Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-04-10
miscellaneous.
THE CHARGE OF MAY.
A LEGEND OF MEXICO.
ny GEORGE LIPPARD.

There was a day when an old man
with white hair sat alone in small cham
Der 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 the driven snow, his sunken
cheeks traversed by marked lines, and
thin lips, fixed compressed, all announced
long and stormy life. All the marks
of iron will were written upon his face
His name l need not tell you was An
drew jackson, and he sat alone in the
White House.
A visitor entered without being an
nounced, 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 clus-
tiers about his white forehead, the old
man could not help surveying at a rapid
glance, the muscular beauty Of his figure,
the broad chest, the sinewy arms, the
head placed proudly on the firm Shout
ders.
"Your business ?" said the old man,
in his short, abrupt way.
"There is Lieutenancy vacant in the
Dragons. viii you give it to me ?"
And 6ashing 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 from his clear eyes.
You entcrmy chamber unannounced
covered from head to foot with mud
you tell me that Lieutenancy is vacant,
and ask Inc to give it to you. Who arc
youw
"Charlcs May~ The boy did moi
bow this time, but with his right hand on
his hip, stood like a wild young Indian,
erect, in the presence of the President.
"What claims have you to commits.
sion 7" again the Hero surveyed him, and
again family smiled.
"Such as you sec !" exclaimed the
boy, as his dark eyes shone with that
daredevil light, while his form swelled
in every muscle, as if with a conscious
pride of his manly strength and beauty
would you"-he bent forward, sweep.
ing aside his curls once more, while a
smile began TO break over his lips
"would you like to sec me ride? Ny
horse is at the door. You see / came
post haste for this commission p
Silently the old man followed the boy,
and together they went forth from the
White House. 1t was clear, cold win
ter's day, the wind tossed the Presidents
white hairs, and the leahess trees stood
boldly out against the blue sky, Before
the portals of the White House, with the
rein thrown loosely on his neck, stood n
magnificent horse, his dark hide smoking
foam. He uttered shrill neigh as his
boy-master sprang with a bound into the
saddle, and in a flash was gone, skim
ming like a swallow down the road,
his name and tail streaming in the
breeze.
The old man looked after them, the
horse and his rider, and he knew not
which to admire the most, the athletic
beauty Of the boy, or the tempestuous
vigor Of the horse.
Thrice they threaded the avenues in
front Of the White House, and at last
stood painting before the President, the
boy leaning over the neck of his stecd
as he coolly exclaimed-"well, how do
you like me Z"
"Do you think you could kill an In
dian 2" the President said, taking him by
the hand, as he leaped from his horse
"Aye-and cat him afterwar1T cried
the boy, ringing out bis fierce laugh as
he read bis fate in the old mans eyes
"You had better come in and get your
commission y and the hero Of New Or.
leans led the way into the White House