t ve sit us aroundt mit der table,
Undt ve speak uf der oldt, oldt time,
Ven we lif un dot house mit der gable,
Un der vine-cladt banks uf der Rhine;

Undt mine fadter, his voice vos a quiver,
Undt mine modter, her eyes vos un tears,
Ash da dthot uf dot home un der river,
Undt kindt friendst uf earlier years;

Undt I saidt du mine fadter be cheerie,
Du mine modter not longer lookt sadt,
Here's a blace undt a rest for der weary,
Und ledt us eat, drink, undt be gladt.

So idt ever vos cheerful mitin;
Vot dtho' idt be stormy mitoudt,
Vot care I vor der vorld undt idts din,
Ven dose I luf best vos about;

So libft up your ghlass, mine modter,
Undt libft up yours, Gretchen, my dear,
Undt libft up your lauger, mine fadter,
Undt drink du long life und good cheer."

21. Francis Union was shot and killed by one of our own sentinels last
night, the ball entering just under the nose. This resulted from the
cowardice of the soldier who fired. He was afraid to give the necessary
challenge: four simple words: "Halt! who comes there?" would have saved
a life. This illustrates the danger there is in visiting pickets at
night. If the sentinel halts the man, the man may fire at the sentinel.
The latter, if timid, therefore makes sure of the first shot, and does
not challenge. We buried the dead soldier with all the honors due one of
his rank, on a beautiful hill in the rear of our fortifications. He was
with me on the mountain chopping, a few days ago, strong, healthy,
vigorous, and young. No more hard work for him!

23. With Wagner, Merrill, and Bowen, I rode up the mountain on our left
this afternoon. We had one field-glass and two spy-glasses, and obtained
a magnificent view of the surrounding country. Here and there we could
see a cultivated spot or grazing farm on the top of the mountain; but
more frequently these were on the slopes. We descried one house with our
glasses on the very tiptop of Rich, and so far away that it seemed no
larger than a tent. How the man of the house gets up to his airy height
and gets down again puzzles us. He has the first gush of the sunshine in
the morning, and the latest gleam in the evening. Very often, indeed, he
must look down upon the clouds, and, if he has a tend