that he could leave the blacksmith importance with reference to the war, in business in the hands of the boys-"he which the brigade played so distinguished could'nt stand it any longer, and go he a part. One commemorative scene is thus must." He was accepted. Next day portrayed :

66

down came the oldest of the boys. The Knowing that the Mackerel Brigade blacksmith business "wasn't very drivin', was making preparation to entrap the and he guessed John would take care of Southern Confederacy at Molasses Juncit." "Well," said the old man, go it." tion, I ascended to the upper gallery of And the oldest son went it. But the day my architectural steed, Pegasus, on Tuesfollowing, John made his appearance. He day, in order that I might not be unduly felt lonesome, and had shut up the shop. hurried on my journey. Taking Accomac The father remonstrated, but the boy on my way to the battle-field,—my boy,— would enlist, and enlist he did. Now the I called upon Colonel Wobert Wobinson, old gentleman had two more sons, who who is superintending preparations for the "worked the farm," near Flushing. The draft there, and was witness to an incident military fever seems to have run in the suitable to be recorded in profane history. family, for no sooner had the father and The draft in Accomac, my boy, is posithe two older brothers enlisted, than the tively to take place on the eleventh of younger sons came in for a like purpose. September; but it is believed that the The father was a man of few words, but enrolment can be finished before the fifhe said that he "would'nt stand that any- teenth, in which case the draft must not how." The blacksmithing business might take place on the twentieth. In fact, the go to the d-1, but the farm must be looked Judge Advocate of Accomac states posiafter. So the boys were sent home. Pres- tively that the conscription will take place ently one of them re-appeared. They had on the first of October; and volunteering concluded, on the whole, that one could is so brisk that no draft may be required. manage the farm, and had tossed up to see At least, such is the report of those best who should go with the Fourteenth, and acquainted with the more decisive plans he had won the chance. This arrangement of the War Department, which thinks of was finally and definitely agreed to. But joining the temperance society. lo! on the day of departure the last boy The exempts were filing their papers of the family was on hand to join, and on of exemption with Colonel Wobert Wob

inson, my boy, and among them was one ment. He had been urging the men to chap with a swelled eye, a deranged neck- come forward and sign the roll, and told tie, and a hat that looked as though it the women to hurry them up. At this, a might have been an elephant's foot-pad. woman arose in the meeting and addressed The chap came in with a weary walk, and her husband substantially as follows: "Ira, says he: you know that you said before you came

"Being a married man, war has no terrors for me; but I am obliged to exempt myself from military affairs on account of cataract in my eyes."

Colonel Wobert Wobinson looked at him sympathizingly, and says he:

"You might possibly do for a MajorGeneral, my son; it is principally business that characterizes a majority of our present Major-Generals in the field; but fearing that your absence from home might cause a prostration in the liquor business, I will accept your cataract as valid.”

The poor chap sighed until he reached the first hiccup, and then says he :

"I wish I could cure this here cataract, which causes my eye to weep even in the absence of woe."

"Do your orbs liquidate so freely?" here to-night, that you would enlist. If says the Colonel, with the air of a family you don't do it, go straight home and take physician. off those breeches, and let me have them, "Yes," said the poor chap, gloomily, and I will go myself!" This brought "they are like two continual mill streams." down the house and brought up Ira, who "Mill streams!" said Colonel Wobinson, put his name down and became a volunmeditatively; "mill streams! Why, then, teer.

you had better dam your eyes."

nah.

I think, my boy, I say I think, that this Hard Work for a Drafting-Colonel in Savankind advice of Colonel Wobert Wobinson must have been misunderstood in some

The scene which ensued on the occasion

way, for an instant departure of severally of the Confederate draft for four hundred piously inclined recruits took place precipitately, and the poor chap chuckled like a fiend.

