The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-08-19
THE CHARGE OF CAPTAIN MAY
A LEGEND OF MEXICO.
BY GEORGE LIPPARD.

BIZ GEORGE LlHHAED.
There was a day when an old man with
white hair sat alone in a small chamber of
national mansion, his spare but muscular
figure resting on an arm chair, his hands
ciasped and his deep blue eyes gazing
through the winter sky. The brow of the
old man furrowed with wrinkles, his hair
rising In straight masses, white as the
driven snow, his sunken cheeks transversed
by marked lines, and thin lips, fixedly
compressed, all announced long and
stormy life. All the marks of iron 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 aud stood before the President
In the form of a boy of nineteen clad In a
coarse round jacket and trowers, and cov>
cred from head to foot with mud. As he
stood before the President, cap in hand,
tho damp hair falling in clusters about his
white forehead, the old man could not help
surveying, at rapid glance, the muscular
beauty of bis figure, the broad chest, the
sInewy arms, the head placed proud y on
the firm shoulders
our business" said the old man. in
his short abrupt way
There is lieutenantcy vacant in the
dragons. VIII you give it to me?''
Aud dashing back the black hair which
fell over his face, the boy as if frightened
at his boldness, bowed low before the Pres
ident.
The old man could not restrain that smile
1t wreathed his firm lip, and shone out
from his clear eyes,
~ on may enter my chamber unannoun
ced, covered from head to foot with mud
you may tell me that a leutenancy is va
cant, aad askme TO give it to you. Who
are you?
Charles nay; The boy did not 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.?' Again the Hero surveyed him.
aud again he family smiled
Such as you see - exclaimed the boy.
as his full dark eyes shone with that dare
devil light, while his folm sweled in every
muscle, as with the conscious pride of his
manly strength and beauty. Would YOU
- ne bent forward, sweeping aside his
curls once more, while a smile began to
break over his lip-'sWould you like TO
see me ride? My horse is at the door.
You see L came post haste for this commits
SION"
Silently tie old man followed the boy,
and together they went forth from the
White House. 1t was clear, cold, vim
ter S day; the wind tossed the President 5
white hairs, and the leafless 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 f,am. He uttered shril neigh, as
his boy >master sprung with bound into
the saddle, and in a flash was gone, skim
ming like swallow down the road, his
name and tail streaming in the breeze
The old man looked after them, the
horse and his 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 at last stood
painting before the President, the boy
Gaming over the neck of his steed. as he
cooly exclaimed, We'll how do you like
me ?'
Do you think you could kill an Indian !?
the President said, taking him by the hand,
as he leaped from the horse.
Aye, and eat him afterwards" cried
the boy, ringing out his fierce laugh as be
read his fate in the old mans eyes.
You had better come in and get your
commission; aud the hero of New Orleans
led the way into the White House.
There came night when an old man
President no longer-sat in the silen cham
Der of his Hermitage hone picture of
age trembling on the verge of eternity.
The light that stood upon the table re-
veaed his shrunken 'orm. resting against
The pillows which cushioned his armchair.
and he death like palor Of his venerable
face. In that face, with its white hair and
massive forehead, everything seemed al
ready dead, except the eyes. Their deep
gray blue shone with the fire of New Or,
leans, as The Old man with his long. white
fingers grasped letter postmarked w ash
lngton.
They asked me to designate the man
who shall lead our army, in case the an
nexation Of. Texas brings on a war with
Mexico-his voice deep toned and thrilling,
even in that hour of decrepltude anu de
cay, rung through the chamber; There is
only one man who can do it, aud his name
is Zachary Taylor"
1t was dark hour when this boy and
bis general, both appointed at the sugges
ton or by the voice of man of the Her.
mitage, met in the battle Of Resaca de la
Palma
Capt. May you must take that bat
terry u
As the old man uttered these words he
pointed far across the ravine with his
sword it was like the glare of volcano
the steady blaze Of that battery, pouring
from the darkness of the chapparal.
Before him summoned from the rear by
his command, rose the fern of splen-