The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-09-02
Mistsllal,p.
THE CHARGE OF NAY.
A LEGEND OF MEXICO.
BY GEORGE LIPrARp.

muscular hSure reStlng on an armchair
his hands clasped and his deep blue eve
gazing through the Wintry sky. Tn,
brow of the old man furrowed with wrink
les his hair raising in straight masses
white as the driven snow, his sunkel
cheeks traversed by marked lines, and
thin lips, tixedly compressed, and announ-
ced long and stormy life. All tn.
marks of an iron viii were written upon
his face.
His name / 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 boy nineteen, clad in a
coarse round jacket and trousers, and
covered from head to foot with mud. AS
h. 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 of his figure: the
broad chest, the head placed proudly on
the firm shoulders.
"Your businessl" said the old man. in
his short, abrupt way.
There is Lieutenancy vacant in the
Dragons. Will you give it to meg
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 retain that
smile. 1t wreathed his firm lip, and
shone from his clear eyes.
You enter my chamber unannounced
covered from head to foot with mud-you
tell that lieutenaney is vacant, and ask
me to give it 10 you. Who are you?'
Charles Maym The boy did not bow
this time, but with his right hand on his
hip, stood Ike wild young Indian, erect
in the presence of the President.
What claims have you to a commits
sion!' again the Hero surveyed him, and
again he family smiled
! Such as you will like!' exclaimed the
boy, as his dark eyes shone 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 like to see me ride? Ny
horse is at the door. You see ] came
post haste for this commission.
Silently the old man followed the boy,
and together they went from the White
House. 1t was clear, cold Winters
day; the wind tossed the Presidents
white haiI S, and the ieafess 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
with foam. He uttered shril neigh rs his
boymaster sprang with bound into the
saddle, and in flash was gone, skim
ming like n swallow down the road, his
name and tail streaming in the breeze.
The old man looked after them, the
horse aud rider, and knew not which to
admire 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 ut last
stood painting before the President, the
boy leaning over the neck of his steed, as
he coolly exclaimed-"Well-how do
you like met"
81 do think you could kill an Indian"
tho president said taking him by the hand,
as he leaped from bis horse.
"Aye-and eat him afterward!' cried
the boy, ringing out bis fierce laugh as
no reads his fate in the old mans eyes.
"You had better como in and get your
and the hero of New Or
leans led the way to the White House.
There came night, when an old man
no longer = sat in the silent
chamber of his Hermitage home, pic
ture of age trembling on the verge of
eternity. The light that stood upon his
table revealed the shrunken form resting
against the pillows which cushioned his
and the death-like pallor of his
face. In that face, with its
white hair, and massive forehead, every
hing seemed already dead, except the
eyes. Their deep grey-blue shone with
he fire of New Orleans, as the old man
With his long white fingers, grasped let
or postmarked Washington"
'They ask me to designate the man
sho shall lead our army, in case the an
,exation of Texas brings on war with
Mexico''-his voice deeptoned and thrill
np, even in that hour Of decrepitude and
lecay, rung the silence of the chamber,
There is only one man who can do it,
md his name is Zachary Taylor"
It was q dark hour when this boy and
his General, both appointed by the sug-
,estions or by the voice of the Man of
he Hermitage, met in the battle Of Res
.cs de Ia Palma.
By the blaze of the cannon, and be-
leath the canopy Of battle smoke, we
viii behold the meeting.
captain May, you must take that bat |
cry"
As the old man uttered these words he !
,ointed far across tho ravine with his
word. 1t was like the glare of a v,lca- |
lo--the steady blaze of that battery,
touring from the darkness Of the chap
,aYel.