andersonville-第50章

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became　a　torment。　　Hundreds　of　times　I　dreamed　I　was　again　at　the
〃Planter's。〃　　I　saw　the　wide　corridors；　with　their　mosaic　pavement；
I　entered　the　grand　dining…room；　keeping　timidly　near　the　friend　to　whose
kindness　I　owed　this　wonderful　favor；　I　saw　again　the　mirror…lined　walls；
the　evergreen　decked　ceilings；　the　festoons　and　mottos；　the　tables
gleaming　with　cutglass　and　silver；　the　buffets　with　wines　and　fruits；
the　brigade　of　sleek；　black；　white…aproned　waiters；　headed　by　one　who　had
presence　enough　for　a　major　General。　　Again　I　reveled　in　all　the　dainties
and　dishes　on　the　bill…of…fare；　calling　for　everything　that　I　dared　to；
just　to　see　what　each　was　like；　and　to　be　able　to　say　afterwards　that　I
had　partaken　of　it；　all　these　bewildering　delights　of　the　first
realization　of　what　a　boy　has　read　and　wondered　much　over；　and　longed
for；　would　dance　their　rout　and　reel　through　my　somnolent　brain。　　Then　I
would　awake　to　find　myself　a　half…naked；　half…starved；　vermin…eaten
wretch；　crouching　in　a　hole　in　the　ground；　waiting　for　my　keepers　to
fling　me　a　chunk　of　corn　bread。

Naturally　the　boysand　especially　the　country　boys　and　new　prisoners
talked　much　of　victualswhat　they　had　had；　and　what　they　would　have
again；　when　they　got　out。　　Take　this　as　a　sample　of　the　conversation
which　might　be　heard　in　any　group　of　boys；　sitting　together　on　the　sand；
killin　lice　and　talking　of　exchange：

Tom〃Well；　Bill；　when　we　get　back　to　God's　country；　you　and　Jim　and　John
must　all　come　to　my　house　and　take　dinner　with　me。　　I　want　to　give　you　a
square　meal。　　I　want　to　show　you　just　what　good　livin'　is。　　You　know　my
mother　is　just　the　best　cook　in　all　that　section。　　When　she　lays　herself
out　to　get　up　a　meal　all　the　other　women　in　the　neighborhood　just　stand
back　and　admire　〃

Bill〃O；　that's　all　right；　but　I'll　bet　she　can't　hold　a　candle　to　my
mother；　when　it　comes　to　good　cooking。〃

Jim　〃No；　nor　to　mine。〃

John（with　patronizing　contempt。）　〃O；　shucks！　　None　of　you　fellers　were
ever　at　our　house；　even　when　we　had　one　of　our　common　weekday　dinners。〃

Tom（unheedful　of　the　counter　claims。）　I　hev　teen　studyin'　up　the　dinner
I'd　like；　and　the　bill…of…fare　I'd　set　out　for　you　fellers　when　you　come
over　to　see　me。　　First；　of　course；　we'll　lay　the　foundation　like　with　a
nice；　juicy　loin　roast；　and　some　mashed　potatos。

Bill（interrupting。）　〃Now；　do　you　like　mashed　potatos　with　beef？　　The
way　may　mother　does　is　to　pare　the　potatos；　and　lay　them　in　the　pan　along
with　the　beef。　　Then；　you　know；　they　come　out　just　as　nice　and　crisp；　and
brown；；　they　have　soaked　up　all　the　beef　gravy；　and　they　crinkle　between
your　teeth〃

Jim〃Now；　I　tell　you；　mashed　Neshannocks　with　butter　on　'em　is　plenty
good　enough　for　me。〃

John〃If　you'd　et　some　of　the　new　kind　of　peachblows　that　we　raised　in
the　old　pasture　lot　the　year　before　I　enlisted；　you'd　never　say　another
word　about　your　Neshannocks。〃

Tom（taking　breath　and　starting　in　fresh。）　〃Then　we'll　hev　some　fried
Spring　chickens；　of　our　dominick　breed。　　Them　dominicks　of　ours　have　the
nicest；　tenderest　meat；　better'n　quail；　a　darned　sight；　and　the　way　my
mother　can　fry　Spring　chickens〃

Bill（aside　to　Jim。）　〃Every　durned　woman　in　the　country　thinks　she　can
'spry　ching　frickens；'　but　my　mother…〃

