National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-06
AN OLD.FASHIONED MISTER.

AN OID'TANVIVNEU nj SIER.
There was unhomdcd excitement among
the boys when il was announced that the
tn regiment OF State militia was TO bc
mustered IN a field near the village. The
regiment was composed Of four companies
OF infantry. enc company Of light infantry
one of artillery, one Of rifles, and one OF
cavalry-al but the iniantty uniformed
The expected great training was the
theme of conversation among US for weeks
before il occurred. was kept, particularly.
in state OF great anxiety lest Caleb
Clamps the cordwainer, who went about
annually TO make up the shoes for the
families of the farmers at their houses,
should not reach my fathers in season to
complete my winter boots against the
muster. In such case should bc obliged
to 90 to the exhibition barefoot
Tue muster was set down for the first
week IN October. The weather bad already
a wlnterish tinge. White frosts covered
tie ground each morning. The day before
the air was sharp. but otherwise the
weather was quite pleasant. Caleb Clamps
bad not arrived, ard was Destined to 90
10 the muster without my boots Save
that il wounded my pride, | cared nothing
for that Nv feet were tough as horns.
and ! could crack a chesnut burr open
with my heel. 1t IS quite true, that
several OF my toes had been badly stub
bed, Hn1 one or two OF them were wrapped
w in rags TO keep out the gravel and
expedite the healing process.
went TO my bed the evening previous
With y,r kr,tlaya boyiuu avevvf biuu
arranged tor an early start in the morning.
We talked long and with animation about
what We expected, and were about falling
asleep when the wagon OF Meier Carter.
from Bingham's Four Corners, went hy
and Meier discharged his heavily loaded
gun directly in front ol the house. Meier
was on bis way TO the training
There welh no more attempts at sleep
in our chamler. Nezer Carter wa. follow
ed by other " trainets,' who discharged
their guns and whooped and booted al
every house they passed. Then big bass
drum struck up down in the village,
accompanied by 5-flat bugle and clario-
net. Guns were discharged in all direct
ions on the roads leading TO it. Wagon
succeeded wagon by the house, and the
hootmg, and whoopng. and dI>charging of
guns increased each hour The notes Of
" tie ear.piercing fi'e" and sounds Of the
" spirit-stirting drum" came with almost
unbloken continuance. Midnight was no
far passed before my brothers dressed |
and enjoining me to wait till |
the morning sun had cleared away the
frost, crcpt silently down stairs and out OF
the doors and went off.
Tine sun was well up when | awoke in
the morning. Maxine a hastv toilet |
had little more to do than the dog Shock,
who shook hi, coat a. was ready for any
| ran down, swallowed a scant,
breakfast. AMI started for the show.
Drawn up in front of the village store,
and leaning upon their guns, were Captain
:" kyar's" company of infantry. 1t was
OF a motley set of men, some
tw, Jtv- five in number, without uniforms,
's various in size As age, and as variously
although they were " armed
md equipped cord;ng to law" A slender
Iouth OF eighteen, with heavy Queens
nm" undergoing the first days tiainln
TODD beside six-,oot bushy fellow. whose
,un was many pounds lighter and many
nches shorter. The tall and muscular
we're prom.cuously mixed up with The
can and dumpy. Rusty bayonets, some
istened ON with screws and Others wooden
edges knapsacks that had made tour
0 Saratoga many years in advance OF the
world canteens OF every i'm
ginable shape and material, from "chunk-
ottles" and tin TASKS to miniature bar
els cartridge boxes, with rusty cover
lgs, and still iustier belts printing wire
nd brush--made up the " cutriments OF
he company.
Captain Kyar was model officer.
'ghtly vereing towards military dandy
IN, with bis uniform strictly clean, ana
i informing as ne carly to st,i.t taste as the
aptain's limited knowledge and ideas !
lowed, he was considered one OF the
martest subordinate, officers in the whole !
cgiment
' Tcnshun-compary p
Every man stood erect in his place,
nth one hand eraspi1g the piece.
" Sol-.jer-r-r-a ms ~
Up went their muskets to the shoulders
I the men, one following another like !
ueep over stone fence.
a." Or-der-r AIMS ~ II
:, WI went Tue ctHe, tHc oitts W So'He
Onking the ground, and Others striking =
Oes, Causing grimaces and hopping about
one slipped from the hands Of their a
WI, 5, causing hasty and irregular move I
ients to recover
Ienshun Stand erect y shouted
aptan Kyar, as be saw the disorder. c
81 JoLnson, if your fingers are so cold
VI can t hold your gun, you'd better put 0
our mittens on"
:, Dem it, captain" exclaimed Josiah, q
''oilne up. my thumbs sore" o
Inc captain took 10 notice Of the o
poioey, hu, cried out G
r iensbun Sol-jar-r-r-a'ms ~ a
Sp went the guns in somewhat better
'oer than before. 81
Ihe short exercise ELECTED the warmest n
asmlums g from the bystsnders, c
haal soljerly dene," remarked . steIt