THE WEST SHORE.
21)0
ladies, as each had the letter uppermost in her mind
Miss Miller's motion, bo numerously seconded, was
put by the president and carried with a unanimity
seldom seen in a gathering of this kind.
The secretary was instructed by the president to
read the letter, but before she could do so, Clara
Vaughn jumped to her feet and excitedly said
" No you don't, Belle Johnston. Amy is to read
the letter; that was the agreement"
" Very well," said the president, " I will read it"
Receiving the letter from the secretary, Amy read:
Camp Mihebaim.k, near Sloiuii or Pespoxd,)
Ikjcembcr 14, 152. )
Mim Cura Vai'giix,
Wapakoneta, Ohio.
My Ikar Mint Vaughn: I know you will jardon a lonely
soldier for presuming to write you upon the flimsy pretext of
finding your address, written on a tiny card, in tiny letters,
ami, I will venture the assertion, with the sweetest and tiniest
hand in the Buckeye stala. You must forgive my carelessness,
when I tell you that I enjoyed the comfort of those well, I
must say it, and run the risk of shot-king your modesty tieau
tiful socks one whole day before I found your card. The truth
is, I was so anxious to wear something made by the hands of
some fair lady, that as soon as I became the happy ossessor
of the aforementioned socks, I removed the gunlwat from my
feet, and with tears of joy swimming in my eyes, proceeded to
encase my feet. liut, horror of horrors ! they would not go on.
I pulled, tugged anil prayed ; but it was of no use; they re
sisted my most earnest endeavors. They were several sizes too
small. After resting a while, I got one of the boys, who had
some knowledge of civil engineering, and we made a practical
survey of the socks, then of my feet.
" It's no use, Jack," said my friend, " you can't get a num
ler six sock over a number twelve foot."
My friend left me in my trouble. How awfully unsympa
thetic these fellows get after they have leen in the army a
while ! I sat down on a log and contemplated the socks, those
k-autiful blue woolen socks, which you had knit with your lit
tle fingers. I can, in fancy, see you now, with your deft little
hands, and the blue yarn wraped around your fingers, making
music with your knitting needles as you round otT the too of the
last sock, a sigh of relief cm-aping you as the hwt stitch is
dropj'd from the needle.
I remained sitting ujon the log for some time, trying to work
out some way to overcome the dilemma in which I found my
self. At length, a happy thought came to me, and I acted uj;n
it at once. I would exchange socks with one of the loys. I
1-H from the log, and with my blue treasures in my hands,
started for the quarters to find some one with a jir of bluo
nonc but blue would suit-socks largo enough to fit my M;
but lsforo I could ak the question, nearly every man in the
company yelled, "Jack, have you a pair of Urge socks to ex
change for a small iir ? " I tried every man I met, but it w is
no go. Th?y were all in the same fix I was. to you know, 1
felt like going to the jond-the boys call it the " Hough of !-
pond,M-cating myself in, and lying there until the water got
deep enough to drown me. Hut thinking tlte matter utr, I
changM my mind, and here I am writing to my kind Uwlao
tmw. Finally another thought struck me-it didn't hurt very
m-jrh. 1 said not a word to my me.matis, but quickly gribWl
up my so. ks, and finding an axe, went to the wl, I
selected a tree suitable to my j-urpo and soon had It lying on
the ground. Cutting otT a part of the trunk of tho tree, about
two feet in length, I hewed it roughlyjinto the hap of a foot
my foot. After hewing and trying, 1 finally succeeded in get
ting the block Into proer sliaj-e to stretch the sock over,
which I did with the aid of a set of block and tackle. On e on
the models, I let them remain over night, so that they might
IxH-ome thoroughly set to the shape. 1 removed them from the
blocks the next morning, and oh, raptures of bliss! I was able
to get them on my feet. True, there was not much of the ti
jier part of the sock left, but enough to swear by. Tho world
was all sunshine once more. I wore ths socks all that day, not
minding tho little matter that my too was Mng hurt ; but at
night I turned the one that was giving mo tho trouble wrong
side out, thinking that, perha, in your haste to send them to
me, you had left a ball of yam In ono of them. Hut happy wa
I when I picked up tho tiny card which lre your name and
address, and I trust you will ovcrlk my carrlenes whi n
you read this ami learn of my trouble In putting your gill into
practical uo.
I can not close this without expressing my warmed thanks
to the dear young ladies who are doing so much to cheer Ihe
hearts of tho soldiers, and remind them f tho dear homes they
left far to tin? northward. May (iod Hew you, Individually and
colle lively, Is tho prayer of I'wvm Jack Cham.
P. S.-I dreamed hwt night I held In mine tho littlo hand
that knit the socks. -M'
Oh, yes ! Knit all tho socks at leat four slie larger. All
tho hoys have large feel-in fad, mine are tho mnalUl In tho
company. Now, if you don't answer thU, I wdl demt and
como to wo you; and when I am caught, I will l? shot, and I
know you would not like to hear 4 that mUUtutte omtaking
me. Therefore, I give you fair warning, that you may know
what will follow should you not anrr this letler at ome.
('mm.
After tho letter was finished, Clara tmo to her
fect and asked: M Am I to answer tho letter? "
" Yea," cried several of tho girU at onco.
" Silence! " called the president, at tho satno time
bringing down upon tho Ublo a jiotato masher, which
had leen borrowed from Mrs. Harrington's kitchen
to servo as a garcl, ith uch forco a to break tho
handlo, rendering it useless for tho creuing.
" You'll ketch it, Amy Harrington, fer breakiu'
your mother's UU-r masher," said tho irrepressible
Melissa Updyko.
As soon as order was onco more restored, tho pres
ident said: " What is your wish regarding th letter?"
M Lay hit under tho Ubl" said Miss Updjki,
wbemo knowledge of parliamentary usago was some
what ragun.
M I moTP," said Mia ttrattaio, "Miss Vaughn
instructed to reply to tho communication."
14 Hit hain't a communication; hit's letter," said
Mia Updyke, wishing to correct tho but shaker.
44 1 -cond Miss Urattaiu's motion," said Mi4
Child.
Tho motion wm put am! carriM with but ono no,
MUs Updyko casting negativo tot, iho U ing on
bad terms with Clara.