John〃You　fellers　all　know　that　there's　nobody　knows　half　as　much　about
chicken　doin's　as　these　'tinerant　Methodis'　preachers。　　They　give　'em
chicken　wherever　they　go；　and　folks　do　say　that　out　in　the　new
settlements　they　can't　get　no　preachin'；　no　gospel；　nor　nothin'；　until
the　chickens　become　so　plenty　that　a　preacher　is　reasonably　sure　of
havin'　one　for　his　dinner　wherever　he　may　go。　　Now；　there's　old　Peter
Cartwright；　who　has　traveled　over　Illinoy　and　Indianny　since　the　Year
One；　and　preached　more　good　sermons　than　any　other　man　who　ever　set　on
saddle…bags；　and　has　et　more　chickens　than　there　are　birds　in　a　big
pigeon　roost。　　Well；　he　took　dinner　at　our　house　when　he　came　up　to
dedicate　the　big；　white　church　at　Simpkin's　Corners；　and　when　he　passed
up　his　plate　the　third　time　for　more　chicken；　he　sez；　sez　he：I've　et
at　a　great　many　hundred　tables　in　the　fifty　years　I　have　labored　in　the
vineyard　of　the　Redeemer；　but　I　must　say；　Mrs。　Kiggins；　that　your　way　of
frying　chickens　is　a　leetle　the　nicest　that　I　ever　knew。　　I　only　wish
that　the　sisters　generally　would　get　your　reseet。'　　Yes；　that's　what　he
said；'a　leetle　the　nicest。'〃

Tom〃An'　then；　we'll　hev　biscuits　an'　butter。　　I'll　just　bet　five
hundred　dollars　to　a　cent；　and　give　back　the　cent　if　I　win；　that　we　have
the　best　butter　at　our　house　that　there　is　in　Central　Illinoy。　　You　can't
never　hev　good　butter　onless　you　have　a　spring　house；　there's　no　use　of
talkin'all　the　patent　churns　that　lazy　men　ever　inventedall　the　fancy
milk　pans　an'　coolers；　can't　make　up　for　a　spring　house。　　Locations　for　a
spring　house　are　scarcer　than　hen's　teeth　in　Illinoy；　but　we　hev　one；　and
there　ain't　a　better　one　in　Orange　County；　New　York。　　Then　you'll　see
dome　of　the　biscuits　my　mother　makes。〃

Bill〃Well；　now；　my　mother's　a　boss　biscuit…maker；　too。〃

Jim〃You　kin　just　gamble　that　mine　is。〃

John〃O；　that's　the　way　you　fellers　ought　to　think　an'　talk；　but　my
mother〃

Tom（coming　in　again　with　fresh　vigor）　〃They're　jest　as　light　an'　fluffy
as　a　dandelion　puff；　and　they　melt　in　your　month　like　a　ripe　Bartlett
pear。　　You　just　pull　'em　open＇Now　you　know　that　I　think　there's　nothin'
that　shows　a　person's　raisin'　so　well　as　to　see　him　eat　biscuits　an'
butter。　　If　he's　been　raised　mostly　on　corn　bread；　an'　common　doins；'
an'　don't　know　much　about　good　things　to　eat；　he'll　most　likely　cut　his
biscuit　open　with　a　case　knife；　an'　make　it　fall　as　flat　as　one　o'
yesterday's　pancakes。　　But　if　he　is　used　to　biscuits；　has　had　'em　often
at　his　house；　he'lljust　pull　'em　open；　slow　an'　easy　like；　then　he'll
lay　a　little　slice　of　butter　inside；　and　drop　a　few　drops　of　clear　honey
on　this；　an'　stick　the　two　halves　back；　together　again；　an〃

〃Oh；　for　God　Almighty's　sake；　stop　talking　that　infernal　nonsense；〃　roar
out　a　half　dozen　of　the　surrounding　crowd；　whose　mouths　have　been
watering　over　this　unctuous　recital　of　the　good　things　of　the　table。
〃You　blamed　fools；　do　you　want　to　drive　yourselves　and　everybody　else
crazy　with　such　stuff　as　that。　　Dry　up　and　try　to　think　of　something
else。〃




CHAPTER　XLVI。

SURLY　BRITONTHE　STOLID　COURAGE　THAT　MAKES　THE　ENGLISH　FLAG　A　BANNER　OF
TRIUMPHOUR　COMPANY　BUGLER；　HIS　CHARACTERISTICS　AND　HIS　DEATHURGENT
DEMAND　FOR　MECHANICSNONE　WANT　TO　GOTREATMENT　OF　A　REBEL　SHOEMAKER
ENLARGEMENT　OF　THE　STOCKADEIT　IS　BROKEN　BY　A　STORM
THE　WONDERFUL　SPRING。

