FUN IN CAMP.
Weary and monotonous indeed, would be many of the days spent in camp by
the soldier, did not something crop out of an amusing nature, either in
the proper members of the camp or in some of its motley group of
followers.
One such safety-valve was found in a stout, unctuous darkey, who seemed to
be the "right hand man" of our regimental sutler. Worthy Oscar! I know not
whether thou dost still walk on this earth of ours, or hast entered the
spirit land which so many of thy brave fellow-Africans reached, who with a
more warlike spirit than thine, died on fields of duty and glory. Peace to
thee, in any event, for none more faithfully performed his duty.
On one occasion, however, the "even tenor of his way" was rudely broken in
upon, to the great amusement of the large number who happened to be in
view of that part of the camp at the time. It seems that a private soldier
of mischievous propensities had been for some time teasing our colored
friend by thrusting a burning twig from the camp fire into his face; yet
during the ordeal he had kept his patience, and only tried to get rid of
his tormentor by entreaties. Suddenly he turns upon him, forbearance
having ceased to be a virtue in the case, and the two fall heavily to the
ground; Oscar having decidedly the advantage of his enemy, which he 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."