Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-07-22

the army.
The Welshman was marched into the
inner guard-house, and number two, Tom
Sawyer-and mighty pale be looked-was
trotted out to take his place.
Billy" said he to me, grasping my
hand-he was cockney, too-''if wan
ishes in cloud of blue smoke, write to
the old woman that died game" and l
told him I would.
Well, there was no alarm for sometime
not for most two hours, perhaps; [ feel
pretty sure it was almost midnight before
Tom Sawyer screamed-and didn't he
scream!
Turn out the guard-thunder-God cd
save the Queen murder %
This was the substance of Tom Saw
yer's remarks; but the ghost was too much
for him, and before file of men could be
marched out he marched in, and no ghost
was ever winter.
"Ah, ha! !" said the sergeant, "another
coward; take off your belts, sir"
Sergeant Pipeclay," said Tom, his
face turning as red as beet, ''look at
these six medals, and don't call me a cow
ard; but I can't fight with ghosts
But this only made old Pipeclay worse,
for old Pipeclay had no medals. Why?
Because be was in the hospital while Tom
was fighting the Sikhs in India. So he
put Tom in irons for his insolence, and
then it was my turn-and l was only a
recruit-to take my place at the Kings
Battery. How my heart did beat! How
my eyes did wink! How my legs did
quake and shiver! Keep the right step.
Why it was almost too much to keep step
ping at all.
"Take care. Number Three" said the
corporal, "take care, or I'll take your
belts off for drunkenness; you stagger like
fool"
Il want to report myself sick" said L.
'Silence In the ranks" said he
'No co." thought I; "well, let the
ghost come, I'll try and be friendly with
him."
But didn't feel queer as the tramp,
tramp" of the relief went farther away
from me? Contrary to orders and to my
first intentions, I got ready to do as the
rest had done-to run. Iput my musket
in the sentry box, loosened my stock,
tucked up my pants legs and was more
deliberate about doing it than most men
would have been under the circumstances
owing to my temperament. Finally, |
placed myself with my back close to the
sentry-box entrance, resolved to keep a
sharp lookout I don't know whether it
was the deliberation with which my pre-
parations were made, or what it was i'm
pressed the ghost with the idea that |
must be treated different from the rest,
but he was impressed with this idea-per
haps he might have heard me say that !
meant to be friendly.
However that may be, instead of com.
ing up in front as any other ghost would
have done, the first knew of his pres.
ence was by hearing a very melancholy
voice right back of me, in the sentry box
saying:
ooh! Billy Wilson, don't run away
like the rest"
There was no fear of it; I was so mucl
worse scared than the other two had beer
that couldn't have run a yard to save
my commissioner I'd had one But
turned round shaking like recruit under
fire, and there, in my sentry box. was al
sad a looking ghost as I ever saw. Why
sir, ghosts amt white-at least this ont
wasn't. He had three -cornered hat on
such as the soldiers wore hundred years
ago, white belts crossed on the breast
top boots and white breeches. As soor
as I got look at him. I wasn't at all
feared. I believe there is no harm il
ghosts if fellow treats them right.
"Billy," said the ghost, ''wen I wa
alive I was Hinglishman like yourself
you see this 'ole in my cross belt-a 'un
dred years ago to-day bullet from :
French m usket "a ade that mark-tore thro
the leather and thro' the lung, and wher
our fellows entered this place they brough
me here to die, and [ died"
Here the ghost began to weep.
"Well, my friend" said II was useo
to the ghost by this tin>e-"this is very
interesting statement, but what does it al
amount to ?"
''Hear me out said he Il 'ad beer