MEMORIES OF THE 



charge both for whiskey and a Bible. In his particular case, I 

 know that the two things did not ''work together for good." 



Every man of military age was an enrolled soldier, liable and 

 compelled to do military duty. The terms of actual service, con- 

 sisting of special and general trainings, were short, but the re- 

 quirement of actual service under the ''Floodwood" militia law 

 was imperative, and I find numerous charges, "To paid your 

 fine, twenty-five cents," entered against those who failed to turn 

 out when ''warned," showing that "militarism" and "im- 

 perialism " of the most drastic kind then existed. But they 

 seemed to enjoy it. No one had yet explained its dangers, 

 they despised tories, and all took pride in standing by the gov- 

 ernment and upholding its flag. 



At these gatherings it was the custom of almost every one to 

 have a general good time. For instance, "Team to general 

 training and your share of rum, thirty-seven and one-half cents." 

 This charge being made against three or four well-known young 

 men of the neighborhood shows that, while they were not on any 

 expensive blow-out, each was expected to keep up his end. 



These general trainings also seemed to make a demand for 

 and turn loose a little actual cash, and I find several instances 

 where from two to four shillings were borrowed of father by 

 people at general training. I also find one of the reliable dea- 

 cons of our church in 1824 with this charge against him, "To 

 pay your whiskey bill at training, thirty-seven and one-half 

 cents." Father was then lieutenant-colonel of the Fifty-fifth, 

 and it looks as if he had to put up for the boys either to secure 

 good order and military discipline or to maintain his own popu- 

 larity with the line. 



As my memory of my father was only that of the strictest 

 temperance man, I was not exactly prepared to find charges for 



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