The Story of Paul Boyton | Page 9

About this time the war of the rebellion broke out and the fever burned
fiercely in Pittsburgh and vicinity. Paul longed to join the great bodies
of troops that were being hurried to the front, especially so, when he
saw boat loads of his old friends, the gallant "buck-tail" boys coming

down the river to enlist. He spent all his spare time hanging around the
headquarters of the forming regiments. One day he asked a recruiting
officer if he needed a drummer boy. "You are pretty small, sonny," said
the soldier, "can you drum?" "No," said Paul, "but I can learn mighty
quick." Pleased with the answer, the soldier took him to his
headquarters and said: "Here is a little volunteer." Paul was closely
questioned and untruthfully assured the officers in charge that his
mother would be glad to get rid of him. That night he was enrolled in
Colonel Cass' Regiment. Next day he began his drum practice, an
exercise that was rudely interrupted by the appearance of his mother,
who lead the "warrior bold" home by the ear.
CHAPTER II.
His parents now decided to send Paul away to school. The college they
selected was situated in the heart of the Alleghany Mountains about
four miles from the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was far from any water
course or river, and surrounded by a dense forest of pines. Paul's
mother accompanied him to the college. She told the faculty of his
peculiar passion for the water and the dread she had of losing him. Mrs.
Boyton was assured that her boy would be taken good care of. Paul was
permitted to escort her as far as the village where she took the stage for
the rail road again. Their farewell was most affectionate. Paul cried
bitterly, not only for the parting from his mother whom he loved so
well, but for the feeling that he was being exiled for all his crimes and
misdemeanors. The fall session had not yet begun so he had ample time
to become acquainted with the few boys who were already at the
college and to explore the dark pine woods that seemed a new world to
him. Paul inquired eagerly if there was any water in the vicinity. The
boys told him there was a place called the "swimming hole" about two
miles from the college. Next day he coaxed some of his companions to
show him the way. He found a pond, little larger than a hole,
surrounded by heavy vegetation and inhabited by a colony of frogs. He
was soon swimming in its depths and had induced two or three of the
boys to follow his example. Day after day he visited the hole and made
out to enjoy a swim; but he always thought longingly of the far off,
bright Alleghany.

One day a teamster who sometimes came to the college, told Paul of a
sheet of water that was much larger than the swimming hole. He called
it "Bruce's Dam." Next morning Paul and a Philadelphia boy named
Stockdale, who was his particular chum, obtained permission to go out
of bounds. They had managed during breakfast to appropriate a
sufficient supply of bread and butter for all day. They started out to find
Bruce's dam. A long and weary tramp they had over the mountains.
They turned aside often to chase the gray squirrels that abounded in
that country, and they wasted much time in a fruitless attempt to dig out
a red fox, that had crossed their path and shot down a hole in the
ground. They were so long reaching the dam that they thought they
must have been misdirected. They were about to return, when Paul
suddenly said, "Hark! I think I hear water!" They listened intently for a
few seconds. A sound again came through the woods. They struck out a
little to the right and were soon at the long-sought, dam. It was a body
of water about one hundred yards wide and five hundred yards long.
Enormous pine stumps protruded through the surface. There was a
miserable looking saw-mill situated at the lower end. Two men were
employed in drawing out logs and ripping them up into boards. Paul
tittered a joyful cry as he perceived that the water was both clear and
deep. Hastily he divested himself of his clothing and "Stockie" slowly
followed his example. As they stood naked on the bank, before their
plunge, a snake shot out almost from under then feet, and swam
gracefully over the surface to a stump a little distance off. That was
enough for "Stockie," who resumed his clothes. Paul did not like the
idea of snakes in the water, still he had traveled far for a swim and he
was resolved to have it and