I
It was under a blue cap that I first saw the honest face of Joe Collins. In the third year of the late war a Maine regiment1 was passing through Boston, on its way to Washington. The Common was all alive with troops and the spectators who clustered round them to say God-speed, as the brave fellows marched away to meet danger and death for our sakes.
Every one was eager to do something; and, as the men stood at ease, the people mingled2 freely with them, offering gifts, hearty3 grips of the hand, and hopeful prophecies of victory in the end. Irresistibly4 attracted, my boy Tom and I drew near, and soon, becoming excited by the scene, ravaged5 the fruit-stands in our neighborhood for tokens of our regard, mingling6 candy and congratulations, peanuts and prayers, apples and applause, in one enthusiastic jumble7.
While Tom was off on his third raid, my attention was attracted by a man who stood a little apart, looking as if his thoughts were far away. All the men were fine, stalwart fellows, as Maine men usually are; but this one over-topped his comrades, standing8 straight and tall as a Norway pine, with a face full of the mingled shrewdness, sobriety, and self-possession of the typical New Englander. I liked the look of him; and, seeing that he seemed solitary9, even in a crowd, I offered him my last apple with a word of interest. The keen blue eyes met mine gratefully, and the apple began to vanish in vigorous bites as we talked; for no one thought of ceremony at such a time.
"Where are you from?"
"Woolidge, ma'am."
"Are you glad to go?"
"Wal, there's two sides to that question. I calk'late to do my duty, and do it hearty: but it is rough on a feller leavin' his folks, for good, maybe."
There was a sudden huskiness in the man's voice that was not apple-skins, though he tried to make believe that it was. I knew a word about home would comfort him, so I went on with my questions.
"It is very hard. Do you leave a family?"
"My old mother, a sick brother,—and Lucindy."
The last word was uttered in a tone of intense regret, and his brown cheek reddened as he added hastily, to hide some embarrassment10.—
"You see, Jim went last year, and got pretty well used up; so I felt as if I'd ought to take my turn now. Mother was a regular old hero about it and I dropped everything, and come off. Lucindy didn't think it was my duty; and that made it awful hard, I tell you."
"Wives are less patriotic11 than mothers," I began; but he would not hear Lucindy blamed, and said quickly,—
"She ain't my wife yet, but we calk'lated to be married in a month or so; and it was wus for her than for me, women lot so on not being disappointed. I couldn't shirk, and here I be. When I git to work, I shall be all right: the first wrench13 is the tryin' part."
Here he straightened his broad shoulders, and turned his face toward the flags fluttering far in front, as if no backward look should betray the longing14 of his heart for mother, home, and wife. I liked that little glimpse of character; and when Tom returned with empty hands, reporting that every stall was exhausted15, I told him to find out what the man would like best, then run across the street and get it.
"I know without asking. Give us your purse, and I'll make him as happy as a king," said the boy, laughing, as he looked up admiringly at our tall friend, who looked down on him with an elder-brotherly air pleasant to see. While Tom was gone, I found out Joe's name and business, promised to write and tell his mother how finely the regiment went off, and was just expressing a hope that we might meet again, for I too was going to the war as nurse, when the order to "Fall in!" came rolling down the ranks, and the talk was over. Fearing Tom would miss our man in the confusion, I kept my eye on him till the boy came rushing up with a packet of tobacco in one hand and a good supply of cigars in the other. Not a romantic offering, certainly, but a very acceptable one, as Joe's face proved, as we scrambled16 these treasures into his pockets, all laughing at the flurry, while less fortunate comrades helped us, with an eye to a share of these fragrant17 luxuries by and by. There was just time for this, a hearty shake of the big hand, and a grateful "Good-by, ma'am;" then the word was given, and they were off. Bent18 on seeing the last of them, Tom and I took a short cut, and came out on the wide street down which so many troops marched that year; and, mounting some high steps, we watched for our man, as we already called him.
As the inspiring music, the grand tramp, drew near, the old thrill went through the crowd, the old cheer broke out. But it was a different scene now than in the first enthusiastic, hopeful days. Young men and ardent19 boys filled the ranks then, brave by instinct, burning with loyal zeal20, and blissfully unconscious of all that lay before them. Now the blue coats were worn by mature men, some gray, all grave and resolute21: husbands and fathers, with the memory of wives and children tugging22 at their heart-strings; homes left desolate23 behind them, and before them the grim certainty of danger, hardship, and perhaps the lifelong helplessness worse than death. Little of the glamour24 of romance about the war now: they saw it as it was, a long, hard task; and here were the men to do it well. Even the lookers-on were different now. Once all was wild enthusiasm and glad uproar25; now men's lips were set, and women's smileless as they cheered; fewer handkerchiefs whitened the air, for wet eyes needed them; and sudden lulls26, almost solemn in their stillness, followed the acclamations of the crowd. All watched with quickened breath and brave souls that living wave, blue below, and bright with a steely glitter above, as it flowed down the street and away to distant battle-fields already stained with precious blood.
"There he is! The outside man, and tallest of the lot. Give him a cheer, auntie: he sees us, and remembers!" cried Tom, nearly tumbling off his perch27, as he waved his hat, and pointed12 out Joe Collins.
Yes, there he was, looking up, with a smile on his brave brown face, my little nosegay in his button-hole, a suspicious bulge28 in the pocket close by, and doubtless a comfortable quid in his mouth, to cheer the weary march. How like an old friend he looked, though we had only met fifteen minutes ago; how glad we were to be there to smile back at him, and send him on his way feeling that, even in a strange city, there was some one to say, "God bless you, Joe!" We watched the tallest blue cap till it vanished, and then went home in a glow of patriotism,—Tom to long for his turn to come, I to sew vigorously on the gray gown the new nurse burned to wear as soon as possible, and both of us to think and speak often of poor Joe Collins and his Lucindy. All this happened long ago; but it is well to recall those stirring times,—to keep fresh the memory of sacrifices made for us by men like these; to see to it that the debt we owe them is honestly, gladly paid; and, while we decorate the graves of those who died, to remember also those who still live to deserve our grateful care.
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1
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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2
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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3
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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4
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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5
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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6
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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7
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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8
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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9
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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10
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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11
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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12
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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13
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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14
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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15
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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16
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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17
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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18
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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19
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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20
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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21
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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22
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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23
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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24
glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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25
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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26
lulls
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| n.间歇期（lull的复数形式）vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的第三人称单数形式） | |
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27
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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28
bulge
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| n.突出，膨胀，激增；vt.突出，膨胀 | |
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