[The Red Acorn by John McElroy]@TWC D-Link bookThe Red Acorn CHAPTER VII 1/16
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Pomp and Circumstances of Glorious War. But man, proud man, Dressed in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he's most assured, * * * * * Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven As make the angels weep, who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal. -- Measure for Measure "Abe, you remember how that man who made the speech when our colors were presented to us talked of 'the swelling hearts of our volunteers,' don't you ?" said Kent Edwards, as he and Abe Bolton lounged near the parade-ground one fine afternoon, shortly after the arrival of the regiment in camp of instruction.
"You remember that that was his favorite figure of rhetoric, and he repeated it several times ?" "Don't know anything about figger of retterick," growled Abe, who, his comrades said, had the evenest temper in the regiment, "for he was always mad.
But I do remember that he said that over several times, with a lot o' other things without much pint to 'em, until I thought I'd drop, I was so thirsty and tired." "Yes? Well, now if you want to get a good idea of what that expression meant, look over there.
Not only his heart swells, but he swells all over." "I should think he did," replied Abe, after a moment's inspection. "Unless his hat has an Injy-rubber band, he'll have to git it cut offen his head, which ought to be hooped, for it can't swell no more without busting." It was Jacob Alspaugh crossing the parade ground in more than Solomonic splendor of uniform.
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