Early　in　August；　F。　Marriott；　our　Company　Bugler；　died。　　Previous　to
coming　to　America　he　had　been　for　many　years　an　English　soldier；　and　I
accepted　him　as　a　type　of　that　stolid；　doggedly　brave　class；　which　forms
the　bulk　of　the　English　armies；　and　has　for　centuries　carried　the　British
flag　with　dauntless　courage　into　every　land　under　the　sun。　　Rough；　surly
and　unsocial；　he　did　his　duty　with　the　unemotional　steadiness　of　a
machine。　　He　knew　nothing　but　to　obey　orders；　and　obeyed　them　under　all
circumstances　promptly；　but　with　stony　impassiveness。　　With　the　command
to　move　forward　into　action；　he　moved　forward　without　a　word；　and　with
face　as　blank　as　a　side　of　sole　leather。　　He　went　as　far　as　ordered；
halted　at　the　word；　and　retired　at　command　as　phlegmatically　as　he
advanced。　　If　he　cared　a　straw　whether　he　advanced　or　retreated；　if　it
mattered　to　the　extent　of　a　pinch　of　salt　whether　we　whipped　the　Rebels
or　they　defeated　us；　he　kept　that　feeling　so　deeply　hidden　in　the
recesses　of　his　sturdy　bosom　that　no　one　ever　suspected　it。　　In　the
excitement　of　action　the　rest　of　the　boys　shouted；　and　swore；　and
expressed　their　tense　feelings　in　various　ways；　but　Marriott　might　as
well　have　been　a　graven　image；　for　all　the　expression　that　he　suffered　to
escape。　　Doubtless；　if　the　Captain　had　ordered　him　to　shoot　one　of　the
company　through　the　heart；　he　would　have　executed　the　command　according
to　the　manual　of　arms；　brought　his　carbine　to　a　〃recover；〃　and　at　the
word　marched　back　to　his　quarters　without　an　inquiry　as　to　the　cause　of
the　proceedings。　　He　made　no　friends；　and　though　his　surliness　repelled
us；　he　made　few　enemies。　　Indeed；　he　was　rather　a　favorite；　since　he　was
a　genuine　character；　his　gruffness　had　no　taint　of　selfish　greed　in　it；
he　minded　his　own　business　strictly；　and　wanted　others　to　do　the　same。
When　he　first　came　into　the　company；　it　is　true；　he　gained　the　enmity　of
nearly　everybody　in　it；　but　an　incident　occurred　which　turned　the　tide　in
his　favor。　　Some　annoying　little　depredations　had　been　practiced　on　the
boys；　and　it　needed　but　a　word　of　suspicion　to　inflame　all　their　minds
against　the　surly　Englishman　as　the　unknown　perpetrator。　　The　feeling
intensified；　until　about　half　of　the　company　were　in　a　mood　to　kill　the
Bugler　outright。　　As　we　were　returning　from　stable　duty　one　evening；
some　little　occurrence　fanned　the　smoldering　anger　into　a　fierce　blaze；
a　couple　of　the　smaller　boys　began　an　attack　upon　him；　others　hastened　to
their　assistance；　and　soon　half　the　company　were　engaged　in　the　assault。

He　succeeded　in　disengaging　himself　from　his　assailants；　and；　squaring
himself　off；　said；　defiantly：

〃Dom　yer　cowardly　heyes；　jest　come　hat　me　one　hat　a　time；　hand　hI'll
wollop　the　'ole　gang　uv　ye's。〃

One　of　our　Sergeants　styled　himself　proudly　〃a　Chicago　rough；〃　and　was　as
vain　of　his　pugilistic　abilities　as　a　small　boy　is　of　a　father　who　plays
in　the　band。　　We　all　hated　him　cordiallyeven　more　than　we　did　Marriott。

He　thought　this　was　a　good　time　to　show　off；　and　forcing　his　way　through
the　crowd；　he　said；　vauntingly：

〃Just　fall　back　and　form　a　ring；　boys；　and　see　me　polish　off　the…fool。〃

The　ring　was　formed；　with　the　Bugler　and　the　Sergeant　in　the　center。
Though　the　latter　was　the　younger　and　stronger　the　first　round　showed　him
that　it　would　have　profited　him　much　more　to　have　let　Marriott's
challenge　pass　unheeded。　　As　a　rule；　it　is　as　well　to　ignore　all
invitations　of　this　kind　from　Englishmen；　and　especially　from　those　who；
like　Marriott；　have　served　a　term　in　the　army；　for　they　are　likely　to　be
so　handy　with　their　fists　as　to　make　the　consequences　of　an　acceptance
more　lively　than　desirable。

So　the　Sergeant　found。　　〃Marriott；〃　as　one　of　the　spectators　expressed
it；　〃went　around　him　like　a　cooper　around　a　barrel。〃　　He　planted　his
blows　just　where　he　wished；　to　the　intense　delight　of　the　boys；　who
yelled　enthusiastically　whenever　he　got　in　〃a　hot　one；〃　and　their　delight
at　seeing　the　Sergeant　drubbed　so　thoroughly　and　artistically；　worked　an
entire　revolution　in　his　favor。

Thenceforward　we　viewed　his　eccentricities　with　lenient　eyes；　and　became
rather　proud　of　his　bull…dog　stolidity　and　surliness。　　The　whole
battalion　soon　came　to　share　this　feeling；　and　everybody　enjoyed　hearing
his　deep…toned　growl；　which　mischievous　boys　would　incite　by　some　petty
annoyances　deliberately　designed　for　that　purpose。　　I　will　mention
incidentally；　that　after　his　encounter　with　the　Sergeant　no　one　ever
again　volunteered　to　〃polish〃　him　off。

Andersonville　did　not　improv