Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-09-30
MISCELL AN Y.
Victory and Conquest.

BY BEN. PERLEY POORE.
"By the right flank, march," sportively ex-
claimed little Charlie Dalton, as the family lefy
the psrlor, in obedience To the basement SUM-
mons of the tea-bell.
| Perhaps, in the outset it would be well to in
troduce the tea-drinkers individually, commen-
cling with the head of the house, although he
would have been indignant had any one told
him that many thousand citizens in these o.
States had never heard of Peter Dalton, Step
by step he had risen from bakers kneading
| trough, until he controlled the flour trade of N.
! York. and was reputed a millionaire. For some
| wears he continued bis unpretending career, but
failure in the Irish potato crop enabled hum to
pocket cool fifty thousand in one short week and
he suddenly became ambitious to figure in the
"upper ten." Under the expen5iyely classic di-
rectons of professional artist, his comfortable
house, from cellar to attic, underwent thorough
alteration. The pellucid Croton spouted forth
in every story, gas was introduced into every
room, the carved wooden mantel-pieces were
replaced by contracted marble slab, and fur
mace in the cellar poured forth its life destroy
ing heat. French broadcloth was substituted
for snuff colored cashmere, the heavy boots
gave way to patent feathers, and in place OF his
silver bowed spectacles, the rejuvenated beau
dangleu u BOlu eye grass tue uSo vi ~H'ou WAS
anything but convenient
Mrs. Dalton, strange to say, did not partici-
pate in the ambitious projects of her husband,
and much preferred the unostentatious quiet in
which the greater part of her life had been pass.
ed. The gay companions with whom her husband
now associated, in her opinion, only tolerated
them on account of their wealth, and she dis
liked thrusting herself into set where her good
1900 1o,-bt ba. eha uas daopisa1 Rut oha Woo
forced to submit, while her more pretending
spouse gave her many lecture upon her super
animated notions and foolish timidity.
Lizzie Dalton, their only daughter, had been
educated at home, under the tender and watch
lul guidance of her mother, whose views upon
domestic happiness she shared. She was deli
cately formed, with expressive features-deter
mined, yet tempered with winning expression
of sadness. Dark tresses shaded clear olive
complexion, and when she appeared in ball
room, many an envious glance from less favored
bellies testified to her superior beauty. Happy
in herself, happy in her home, happy in the
friendship of those who knew her, she had no
desire to become bright meteor in the starry
realms of fashion. Often did she endeavor to
curb her fathers ambitious plunges, but he only
become indignant, and at length both daughter
and mother determined to humor his whims.-
Perhaps, if the truth were known, they hoped
he would see the holowness of such frivolity
and, at any rate, they rejoiced that little Charlie
was as frank aud natural as he was before he had
a pony to ride, or gold watch to get out of or
der. Such, dear reader, were the Daltons, as
we found them on their way to the tea-table.
"Charles," said the 'head of the house" when
they were seated at the table, what did you
say in the entry"
"Say2 Oh, remember, father, said, BY the
right flank, march 7"
sand where did you pick up that vulgar say
ingl I'll wollop you some day, ifyou don't quit
being vulgar"
"lts not vulgar, SIR" replied the lad, his
cheeks flushing with modification. ATS mil
itary command"
military humbug!" was the stern reply
"Judge Snobson tells me that all our volunteer
companies are composed Of low fellows, and are
of no use."
"But sir, stammered Charlie, 81 learned this
from seeing the jackson Musketeers' drill on
the Washington Parade Ground, and their cap
tain is Norton Parker, for whose father you used
to wo-"
"Go to bed [" interrupted the now enraged
merchant. "How dare you allude to such mat
ters2"
The boy lett the room, and no sooner had the
door closed behind him than the storm of words
burst forth. ~ see how it is, mother; you and
Liz are trying to humbug me, and let that baker
marry her-the low paltry mechanic. And he
must needs make fool of himself, strutting a.
round the streets rigged up like q monkey on a
hand-organ. | see how the catjumps. Charlie
goes to see 'em drill, and comes home full of
fright fanks' for his sister. I'll right flank him,
nj"
No one knows what he would have done, or
rather threatened, had there not been loud
pull at the hall bell, which cut short his denun-
citation. Meanwhile, Mrs. Dalton, her eyes cast
down, had waited until the storm could blow
over; but the crimson cheeks of Lizzie too clear
ly proved that the words had their significance.
Yes Lizzie Dalton loved, and her love was that
pure and holy feeling which links hearts thro'
life, and re-untes them in world of more e2-
alted purity. Norton Parker, who had won her
heart, was nobly worthy of it. A master baker,
he was Industrious and prosperous, seeking re-
taxation only in the martial exercises of the vol
unteer militia. Remembering the cautionary
ad vice of the immortal Washington, he deemed
it the duty-as it is the privilege-of every A
merican citizen to bear arms. The social plea
sures of the drill room, the animating maneuvres