as
decidedly keeps. The roar of laughter which followed this unexpected
discomfiture was probably more pleasant to the ears of Oscar than to those
of his antagonist.

Another case in which our hero was concerned related to the legitimate
business of the sutler's tent, and was told in Company E to the amusement
of many, by poor Hunter, who afterwards while in the performance of duty
at the Shenandoah, fell through an opening in the bridge in an unguarded
moment and was drowned.

The story was something like this: "Well yer see de feller he comes up
'mongst de crowd, an' says he, I wants a _fried pie_. So I takes de fried
pie an' hands it to him, an' looks for de money; but somehow de feller
gits shook up in de crowd, an' I hav'nt seen _him_; nor de _money_, nor de
_fried pie_ since." This was given with capital powers of imitation, and
never failed to "bring down the house."

There is something which irresistably appeals, in many phases of the
African character, to our American sense of humor. At the same time we
discover running through it a vein of sentiment, which blending with the
other, dignifies the effect.

"'Way down upon de Swanee Riber,
Far, far away;
Dere's where my heart am turning eber,
Dere's where de old folks stay.

When I was in de fields a hoeing,
Near set ob sun;
So glad to hear de horn a blowing,
Telling dat de work was done.

O, den de darkies frolic sweetly,
Banjo in tune;
Dinah and Phillis dressed so neatly,
Dance by de big round moon."

CHAPTER III.

HARPER'S FERRY.

For some weeks the Thirty-Fourth had remained in Washington, D. C.,
furnishing daily heavy details of neatly equipped men for guard duty;
principally to be employed in guarding the Carroll and Old Capitol
Prisons. During this time the general soldierly deportment of the rank and
file, together with the fine appearance of the regiment on dress parade,
attracted much attention and called forth many complimentary expressions
from the residents of Washington.

But "marching orders" do not stop to take counsel of their subjects, and
on a well-remembered evening in July, 1863, they turned our quiet barracks
into a scene of bustle and confusion. A ride of a few hours over the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad brought us into the immediate vicinity of
Harper's Ferry.

The activity which prevailed throughout our force on the morning of July
14th made it evident to all that a movement a