Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-06-19

must 90 without SUPPER Our En-
sign was very poor-he was friend
less, very young, and constituiionalll
shy.
On the other hand, the officers o
the station were generally well sup
piled with money, and had nothing
to do but spend it; they lived fasI
and high, and were, by all their
habits and tastes, unpleasant com
panions for such as he. Besides his
retiring manners, there was some
thing else in him which disinclined
him to their society, and exposed
him to their dislike; this was a GER
tain air of self-respect, showing re-
Ifinement and culture and a strict
propriety of language and manners
which quietly, but all the more Sc
verely, rebuked their general loose
ness and rudeness Of conduct. They
hated him for the manner he entered
the army, and still worse for his per-
sonal character and demeanor among
them. All this had its effect upon
him also, and so the breach between
them widened every day.
A certain amount and kind Of cour-
tesy he was entitled to, by the rules
of the service, this they gave him, but
so sharply measured out, that every
salute was an affront, and every look
an insult, and he might have had
cause of quarrel at any moment that
he pleased. 1t was, in fact, the set
tied purpose OF several Of these men
TO drive him out Of the army by
their inciviIities, OF to drive him into
duel, and so dispose oil him fnally.
This grew worse continually
The contempt Of the old officers for
the young Ensign, and his repug
nance to them. increased with every
meeting, until they paid no kind of
respect to his feelings, and he avoi-
ded them with a caution that looked
like an antipathy. The worst of all
was the evident conviction in the
minds Of the whole garrison that he
was a coward-a character most
shameful in a soldier. and, in any
man, weakness that renders every
other virtue worthless.
Poor fellow! he was alone, friend
less, and without a dollar in the
world but his monthly pay. With
these beggarly circumstances he was
scholar and a gentleman, with feel
ings rendered over-sensitive by high |
culture and recent misfortunes. But
his chief impediment was con-
science--a religious sense of right, !
which left hun no liberty to relieve
himself or mend his prospects by |
any means which the highest moral !
ity forbade. He suffered much eve-
ry way, and the most of it all he en-
dured for righteousness sake" Or
course he had the strength and noble
ness which such a sentiment bestows;
but il is easier to do great things than
10 bear little ones. There are more
heroes than saints in the world. St.
Peter was not afraid of the soldiers
in the garden, but he was ashamed
Of his master in the Judgment Hall.
To bear disgrace, and shame, and
scorn, to stand quiet under suspicious
that drive one out OF society, for the
sake Of principle which nobody be-
Iieves or respects-thiS is cross bear
ing.
Our young hero occupied the po-
sition Of soldier and a gentleman,
with the character of a coward ana
slave! 1t was a bitter cup, and his
enemies kept il constantly at his
lips.
One day he received an invitation
rs a matter of course, to dine with
the General in command, who had
Just arrived at the station. A meet
ng with his brother officers promised
him no pleasure, and he was person.
ally stranger to the General, who
knew nothing OF him but by report
Of those who despised him.. He
TO arrive at the latest allow
able moment, and he contrived to
procure a seat al the table next to
he General, who, both as his host
md superior officer, was bound to
afford him protection from the inso-
ence Of the company. II
| need not say how the dinner .
hour passed with him. Totally si-
ent and neglected, except for the 8
Necessary notice of the General, the l
lime so full of pleasure to the COM i
oany, wore away heavy and painful I
70 him; but he was contented to es. y
;ape rudeness, and made Indifference
comparatively welcome. 's II
After the cloth was removed, the
vine circulated, the company drank
RELY, the mirth grew loud, and the :
presence Of our young friend was (;
iearly forgotten, until a circumslaneett
IF a startling character brought him 5
nto notice. The General suddenly n
:ried out, "Gentlemen, have lostmy a