mine, I tried to
quiet him down a bit; telling him it wor bad fur
his wownd to be so res'less (fur every time he
tossed, thar kim a little leap o' blood from his
breast); an' at last, about foore o'clock in the
day, he opened his eyes quite sensible like, an'
says to me, he says, 'Dear matey, is that you?
Thank you fur coming to see me afore I die.'

"'No, Bill, don't talk so,' I says, a strivin' to
be cheerful like, tho' I seed death in his face,
'You'll be well afore long.'

"'Aye, well in heaven,' he says; and then, arter a
minnit, 'Jerry,' he says, 'thar's a little bounty
money as belongs to me in my knapsack, an' my
month's wages. I want you, wen I am gone, to take
it to my mother, an' tell her--'(he wor gaspin'
fearful)--'as I died--fightin' fur my country--an'
the flag. God bless you, Jerry--you hev been a
good frien' to me, an' I knows as you'll do
this--an' bid the boys good-by--fur me.'

"I promised, wi' the tears streamin' down my
cheeks; an' then we wor quiet a bit, fur it hurt
Bill's breast to talk, an' I could not say a wured
fur the choke in my throat. Arter a while he says,
'Jerry, won't you sing me the hymn as I taught you
aboard the transport? about the Lord our Captin?'

"I could hardly find v'ice to begin, but it wor
Bill's dying wish, an' I made shift to sing as
well as I could--

"'We air marchin' on together
To our etarnal rest;
Niver askin' why we're ordered--
For the Lord He knoweth best.
Christ is our Captain!
'Forred!' is His word;
Ranks all steady, muskets ready,
In the army o' the Lord!

"'Satan's hosts are all aroun' us,
An' strive to enter in;
But our outworks they are stronger
Nor the dark brigades o' sin!
Christ is our Fortress!
Righteousness our sword;
Truth the standard--in the vanguard--
O' the army o' the Lord!

"'Comrads, we air ever fightin'
A battle fur the right;
Ever on the on'ard movement
Fur our home o' peace an' light.
Christ is our Lead