kin all remember the oald times wen we used
to talk abowt fitin for our country sense
then moast of us has done it (here i looked
at the principle worriers presunt) there is
not one man heer who has not seen the huffs
of the foman on his property (here i lookd
at Oald Square Grover hoose wheet was
utterly rewind by the Rebs) and so we
know the value of fitin as well os of kind
ness to them who fite Tharfor i beseech
you Go in for the Sanitkrhy ! You would’nt
stop at givin medsin and food to a wounded
soldier why then hold back from givin to
those who are goin to take it strate to him ?
lf you dont see it done ... .Providence
does.”
These were my words in my humble, plane
"'ay Mr. Editer i hoap nobody will laugh
at them for my bad ritin there is others
besides me hoose stile has fell off sum, sense
they left off steal pens - for bayonets and
no moar at present from
Your Freind Isaiah Miller.
Late Sergt. Co. C. 941st Rcgt. P. V.
A VEBUIFUGITIVE SKETCH.
“ All mortals aro worms of the dust— i. ver-men.”
Mr. Editor :—As I sauntered leisurely over
the Fair, and marvelled at the evolving of to
day’s creation out of yesterday’s chaos, my
foot touched something, the like of which you
have possibly seen before, viz: a MS. I
raised it; I examined it; I sequestrated it;
and, although it purports to be eminently pri
vate and confidential, I instantly devoted it to
print for the following reasons :
Ist. It was in the Fair.
2d. It is on the Fair.
3d. All is Fair in love.
4th. The writer is in love.
6th. He is, therefore, Fair game.
6th, and lastly. The matter of which it treats
is already, to a conspicuous degree, the pro
perty of the Fair.
Yours, respeotfully, E. S. Randolph.
Dear Thomas :—You write to express your
sympathy with us of the “Central” on the
subject of Worms. It is superfluous. The
prevailing idea that the playful and curious
little creatures, which suspend their myriad
silken threads from roof, tree and banners,
falling equally, as the rain, upon the just and
unjust, embroidering skirts, exploring coats,
examining undersleeves, measuring stockings,
imparting an added liveliness to face-trim
mings, measuring twelve feet to the inch,
striped, acrobatic, social, inevitably sticking
closer than a brother—the notion I say, that
these interesting little companions are a nui
sance, and not a blessing, is purely a vulgar
error.
I entertained, atone time, the oommon preju
dice against them. It was dissipated in the
following manner: Being an eligible bachelor,
and having approached the age of thirty with
out being able to concentrate my extremely
OTJIE& DAILT PaBB.
sensitive and overflowing nature upon any one
in particular, it will be readily understood that
I entertain a lively interest in the sisters in
general.
On entering the scene of wonders yclept the
“ Great Central,” after the first bewildering
sensation of banners, and lights, and dolls,
and roses, and fountains, my eyes were thence
forth drawn from the fair to the fairies, who
minister there in hundreds—l may say thou
sands, —some of them talkative, most of them
civily, all of them peculiarly interesting. Won
dering thus, my attention suddenly received a
farther and final shock of concentration. Was
it a face? a smile? a sash? No! It was
what the poet calls
“ A voice, a persuading voico.”
The voice of an enthusiastic young creature,
throwing all the energies of her nature into
the endeavor to sell an article of merchandise
for twice its value.
That was the voice for me. The effects of
its peculiar persuasiveness might, in the do
mestic future, be irresistible—fatal, as in the
case of the gentleman at that moment purchas
ing, at fabulous prices, articles he could never
by any possibility use or dispose of. But des
tiny ordered it—that was the voice for me.
Those were the eyes, too, as I found when
they flashed upon me. Uninitiated passers
might have detected only the instinct for a
customer in their fastening glance. I knew
that it was destiny. Frantically I bought the
things she set before me, after each purchase
essaying to enter into conversation upon sub
jects other than barter, and ever baffled by
her air of pre-occupation, from which she
could only be aroused by the offer of another
bargain. This was plainly a waste of time,
not to speak of other treasures; know her I
must, but this was not the, way. Vainly I en
quired of my numerous acquaintances; no
one could give me an introduction.
What was to be done? Some men, so situa
ted, would have planned a coup dlctat, but, un
fortunately, the great, perhaps the only, fault
of my character is exoessive modesty. lam
not the man for a raid; I must sit down to a
siege, and await the advantage of circumstan
ces.
