Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/355

 CALEB WINN. 247

��CALEB WINN. [Copyrighted.]

��BY KEV. LKANDER S. CO AN.

One day, as I sat in my study,

I heard on the gravel-walk A step which to me was familiar,

But I missed the familiar talk — The Corporal's Yankee lingo,

So I knew that something was wrong, For the old fellow's cheery accents

Were never silent long.

" I want ye to come with me, parson, •

Down to see comrade Winn ; He was with me in my regiment.

An' the best uv neighbors has been. He is sick, and in great trouble,

An 1 wants to talk with you ; You'll find whatever he tells ye

Like the gospel, straight an' true.

" He hain't told me about it,

So I think it's somethin' sad ; He has taken his bed, an' wildlike,

Takin' on terrible bad ; His old wooden leg is har.gin'

Agin the bed-room wall ; For you he keeps enquirin',

But don't want others to call.

" Here we are, at his cottage,

Don't knock, but go right in ; I'll wait here in the kitchen,

Where I have often been. I hope you can help him, somehow;

I reckon it's caused by grief, For he says that the doctors

Can't give him any relief."

��" I'm reported in hospital, Chaplain,

And my time here is short ; But I'm not goin' to whinin',

You know I ain't that sort. Ever sence that day in the Wilderness,

I've been prest here, the heart ; — Sence I lost my leg by a minnie,

Couldn't stan' no great start.

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