The Republican journal., 1871-09-28

sition, and could not remember where
was, but at last it flashed upon me that l
was on guard, and that something was
the matter. Jumping out of bed called
to know who was there.
The sergeant answered me in a great
hurry, saying: ''Sir, the field officer of
the day is coming. and the guard is turn
ing OUT
rushed to my boots, pulled them on
over my unstockinged feet; thrust my
sword arm into my large regimental
cloak, which pulled over me .iammed
my forage cap on my head, and, grasp
ing my sword, looked to the outer OBJ
server, as though eft for parade"
| was Just in time to receive the field
officer. who again asked me if my guard
was correct. | answered, rather in a
tone of surprise, and said: ''Yes, sir. all
correct | could not imagine why my
guard should be visited twice, as such a
proceeding was unusual, and perhaps my
tone seemed to imply that | was rather
surprised. Whether it was that, or
whether a treacherous gust OF wind re-
moved the folds of my cloak, and exhibit
ed the slightest taste in life of my night
shirt, | knew not; but the field officer, in
stead of riding off when he received my
answer, turned his horses head in the OPP
posite direction, and said Now, sir
| want You to accompany me round the
Sentries.n
Had he told me that he wanted me to
accompany him to the regions below |
should scarce have been more horror
struck, for already had found the change
OF temperature between a warm bed in a
warm room and the outside air; and TO
walk two miles, on a windy. frosty night,
with no raiment beside boots, night shirt
and cloak, was really suffering for ones
country, and no mistake. dared not
show the slightest hesitation, however,
for fear the state Of my attire might be
suspected, though | would have given a
weeks pay to have escaped for only five
minutes. A non-commissioned officer
was ready with a lantern, and we 5 arted
on our tour of inspection.
The iield-otlicer asked several questions
connected with the position and duties of
the sentries, to which | gave answers as
we'll as the chattering of my teeth would
permit me. The most nervous work,
however, was placed at intervals of one
or two hundred yards. The wind was
| blowing so fresh that it was with difficult
| ty could hold my cloak around me, and
conceal the absence of my under-gar-
ments. Every now and then an extra
gust of wind would come round a corner,
and quite defeat all the precautions which
had adopted to encounter the steady
gale. | managed to dodge in the shade
as much as possible, and more than once
run the risk of being kicked by the field
horse, as | skunk behind him when the
gas-light might have revealed too much.
II was very cold to be sure, the wind
and snow almost numbing my limbs. l
had kind of faint hope that the field Of
iicor might think | belonged to Highland
regiment. and if he did observe the scant-
ness Of my attire might believe that the
kilt would explain it. | struggled and
shivered on, knowing that all things must
have an end and that my rounds" must
come to an end before long. But feared
that ! should not again get warm during
the night.
We had nearly completed our tour. and
were within few hundred yards of the
guardroom, when we passed the field
officers quarters. | fondly hoped that he
would not pass them, and that he would
dismiss me at the door. but was rather
surprised to see 4 blaze of light come from
the windows, and to hear the sound of
music. 1t was evident there was a chop |
going on inside, and | already began to |
tremble, from a sort of instinct that even
worse mistortunes were to attend me.
My premonitions were true, for upon
reaching the door my prosecutor, in quite |
a cheerful tone, said: "Well, we've had a |
cold tour; you must now come in and take
glass of wine, and perhaps 4 waltz will |
warm YOU"
"pm really much obliged" | hastily |
answered, "but should not like to leave |
my guard"
Nonsense nonsense, man, the guard |
will be all right YOU 2.totst come in" This |
must he said in quite determined |
tone.
felt desperate, and again declared that !
| thought | should do wrong to leave my
guard.
III take the responsibility" said the
demon; $50 come along" saying Which
me into the porch Of his quarters.
When we entered the house, and were |
exposed to the light of the hall-lamps, / /
tancied saw slight twinkle in the eye
of the officer and | began to wonder
whether he really knew OF my predica-
ment, and wished to have his Joke He, |
however, gave no other limitations, that
saw, but quickly took off his cloak, and |
said that had better do the same Seeing |
me hesitate, he said: "come, look alive
off with it,"
Further remonstrance found would be |
useless, so that there was no help for me
but a full confession. Summoning my
courage, and, fearing to hesitate, blurt-
ed ont: Colonel, I've no trowsers on"
The deuce you haven't!' he said.
''Well, you'd better 60 out and put them
on, and then come here as soon as posi- |
bic, and have glass of something warm
rushed out of his quarters, half deter
mined not to return. | was fully awake
now, and shivercd like a half-drowned |
dog but no sooner had dressed myself |
than the ColonePs servant came over to |
say that a quadrille was waiting for me-
| determined to put a bold face on the |
matter, and entered the drawing room,
where &; PARTY of about fifty had assem-
bled. 1t was evident by the filters of the
young ladies, the grins OF the men, and
the subdued smiles of the dawagers, that
my story was known.
The Colonel had told it as a good Joke |
to the major, who had whispered it to his
wife; she had breathed it into the ear of |
two of her friends, and in about ter min
utes every person in the room knew that
the young suhaltern had unwillingly gone
his rounds in his night-shirt
AS long as | staid in the garrison | was
standing joke. When the girls saw me,
they always looked away and smiled, and
it seemed as impossible for me to obtain a
serious answer from any of them as for Il
clown to preach sermon, They even
seemed afraid to dance with me, fearing,
as afterwards heard, to look at my legs, |
lest | might be deficient in some article of |
raiment. soon exchanged, and went in
to another regiment; and years afterward
heard my own adventure related in q
crowded room, all the details of the story
being true except the name of the perform
er-my misfortune having been attributed
to an unfortunate fellow who died in