The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-07-15
Abbeville q. H., $. q. July Is, 1896.

| N-'o ANNe~h tio'luS FlSltcu all
posts, the Lieutenant was sitting by the
camp fire, with his face buried in his
hands, and his elbows resting on his
knees, when he heard the following
conversation carried on in an under
tone, by two soldiers, at little distance
from him.
"Joe, you heard what confounded
rule they made about the sentinels, to-
day?"
"No, aint; what is it2"
Why, they passed rule, that every
sentinel they catch asleep, on duty, shall
De shot; because they say we are in
the proximity, (or some such word as
thaD of the enemy. You have 10 90 out
next time, don't you?"
Yes but Pm not going to slecpn
I WelEyou see that man yonder3it-
ting on the log2 He's officer of the.
guard tonight, and if you don't look
OUT, he'll take your gun from you, while
you are wide awake, just to show you
how easy an Indian could have done
it,"
| There was pause Of some moments,
during which the person addressed,
took deliberate survey OF the Lieuten-
ant, and then said, in drawlline man
nier, that ne intended should be empha-
| tic:
CPL be confluderated if he gets my
gun, BiIlp'
The Lieutenant said nothing, but
rose to revisit the post again previous to
the sentries being relieved. He found
all in order, until he had proceeded
about half round, when approaching
one OF the sentries who was stationed by
large tree, he saw, by the motions of
his head, that he was, what is generally
termed, "nodding." He was seated
with his arms, near the elbow resting
on his knees; and his gun, which had
fallen from his hands, was leaning
| against his shoulder, with the butt on the
ground, between his feet. The Lieu
tenant approached him softly, and pla-
cling himself behind the tree, at his back.
took the gun gently by the barrel, and
had almost drawn it from him. when the
lock, catching by some part of his cloth
ing, awakened him. Suddenly Jump
ing up, he seized his gun, and exclaim-
ed
"I'll be id if was asleep. was
not asleep"
SHOW dare you then, sir" said the of:
ficer, sternly, "let me approach you in
this manner, without hailing if you
were not asleep2"
swell, oficer-to tell the truth
was asleep; but you know we have had
tlresome march today, and 1 could
not help it."
!" have marched with my company
all day, and have not had the opportuni-
ties OF rest you enjoyed"
was overcome, against my inclina-
ton, this time. officer. I hope you will
not report mel"
II must do my duty, sir" said the of:
ficer, sternly, as he turned to pursue his
rounds.
The sentinel resumed his station,
with the feelings of man who knows
ne has to meet some fearful destiny,
which he cannot avoid, and yet has
some faint hope that he may escape
The feIon's death stared him in the face,
and for the simple fault of yielding,
when he could no longer resist, to the
calls of nature. Nothing tends more to
take away that frmness of character
which belongs to man, and to destroy
his selfpossession than state of sus.
pense. The criminal, condemned to
die, when there is no hope of pardon,
may look with calmness upon his ,ap-
preaching end; because there being no
alternative, he can summon all his en-
ergies to aid IN the only struggle, and
bring his whole mind to bear upon one
particular point. But only give him a
hope of escape, and you divide the mind
1t wavers between the desire of life
and the fear of death-there is conflict
in himself, and as the two feelings must
be equal, and opposed to each other
each claims an equal share of the mind,
and prevents its acting as a whole,
which naturally DESTROYS the force of