The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-03-25
THE CHARG E OF III AY
A Legend of Mexico.
BY GEORGE LIPPARD.

There was day when an old man with white
hair sat alone in small chamber of 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 wrin-
kles, his hair rising in straight masses, white as
helriven snow, his sunken cheeks traversed by
marked lines and thin lips, fxedly compressed,
all announced long and stormy life. All the
marks of an iron will were written upon his face.
His name | need not tell you was Andrew
Jackson and he sat alone in the White House.
A visitor entered without being announced,
and stood before the President in the form of a
boy of nineteen, clad in coarse round jacket
and trousers, and covered from head to foot with
mud As he stood before the President, cap in
hand, the dark hair falling in damp clusters about
his white forehead, the old man could not help
surveying at a rapid glance the muscular beauty
ofhi figure, the broad chest the sinewy arms,
the head placed proudly on the firm shoulders.
"Your business?" said the old man, in his ab-
rupt way.
"There is a Leutenancy vacant in the Dra-
goons. VIII you give it to me?'
And dashing back the dark hair which fell
over his face, the boy as if frightened at his
boldness, bowed low before the President.
The old man could not restrain that smile
1t wreathed his firm lip, and shone from his
clear eyes.
"You enter my chamber unannounced, cover
ell from head to foot with mud-you tell me
that lcutenancy is vacant, and ask me to give
tito YOU Who are you?''
"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.
"Nhat claims have you to commission?'-
again the he Hero surveyed him, and again he
family smiled
''Such as you see!'' exclaimed the boy, as his
dark eyes shone with that daredevil light, while
his form sweled in every muscle, as with the
G mscious pride Of his manly strength and beaG-
ty. Would you he bent forward, sweep
ing aside his curls once more, while smile be-
gan to break over his lips "Would you like to
see me rider My horse is at the door. You SEE
Icane post haste for this commission|'
Silently the old man followed the boy, anc
together they went forth from the White House
1t was,a clear cold Winters day; the wind tos
sed the Presidents white hairs, and the leahes'
trees stood boldly out against the blue sky
Before the portals of the White House, witt
the rein thrown loosely on his neck, stood mag
nincent horse, his dark hide smoking foam.--
lie uttered shrill neigh as his boy master
sprang with q bound into the saddle, and in ;
Aashwas gone, skiming like a swallow down tht
road, his name and tail streaming in the breeze
The old man looked after them, the hors
and his rider, and knew not which to admir-
most the athletic beauty of Theology, or the tenn
pestuous yigor Of the horse. y
sThrice they threaded the avenues in front O
the White House, and at last stood painting be
fore the President the boy leaning over the necl
of his steed, as he coolly exclaimed-"Well-
how doyou like me?"
',Do you think you could kill an Indian?'' th
Presidehtsad, taking him by the hand, as h
leaped from his horse.
".Aye---and eat him afterward!" cried the boy
ringing out his fierce laugh as he read his fat
in theold ipan's eyes. 'H3"'t+-
"You had better come in and get your com
mission;D and the hero Of New Orleans led tn
ywav into tha White House
There came night, when an old man, Pres
idont no longer sa; in the silent chamber @
his Hermitage home, . picture of age trembling
on the verge Of Eternity. 4 The light that stoo,
upon his table revealed his shrunken form rest
ngagainst the pillows which cushioned his arm
chair, and the death-like pallor of his venerabl
face I'd that face, with its white hair, an,
massive forehead, everything seemed alread
deAd, kept the eyes. Their, deep gray-bhl
shpnea gith the fire Of New Orleans, as the oil
man with his long, white fingers, grasped d let
ter pest-marked Washington aw
,,aThey ask me tp designate the man who shal
lead our army, incasc the annexation Of 1exa
brings on war with Mexico '--his voice, deep
toned andthrilling, even in that hour Of deere
ituds and decay, rung through the silence Of tn