Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/357

 CALEB WINN. 349

" You needn't tell me 'bout law lur it!

A hell, or a God, or not; Ef ther's any sich thing ez jestis.

The villain ought to be shot! Ez I hope fur heaven, I'd do it,

And think I was doin' well ; And, ef God knows a father's feelin's,

Be runnin' small resk uv hell.

" Some folks sez that ther' ain't none !

But what's to be done with sich? Where else can there be jestis

For one like him, that's rich? Ef there ain't none, then there should be,

I guess that there'll be enough, And fur sich fair-seerain' scoundrels

God can't make it too rough !

" Don't set there mutterin' ' law fur it ! '

What chance can there be in law? Can ye show me a case uv jestis

In that way't ever ye saw ? What chance to bring back honor,

Or innocence back again, Or wipe from an honist famerly

The least of an awful stain?

" Why, he goes abroad respected,

While she's ez good ez dead ; And byme bye he'll be back agin

A-holdin' up his head ; But ef I could live to see him here, —

A Jedgment Day, or not, — Ef his grave-stone told the truth uv it,

'Twould say, ' The — villain — was — shot.'

��" Been — a week- -has it — Chaplain?

You — see- -I'm- -goin'- -fast ; I want- -you- -to stay here- -with me;

It's comin'- -discharge — at last. I hope- -that- -Christ- -will- -remember

When — He- -makes up the books, The- -blood — I shed- -in battle.

He- -knows- -how your own blood looks.

" Is- -it night- -now- -or evenin' ? "

11 No, comrade the sun shines clear." " Then- -that- -roll-call- -is- -comin',

P'r'aps--you--can here it- -here. u Dress by the colors ! " He wanders.

'* Could- -I have- -a flag- -for a pall? It seems- -I can — see- -one- -floating

From- -a flagstaff- -grand and tall.

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