I watched her for more than an hour; at the
end of that time she gave a sigh of relief,
threw off her commercial expression, and, in
company with another lady, also interesting,
sauntered in search of refreshments. I fol
lowed distantly; they sat and ate their ices,
chatting merrily; I leaned against a green
wreathed post, and awaited the fateful mo
ment.
It came. I saw, to my horror, swinging
leisurely down from a bough above them, three
or four inquisitive worms. One of them
touched, through the thin white muslin, the
shoulder of the friend. Overcome by that
timidity which is so touching and ornamental
in the female character, she shrieked aloud for
help I perceived the advantage, and dexter
ously removed the intruder. Scarcely bad
sheceased to thank me, when a huge twig
colored creature lighted upon the up-turned
cheek of my persuader.
Nerved by that heroic endurance so peculiar
to the female character, she uttered no sound,
but turned her mute, appealing eyes to me. I
rushed to the rescue; she forgot her reserve
in her gratitude; we conversed; we discovered
the existence of mutual friends. The next
day I secured an introduction; the next,
achieved an acquaintance; the next, a mutu
ality of interest—in short, the thing is done.
And now you will ask, “Who is this fatal
persuader ? and by what signs shall I know
her when I visit the Fair.” Far be it from me
to withold from the friend of my heart, or, in
deed, from all the world, a knowledge of that
in which I take such pride. You will notice
her at once as having if not the prettiest, the
most expressive face at the stall to which she
belongs ; this stall is neatly papered and orna
mented with banners. Her dress is a full
black skirt and white body; and if this should
not suffice to indicate her, you will, of course,
immediately recognize her by her badge.
If, as is barely possible, all these signs
should fail, I will state to you, in confidence,
that hers is the table at which there has been
a little—l hesitate to call it quarreling—let
me rather say a little variation of sentiment,
developed into variance of expression. (But
this between ourselves.)
As for her name, it is scarce worth while to
burden your memory with it, as I intend to
have it very speedily changed.
And now, farewell, my friends; and hail,
ye myriad denizens of the trees, so much tamer
than birds—so much more easy to cultivate,
and while I live vermicelli shall be my soup,
and wormwood my bitters ; and when I settle,
never shall vermifuge have a place in my do
mestic institutions; and when my wife and I
ride out in our carriage, the coat of arms on
it shall be a measuring worm pendant.
Yours, vermicularly, John.
FATE AND THE ABAB LOVES.
'Written for “ Our Daily Faro” by Rev. W. Rounsevillk
Alger, author of “Poetry of the East.”]
Milawno Tanbe loved Ab Talib’s wifo,
The fair and gentle Leila el Akteel;
And vain of harp and words is overy strife
To toll what love makes hearts liko Tanbo's feel
Ho pines away, his love so deadly strong,
With maddening thoughts of Leila el Akteel.
At length his dying soul exhales in song,
And thus the notes in faltering accents steal.
“ Let Lelia el Akteel , when lam dead ,
But come where this poor body lies interred
And speak to me, and I shall hft my head
To answer, or my tomb itself be heard.”
Three moons have sailed above the poets tomb,
Built in the mountain side, his village nigh.
For camels twain the path yield, narrow room,
But there are two abreast now traveling by.
Tho burial placo is still and loncsomo all;
Weird lights and shndes the fate of man rehearse.
“Go yonder, Leila, oil that madman call;
Seo how he keeps the promiso of his verso.”
“A thing so cruel, Talib, do not bid;
I pray thee let us turn way and go.”
Broke out tho anger in his bosom hid,
“Must I enforce my order with a blow?”
Dismounts she then, unveils her lovely face,
And gropes her way beneath the summit sheer,
And reaching soon her lover’s sleeping-place,
And softly calls, “ Poor Tanbe, art thou here?”
A startled eagle in the cliff o’erhend
A stone sets loose, which falls with thundering sound,
Recoils from off the tomb and strikes her deed,
' Whilo frightful throngs of echoes wail around!
“It was the will of Allah, and her fate,”
Fierce Talib said, dismounting from his beast.
“To alter or complain it is too late:
But I will make one poor amends at least.”
His sword breaks in the tomb: his wife he bears,
While mournful bodings through his bosom steal;
Apart the spicy shroud of Tanbe tears,
And places there sweet Leila el Akteel.