The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-07-05
4 Kick for Life.

. Akick for Life.
My Grandfather, in the Summer o
1909, had in his employ large mum
her of choppers and log rollers en-
, gagged in clearing a tract of land il
Jefferson Comfy, New York Amons
these choppers was a revolutionary
, veteran named Parker, who related
the following among other stories o
his army lie. My grandfather TOLD
it to my father some forty years ago
my father told it to me some ter
years ago; and now | will tell it to
Our Boys and Girls; or, rather, I will
let old Dir. Parker tell it in his own
words, Notwithstanding he has been
dead more years than / have been
alive. Isn't it strange how the pen
can make the dead speak?
"One afternoon" said the veteran,
ave came to halt after long and
weary march. After brief rest the
camp began to get lively--for tell
you, they were lively set of fellows
who fought in the revolutionary.
They engaged in wrestling, jumping,
and like games. ! was little mis-
chievOus myself, and went about
the camp with 1 stick, rapping the
skins of my companions in arms for
the fun of seeing them chase me.
They always took such things good
natnredly. 1t was give and take
But there was an old Portuguese in
our regiment who was So snriy that
we never took liberties with him.
Some one said TO me. why don't you
rap his shins 2 Sho !, said /; 'it's
no fun 10 come games Oh him.
'Ah, you don't care to" WAS the
response.
'Of course / couldn't stand and be
dared what true born Yankee Doc
die would / walked over to the old
Portuguese and gave him aplayfui
tap IL made him a fearful man /
Expected. from that, that he would
give me such a crack Oh the shins
that / should be lamed Tor a week.
But it seemed | didn't know the old
reprobate. When he said revenge,
he meant something more serious
than shin taps. Tha, night num-
her of us were quartered in barn
The barn had plenty of hay in it, so
that it made downright pleasant
quarters. The weather was warm,
and = bright moon was shining in
the sky, whose rays penetrated
through the cracks of the barn, and
lighted it up sufficiently so that I
could easily recognize those about
me-. / and friend Of mine, named
Bronson, climed up on the hay NOW,
as the best place to sleep; but it was
already so crowded with soldiers
that we concluded to 60 over TO
scaffold on the other side of the barn.
The only way TO get there was 10y
walking across long beam and as
we were crossing, my friend sudden
ly dropped on his knees, and crawled
over the rest of the way. When we
got across, DO you know what made
me drop that way he asked.
No. said /; what was il:
Why, | caught glimpse OF that
old Portuguese dodging behind a
beam. and watching us like beas.
OF prey. 1t startled me so that I
= -. :. .,,or,- filling Non better look
out for that fellow he's after yon.
You don't think he means anything
serious do you?
We'll, perhaps not; hut you bet
ter lay awake awhile. say
SO, when he had laid down close
to the edge of the scaffold, set my
self to keep my eyes open for All hour
or two. My companion was soon
snoring, and probably every soldier
IN the barn was sleeping, when
sight Of the dark form of my
enemy creeping stealthily along the
beam towards the scatfold on which
we lay. He had his long knife in
his teeth, all ready for use. For my
part | had no weapon at all. Our
guns were all stacked down below,
and | had lost my knife Il week be-
fore in battle So now | was help
less. The Portuguese evidently in
tended to murder me What would
do? could not venture TO wres-
tie with him, for he was my equal
and his knife gave him
all the advantage.
So | lay still, hardly daring to
breathe, as the old Portuguese crept
nearer and nearer on his hands and
knees, hardly rustling a wisp of hay,
he was So cautious. He bent over
Bronson first, with his knife raised
10 plunge into his breast but then,
seeing who il was. he turned To me.
still pretended 10 sleep; bat through
nv eyelashes 1 watched him with
terrible interest. He raised his knife
TO give n powerful stroke he was
rst about TO shrust it into my throb.
biny heart aud drew up my right
leg like fash, gave the old villain
4 Hat footed kick in the breast, and
sent hin whirling, He lit on pile |
Of rails that lay just below, and !
heard him groanihg dismaly for
some time afser He shook his fist
At me as looked over the beam at
him, and asked him good natnredly,
# be wanted any help. But after
while fell asleep again. and in the
he was gone--nobody knew
where l never saw him again -
BIZ William Hirr Skis - :,