Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-08-28
Gitrrnrp Selections.
THE CHARGE OF MAY.
A LEGEND OF MEXICO.
By GEORGE LIPPARD.

with Wnl6 ualF edb dlOlo III d oiud4
chamber of a national mansion, his spare
but muscular figure resting on an arm
chair, his hands clasped and his deep
blue eyes gazing through the Winter sky.
The brow of the old man furrowed with
with wrinkles, his hair rising in straight
masses, white as the driven snow, his
.unken cheeks traversed by marked lines,
and thin lips fxedly compressed, all an
nounced long and stormy life. All the
marks of an iron will were written upon
bis face.
His name need not tell you was
Andrew Jackson, and he sat alone in the
White House.
visitor entered without being an
rornced, and stood before the President
IN the form of boy of nineteen, clad in
a,oar:c round jacket and trousers and
.orseItrom head to foot with mud. As
he stood before the President, cap in
band, the dark hair falling in damp
clusters about his white forehead, the old
man could not help surveying at glance,
ae muscular beauty of his figure, the
broad chest, the sinewy arms, the head
placed proudly on the firm shoulders.
Your business?" said the old man,
in bis short abrupt way.
There is a Lieutenancy vacant in the
Dragons. VIII you give it to me p
And dashing back the dark hair which
fell over his face, the boy, as if fright
ened at his boldness, bowed low before
the President.
The old man could not restrain that
smile. 1t wreathed his firm lip, and
shone out from his clear eyes.
you enter my chamber unannounced
covered from head to foot with mud-you
tell me that a lieutenancy is vacant, and
ask me to give it to you. Who are you p
Charles May" The boy did not
bow this time, but with his right hand on
his hip, stood like wild young Indian,
erect, in the presence of the President.
"What claims have you to a commits
8iou?" Again the Hero surveyed him
and again he family smiled.
Such as you see!" exclaimed the
boy as his dark eyes shone with thai
daredevil light, while his form swelled il
every muscle, as with the conscious pride
of manly strength and beauty. "Woult
you" he bent forward, sweeping aside
his curls once more while a smile begar
to break over his lips" Would you lik,
to see me ride =? My horse is at the door
You see I came post haste for this com
mission p
Silently the old man followed the boy
and together they went forth from tn
White House. 1t was a clear cold Win
ters day the wind tossed the President
white hairs, and the leafess trees stoo
boldly out against the blue sky. Befor
the portals Of the White House, with th
reins thrown loosely on his neck, stood
magnificent horse, his dark hide smokin
with foam. He uttered a shrill neigh ;
the boy-master sprang with bound in
the saddle, and in a flash was gone skin
ming like a swallow down the road, b
main and tail streaming in the breeze.
The old man looked after them, Il
horse and his rider, and knew not whi
toadmire most, the athletic beauty of +
boy, or the tempestuous vigor of t
horse.
Thrice they threaded the avenues
front of the White House, and at l;
stood painting before the President, t
boy leaning over the neck of his stet
4 as he coolly exclaimed" Well-how
you like me ?"
"DO you think you could kill an
II dIan?" the President said, taking him
4 the hand as he leaped from his horse.
"Aye-and eat him afterward:
cried the boy, ringing out his fierce lau
as he read his fate in the old mans ey
You had better come in and get yc
commission :" and the hero of New
q leans led the way into the White Hou
There came night when an old n
President no longer-sat in the sill
chamber Of his hermitage home, pict
OIL age trembling On the verge of e.
m'y' The light that stood upon
table revealed his shrunken form rest
against the pillows which cushioned
arm chair and the death-like palor of
venerable face. In that face, with
White hair and massive forehead, evt
n'ng seemed already dead except
eyes, Their deep gray blue shone
IRE ot New Orleans, as the old man \
II u'' long white fingers grasped lt
II P0s'-marked Washington"