The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-03-28
L o w n Q U 4 r L E r S.
From the German.

WHEN young men have been for a long
time confined to the dull monotony of
| barrack life, with lis never ending labor of
cleaning spoiless trappings and accoutre-
ments, It's daily drills, and the mngling
with men whose tastes and habits are not
congenial to their own, it is relief to
them if, on march, they are allowed TO
spend short time at town where di-
vision of quarters abstracts them from the
surveillance of petty officers, and allows
them little larger liberty. Thus we
were happy to reach a provincial town
early on an afternoon, where we were 10
remain until next morning; and it cannot
be called helnous wrong if we went to
excesses Of merriment, which otherwise
would have been avoided. st...
No sooner were the horses stabbed at
our respective quarters, and our persons
cleaned from the dust Of the road, than a
party OF choice spirits met for an after
noon's sport. First, we measured the
town IN all It's dimensions, playing off
many an innocent joke on unsuspectlng
peasants on the way, and in the evening
we adjourned to my room,.where the time
was spent III merry making. About nine
O'Clock we issued forth, in the merriest
humor in the world, to take an evening
walk.
Unluckily, one of the party suggested
10 us the acting of a Joke, which we car
ried into execution with considerable eff
feet.
As the front doors OF the houses in
town were mostly open, we would enter
and walk up into the topmost story. Here
we would begin to make noise, and,
when any one came TO see what was the
matter, one of the party would ask meek
ly-
81 beg your pardon. but is this the resi-
dence of Mr.. Miller!''
The answer, of course, was always, No;
and then we would descend, dragging our
sabreS after US, and clinking with our
spurs on the stairs as noisy as possible.
Emboldened by our success, we paid a
visitation to some dozen of houses or
more, and entered now splendid man.
sion in the heart of the town. Some of
US, and for one, hestated on .he thresh-
old; but then, as Col. Won Thalberg, with
his staff, had taken quarters near the out
Skirts of the town, our fears were allayed
and we entered.
As we reached the top landing, ser
want met us and inquired, somewhat rude
ly, what we wanted.
1t being my turn to be spokesman for
the party, put the usual query, and was
answered briefly in the negative.
"Beg your pardon" said L; ''face about,
boys! forward, march!''
And away went the party, making a
noise In their descent like bedlam let
loose. Doors opened in every direction
as we passed, and ladies', gentlemen, and
servants, looked out too see what was the
matter.
| did not feel quite comfortable, and
Jagged behind the rest, SO that they were
full stairs length ahead of me. Sudden
ly, as was entering on the second stars,
| heard voice below
'Zehntausend Donnerwetter! what is
that! Why, you young scapegallows. I'll
have you shot like parcel Of dogs!-
What a noise is this to make in a gentle
mans house!''
1t was the voice of our colonel!
Here was predicament. | knew that
the violent temper of the old man would
subject US to a severe punishment, and as
l had not been seen by him, the thought
struck me of escaping If | could. There
was door by my side; the temptation
was too great; opened it and entered.
This was, apparently, jumping from
the frying pan into the fire, for in the room
were two young girls just in the act of
undressing for the night. As eutered,
they both jumped behind screen that
stood at the other end of the room, which
hid their figures from view; although their
pretty little heads were still visible,