The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-09-20
THE OLD SERGEANT,
OR,
Injustice Defeated.

There, fsil or. exclaimed Meta IAird-"th,r.s :
Is not thAts beauty determined you should
have . new fishing basket for your FIRST days ASH
ing this sesson--lo k ist not nice 40 white ,ai
clean, and much l,rrer than tie old ONE s-,,, :
deal larger, and am sure It Is hsndso mer-.A.- ]
lovely morning deserves pretty bssLsl Aad
here you see Is ss'plrsts place my own co1,ry-
sncs) where you can keep your knife and hooks 4
and lines all dry and tidy-so good bye 70 ~. "a
ba.iet really was ashamed 10 see 70 oT7 d.. {
ling father with that ,un-dried, broken-lp tsins.
call this the perfection of basket"
The fisherman took ,ho g7N, and kissed the round
rosy cheek Of the donor. Meis was ever irving % d.
surprise this much loved "fAthor' into nes e
pleasures while, ruth tot,l, he woud h,ve gre.
y preferred quietly to indulge tho OH ones lie
had positive .hectlon for hl, ,ncicnt hsh ns b..-
tei ; IL rad been n him ass friend and co-lp,nio,
before Meta Old ENOUGH 20 b. either the ole or
the other; but he would not sude to tbs ana
spoil her dshght-ee sihm tied to all sorts n small
irco1yeniencss without q m irrnur. MetA vas on.
~ those active LITTLE creatures comprehenline q
once tie advantage of every improvement which
came under her very limited observation and
practising whenever Il wa. possible TO do sol ia
working out upon her father. II had been VIC
tin " pair Of "expanGing" braces which instead
Of expanding Gu, into his shoulder WHEN.
ever he attempted 70 throw his line n.
would not tell Meta FOR tho worid--she had {" sur.
pri'ed" him into wearing them his last birthday.
lie had been nearly lsmsd for life by PAIR of.1ch
lovely "p.ent Shoes" which she had wall ed mo
10 nearest town TO buy for him; and now .h.
fishing basket that he must take care Of Aat
keen In order,
"wen" continued Meta, "you do look nlc.i
and here 10 patent strip that will keep t,yn.
in its right rlnce-nOw no MI don't - 4 ~.
the grassland tn re iss cloth inside to keep tts .
a'h from staiping II, snd--"
my Nets" sIlg sted the poor s ,rrean, "ddnt
YOU think on might hang tho basket W vi h 80
fishing rod the colonel gave me for show lust there,
and let me sin use the I'D one; Itvouli he uus
an ornament 70 your rstty little inrlour y"
Meta col0urei, aud pou,ed. 20 :" ext lanlei
he Sergeant, With unusual a scrty "of course I
viii take 1t, since you sh It only Il il quite 10
good Tor me. second kiss determined the maj.
ter, and a0ar went tho "F shinq ssrgerut," I'd
in hand, and tho basket On shoulder. Mes Wa
deighto but as the basket CLEANED 10 the sun,
aud her father descended the I'm, she lamcuiei
having neither man, woman, nor ch III 10 tell 4
her harp meas, for tho NEIGHBOURS were at the,
farm work and 40 Mcts talked It out aud over--a
the cat She sought sympathy In sl' tho .reAt aai
small reloicings Of her blGyHut spirit and this
time poor pusS wiutcd al blinke :, AID purred,
until IN the uuess Of hor heart, Us n streas 6lri
~ saucer with milk, thew crumbs to the Wild
birds talked The basket question over again e.
sick chicken, while Il dsutly picked "cutlius"
from her hsud aud hnnlly sat down 10 "aller"
wA.stcoAt II her iAtheIB-and watch, II she ACCOM-
plished, would render him exceeding uncomfoI -
allie, unless he did again, whA. he has silly dor,
oefore-slii tie lining with his fishing knife.
And now good reader, you want TO know an
abou, sergeant Laird an his daughter Meta, ard
VII be wascsllsd The + stiug ScTgeaai" Their,
10 not much to te-he was called Tee Fishing.
Sergeant" simply because be was 50 unt!ring
"brothe- Of the angle !" and in LELAND they are
fond of distinguishing those they like by a pc,
name. 80 he was more frequently led 9Th.
tishing Sergeant" than "SergeAnt Laird" and hs
daughter was letter known as lay Blossom"
than as Meta Lard-that Is all as Tar as regards
the names and as 10 the history, thus hit;
Laird had accompanied h!stuen "young master"
70 The wars, a. the commencement oil the Peninsl-
lar campaign. They entered the service together,
and both were distinguished in their resp sct!vs
r.des az excellent soldiers and ,he hAndsomet
fellows In the regiment A, the IA tile Of Albuerl,
Lara saw us master struck down and the colours
torn rom bis grasp. Ho stood over tho ly ng but
pfusuAis torm regAned tho colours, but rece. we'd
wound IN Lis head which injured his in'ellcct so
much, that alter his promotion he quilted the SER
vice. returned to hisn.tiye village and TO his young
vile, In ume-snd only In .me-to take his new
born infant IN his arms aud aiter the lApse OF
few more days follow that much loved vile to her
lsst home In one OF the most p cturcsquo cLurch-
yards in the sweet county Of Wicklow. Eyery one
said the sers saul would certainly diethAt neither
hs eniseble mind nor Oody could sustain the shocki
and two kind hearted farmers wiye. warmly DIS
puted which should perform the duties OF materRS
~ TO the noIherless UAbe 81 have the les. 4. ia
TO the darlin-" said one, "becuse its motaer who
is now saint Ia heaven), when she came 10 seen
own babby-and he 10 tut ten DAYS ouder tan
hers'-said, Mrs Doyle SAYS she, i hope my
uAIuy may BE- As me you're sure that tIyes
me tright 70 nurse Il with NY own and 1t the A.
mighty phases 10 take tue poor i-sIer, sure II can
share with me and mine as long a. We Lave b.g o.
sup for ourselves"
well, Mrs Doyle, ma'Afn- lt4 all thruo FOR sou, q
but my Norry 10 NO, It's t.i-d moatn ye., AM -
tine child as yours, AMI thl. comm .ment enough
Tor any child and deed, II you'll only look A. in
Mrs Doy.s' have tho bsss right Tor did eve
lave the dATllnt youus crsythug's bed-sde trut
the Tune she took DAD until GJI zoos Aer altogether
And dldfts.o place .he usbby ON my breast, a.
ile Tears rAnns from hsr eyes; tSse ~ abe s4y
and ls notneF 10 At, as YOU cave lceA to NE 30
"WclL Ms. N 81, 1 cant 20 beyoul M. -
said Mo-. by II V.sl we could rave he lapt ~
week AbJut Wh!eA We can lien she's De1nei Al a
how-tor am sure tue poor f4theE val nev ~
40 Ia poI,n y. goOo--~ud ne sell AAv. .he Lts
beauty among W., lvy,d by AiAn ans low aud sul,
lts true saylls, tho NOR, 1.ues tie more bl -
inst, aud So OIL Re says; and the sweet a. O! mus.
IL tAe voices OF 1aldreu--tiod keep "a ~ 10 ~ al
il peace aud innocence" AID 90 the poor mi
gentle hearted women parted, Mrs. Myers tAIlu.
tho little Stranger ~ her well-s4ctereI and con-.
Portable nome close 70 re wooden Bridse," AMI
Mrs Doyle le1erminipg TO look after tee poor Ser.
sell. N'H'
iTom c0"tnvsa. =