It is a grate misfortune of your mother tongue, my boy, that words of widely dif ferent meaning have precisely the same sound, and in using one you seem to be abusing another.

men in Savannah, Georgia, to complete a requisition for troops, the requisite number not having volunteered, is .thus amusingly described by an eye witness:

Fifteen hundred of the business men and mechanics of the city were drawn up in a hollow square, on the parade ground, all in a high state of excitement. The Colonel now took his place in the centre, and from the back of a magnificent horse, While Mr. Ely was addressing a patri- in a few well-timed remarks, called for otic meeting in Gosport, N. Y., a little volunteers. He said it was a shame that scene occurred which created much merri- a Georgian should submit to be drafted,

Ira's Wife and his Breeches.

and dishonorable to a citizen of Savannah imaginable misshape, ribs punched, corns to be forced into the service of his coun- smashed, clothes torn, and canes lest. try. He appealed to their patriotism, their Every hand held its magical bit of paper, pluck, and their-pelf. He told them of from the begrimed digits of the individual good clothes, good living, and fifty dollars just from a stable or a foundry, to the bounty; and on the strength of these-as filbert-tapering and dainty-gloved extremhe thought-conclusive considerations, in- ity of the dry goods clerk, just from his vited everybody to walk three paces in counter. Young and old, rich and poors front. Nobody did it. An ugly pause neat and nasty, Americans, Englishmen, ensued, worse than a dead silence between the ticking of a conversation.

Irishmen, Germans, Frenchmen, Italians, Israelites, and Gentiles, all went to make The Colonel thought he might not have up the motley mass. What a pretty lot been heard or understood, and he repeat- of sick and disabled individuals there were, ed his catalogue of persuasions. At this to be sure. Swelled arms, limping legs, point one of the sides of the square opened, spine diseases, corns and bunions, bad eyes, and in marched a company of about forty toothaches, constitutional debility in the stalwart Irishmen, whom their Captain, in bread-basket, eruptive diseases, deafness. a loud and exultant tone, announced as the rheumatism, not well generally-these, and "Mitchell Guards; we volunteer, Colonel, a thousand other complaints, were reprein a body." The Colonel was delighted. sented as variously and heterogeneously as He proposed "three cheers for the Mitchell by any procession of pilgrims that ever Guards," and the crowd indulged not inor- visited the Holy Land. dinately in the pulmonary exercise. The requisite number did not seem to be forthcoming, however, and the Colonel made another little speech, winding up with an invitation to the black drummer and fifer to perambulate the quadrangle and play Dixie, which they did, but they came as they went solitary and alone; not the ghost of a volunteer being anywhere visible in the Ethiopian wake. The Colonel looked as blank as if he was getting desperate, and a draft seemed inevitable.

As a dernier resort the Colonel directed all who had excuses to advance to the centre, and submit them for examination. Those who have ever seen a crowd run away from a falling building at a fire, or toward a dog-fight, or a street show, can form some idea of the tempestuous nature of the wave that swept toward the little table in the centre of the square around which were gathered the four grave gentlemen who were to examine the docu

ments.

And so the day progressed, nearly ten hours being consumed in the endeavor to secure a draft. In the afternoon, the absentees were gathered together, and the efforts renewed, when, strange to say, every man who found the liability imminent of his being forced to enlist, protested that he was just on the point of doing so, and "willingly" put his name to the roll. The state of things in Savannah, in respect to volunteering in defence of "outraged Southern rights," was about on a par with the feeling in other cities of the South.

Settling an Irish Volunteer Case. A buxom Irish woman came one day to the room of the Supervisors' Volunteering Committee, New York, with three Emerald lads in tow, about six, eight and ten years of age respectively. She pushed rather brusquely up to the table where sat Mr. Chairman Blunt, with all the qualities of lawyer, judge and jury blended harmoniously into one, and said :—

"Is Misther Bloont within? Como along up here, ye childers," turning to her

It was a scene which, as an uninterested outsider, one could only hold his sides and laugh at. Hats were crushed into every trio.

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