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The friend, with a grievance in his eye, went to the youth. I wonder what he does want, he said. He must think we went out there an played marbles! I never see sech a man! The youth developed a tranquil philosophy for these moments of irritation. Oh, well, he rejoined, he probably didnt see nothing of it at all and got mad as blazes, and concluded we were a lot of sheep, just because we didnt do what he wanted done. Its a pity old Grandpa Henderson got killed yestirdayhed have known that we did our best and fought good. Its just our awful luck, thats what. I should say so, replied the friend. He seemed to be deeply wounded at an injustice. I should say we did have awful luck! Theres no fun in fightin fer people when everything yeh dono matter whataint done right. I have a notion t stay behind next time an let em take their ol charge an go t th devil with it. The youth spoke soothingly to his comrade, Well, we both did good. Id like to see the fool whatd say we both didnt do as good as we could! Of course we did, declared the friend stoutly. An Id break th fellers neck if he was as big as a church. But were all right, anyhow, for I heard one feller say that we two fit th best in th regment, an they had a great argument bout it. Another feller, a course, he had t up an say it was a liehe seen all what was goin on an he never seen us from th beginnin t th end. An a lot more struck in an ses it wasnt a liewe did fight like thunder, an they give us quite a send-off. But this is what I cant standthese everlastin ol soldiers, titterin an laughin, an then the general, hes crazy. The youth exclaimed with sudden exasperation: Hes a lunkhead! He makes me mad. I wish hed come along next time. Wed show im what He ceased because several men had come hurrying up. Their faces expressed a bringing of great news. O Flem, yeh jest oughta heard! cried one, eagerly. Heard what? said the youth. Yeh jest oughta heard! repeated the other, and he arranged himself to tell his tidings. The others made an excited circle. Well, sir, th colonel met your lieutenant right by usit was damnedest thing I ever heardan he ses: Ahem! ahem! he ses. Mr. Hasbrouck! he ses, by th way, who was that lad what carried th flag? he ses. There, Flemin, what d yeh think a that? Who was th lad what carried th flag? he ses, an th lieutenant, he speaks up right away: Thats Flemin, an hes a jimhickey, he ses, right away. What? I say he did. A jimhickey, he sesthose r his words. He did, too. I say he did. If you kin tell this story better than I kin, go ahead an tell it. Well, then, keep yer mouth shet. Th lieutenant, he ses: Hes a jimhickey, an th colonel, he ses: Ahem! ahem! he is, indeed, a very good man t have, ahem! He kep th flag way t th front. I saw im. Hes a good un, ses th colonel. You bet, ses th lieutenant, he an a feller named Wilson was at th head a th charge, an howlin like Indians all th time, he ses. Head a th charge all th time, he ses. A feller named Wilson, he ses. There, Wilson, mboy, put that in a letter an send it hum t yer mother, hay? A feller named Wilson, he ses. An th colonel, he ses: Were they, indeed? Ahem! ahem! My sakes! he ses. At th head a th regment? he ses. They were, ses th lieutenant. My sakes! ses th colonel. He ses: Well, well, well, he ses, those two babies? They were, ses th lieutenant. Well, well, ses th colonel, they deserve t be major- generals, he ses. They deserve t be major-generals. The youth and his friend had said: Huh! Yer lyin, Thompson. Oh, go t blazes! He never sed it. Oh, what a lie! Huh! But despite these youthful scoffings and embarrassments, they knew that their faces were deeply flushing from thrills of pleasure. They exchanged a secret glance of joy and congratulation. They speedily forgot many things. The past held no pictures of error and disappointment. They were very happy, and their hearts swelled with grateful affection for the colonel and the youthful lieutenant. |
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