THE extempore speech and prayer sometimes took odd turns. I was present
when a Defender (her customary name for Uncle Sam's soldier-lads) rose
and said he wished to confess to the brethren some particulars of a sinful
life. There was once, in such a town, a godless youth—said he—and went on to
paint his career: how at the age of twelve he smoked cigars and threw the Bible
at his grandmother; at fourteen he played ten-pins and went sailing on Sunday;
at sixteen he ran away from home, etc., etc.,—and when we expected the usual
conclusion, “and I, who address you to-night, my friends, am that forsaken lad,”
surprised us by clapping his hand on the shoulder of an innocent, blushing youth
in front of him, one of the steadiest boys in the camp, and shouting his climax,
“Which his name is Asy Allen and here he sets!”

[figure description] Tipped in Erratum.[end figure description]

ERRATUM.

By an error of the publishers the above sketch “From `Hospital
Days”' was inserted in this book. It should not have been, as
Mark Twain is not the author of it. It will not appear in any
future edition.

[figure description] Tipped in Erratum.[end figure description]

p503-301

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