The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-04-08


"Such as you see!" exclaimed the hoy,
as his dark eyes shown with that dare
devil light, while his form swelled in every
muscle, as with the conscious pride of his
manly strength and beauty. "Would
you" he bent forward, sweeping aside
his curls once more, while smile began
to break over his lips-"weuld you like
to see me ride! My horse is at the door.
You see come post haste for this COM
mission!' a7 "..
Silently the old man followed the boy
and together they went forth from the
White House 1t was a clear, cold win
ter's day; the wind tossed the Presidents
white hair, and the leafess trees stood
boldly out against the blue sky. Before
the portals of the White House, with the
rein thrown loosely on his neck, stood a
magnificent horse, his dark hide smoking
foam. He uttered shrill neigh as his
boy-master sprang with bonnd into the
saddle, aud in a flash was gone, skimming
like swallow down the road, his name
and tail streaming in the breeze.
The old man looked after them, the
horse and his rider, and knew not which
to admire most, the athletic beauty Of the
boy, or the tempestuous viger of the horse.
Thrice they threaded the avenue in
front of the White House, and at last
stood painting before the President, the
boy leaning over the neck of his steed, as
he coolly exclaimed -"Well how do you
like me?''
do you think you could kill an Indian?"
the President said, taking him by the hand,
as he leaped from his horse.
"Aye-and eat him afterward!' cried
the boy, ringing out his fierce laugh, as he
read his fate in the old mans eyes
''You had better come in and get your
commissions" and the hero of New Orleans
led the way into the White House.
There came a night when an old man
President no longer-sat in the silent
chamber of his hermitage home. picture
of age trembling on the verge of Eternity.
The light that stood upon his table reveal
ed his shrunken form resting against the
pillows which cushioned his armed-char,
and the death-like pallor Of his venerable
face. In that face, with its white hair,
and massive forehead, every thing seemed
already dead, except the eyes. The deep
gray-blue shonc with the fire of New Or
leans, as the old man with his long, white
fingers, grasped a letter postmarked
Washington.
"They ask me to designate the man who
shall lead our army, in case the annexa
tion of Texas brings on war with Mexico
his voice, deep-toned and thrilling, ever
in that hour of decrepitude and decay
rang through the silence of the chamber
There is only one man that can do it
and his name is Zachary Taylor"
1t was dark hour when this boy an(
this General, both appointed at the sug
gestion or by the voice of the man of th'
Hermitage, met at the battle of Resac,
de la Palma
By the blaze ofcannon, and beneath th
canopy of battle smoke, we will beholt
the meeting.
"Capt. May, you must take that bat
tery!"
As the old man uttered these words h
pointed far across the ravine with hi
sword. 1t was like the glare of a volcano
the steady blaze of that battery, pour
ing from the darkness of the chapparel.
Before him summoned from the rear b.
b his command, rose the form of splendi
# soldier, whose hair, waving in long mas
ses, swept his broad shoulders, while hi
9 beard fell over his muscular chest. Hal
n and beard as dark as midnight, framed
3 determined face surmounted by a sma
p cap, glittering with golden tassel. TIL
o young warrior bestrode magni6cien
\ charger, broad in the chest, small in tn
head, delicate in each slender limb, an
v with the nostrils quivering as though the
. shot forth jets of flame. That steed wa
black as death.
: Without word, the soldier turned t
q his men.
Eighty-four forms, with throats an
: breasts bare, eighty-four battle horses
o eighty-four sabres, that rose in the clutc
% of naked arms, and flashed their lightnin
4 over eighty-four faces, knit in every fei
d ture with battle fire.
"a "Men, follow!" shouted the young con
i marder, who had been created soldie
# by the hand of Jackson, as his tall fori
! rose in the stirrups, and the battle breez
+ played with his long black hair.
y There was no response to words, but yo
: should have seen those horses culver b,
n meath the spur, and spring and launc
away. Down upon the sod with one te
% rible beat came the sound of their hoof
while through the air rose in glitterir
h circles those battle scimitars.
d Four yards in front rode May, himse
% and his horse the subject of thousan
eyes, SO certain was the death that loome
It before him; proudly in his warrior beau
e he rode that steed, his hair floating fro
beneath his cap in raven curls upon Il
I wind
II He turns his head--his men see his fat
d with stern lip and knit brow, they feel II
- fire of his eyes, they hear-not "Men fo