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

never seed " better done unde
Steuben," replied n white-haired Revolt
tlonary veteran, who leaned on his stat
and watched the drill with the tip of hi
tongue protrudlng from his mouth.
Yon were out in the army, then ~
" Yes sir, said he, quietly, " sarve
five wear in the Revolution. ! knowc
Stark, and Knox, aud Green, and Gates.
war at Yorktown when Cornwalls s'rer
dered."
" Didn't use to know Bljah Hopkin,
did ye p asked an in iividual with viii
in his hand, the handle of which he wa
poking about among pair of whiskcr
that would have served foI a mouse nest
" Bijah war killed at Long Island, an,
that war fore listed When the new
come that the British had entered York
and Washington wanted more sojers, m,
father says to me, "Diah. you must e 'wou
along with YOUR brothers" There wa
four on en- in the army already. Says he
Our country needs help OF all her sons
Ny sons are her sons. Mother, Just 60 t
work and rig Diah. KIN stay to hun
and take keer of the farm And 81
mother and the gals fixed me out. and
started of. and war with Stark and Ben
ninyton, Twas a sight TO see Stark OF
the morning Of that ere day. See then
'cre red-coats yondcI BOYS, we mus
beat em to-day, or Molly Stark to-nigh,
sleeps widderf And"-tbc old veteran
drew himself up-"we did beat 'en
hau'somely !"
Attention was here called to the return
of Captain Kyar to his company
'Tenshun Eyes right Right-ies
Music For march !"
Away went the company rub-a-dubbing
up the road to the muster. field, enclosed
by an army OF men and BOYS, nearly con-
cealing the soldiers from view. On reach
ING the summit-of the hill, Captain KNar
wheeled of to the right through a gate
into large and level field An officer on
horse, with cooked bat and flowing plumes,
golden epaulets and military bosts, stood
ready to receive him. Suddenly the
crowd halted, fell off, and Captain Kyar
and bis command emerged from the mass
as the moon from cloud. Unconscious
OF the cause, followed.
'IIa alt !"
A fellow with gun approached menac-
inglv.
"Git back there, barefoot !" And to
acce crate nv movements, the guard feel
ingly insinuated his bayonet into my
trousers. A laugh went up as ] sprang
with q howl into the crowd.
squeezed my way through, fearful the
guard might follow me; and soon the
sound of the file and drum came lndstinct-
" 10 my ears.
New scenes attracted my attention. A
peddler standing on bis cart held tin
skinner in his hand, endeavoring to get a
bid
Gin me a bid. gentlemen Only tn
cents for this here nice article-made
from the very best imported materials, and
by the skilfule>t workmen Com at tn
cents-tu cents Who'll say
three That don't begin to pay. Why,
gentlemen. Camilla could skim the plain
with this ere can even make poetry on
it. Sings
$50, my love Is like tin skinner
And I'm the curd for cheese.
And she SKINS me out in rimmer,
And gives me precious squeeze"
"Did you say four ?'
The pcddler stopped and looked straight
1T me. suspect that ] nodded, for he
directly proceeded:
boy with unclothed toes, but with
pocket full OF coppers, says four cents.
Carries the skinner right home to his
narm. like good on-and cheap at that
Four cents Pm offered. who'll say the
ive1 Coin at four cents; say FIVE
jon', goin', goin', az four cents say five
heap as diit. Take the lot. only six, and
1ou shah have 'em. Dye say five ?"
The peddler looked at me again. Thi- !
line | was as rigid as statue.
Sonny goes four ceats and nary cent |
more; who says FIVE? Four cents, four
ents, four cents say five and it's bar
ain. I'm offered only four cents Why,
rntemen, its taking the very bread from
he mouth of the man who made it Pts
capital article! Just look at it Why
will skim a flint VIII you say five
ents Four cents is bid Coin, goin'
Il shan't stand, eentlcmcn-eoin goin'l
"Once twice will Won say five cents
our cents. Gone to ragged boy for four
ents !"
The SKINNER was passed over to the
eddler's assistant, at the other end of the
art.
% Come here, boy, and get your pro
erty." said the last named parsonage
eek ming TO me "Fine young lad, if you
re barefoot Guess them toes was cold
his mornin.' Whaln' frost, but it'll be
II right, sonny, when Caleb gets round,
ont it Boots II come then
I wondered how be knew Caleb Clamp.
as to make my boots. | was ignorant
nat the night previous be had spanked"
girl in the family where Caleb was at
'ork
Here's your article, my boy. Got
,ur cents, hey ~
| felt piQued at the doubt he expressed.
nd drew out whole handful OF villanous
Dpper.
" Jehu :" he exclaimed. Why, you're
ch ~
He speedily relieved me of four pieces,
ltting the skinner into my hand.
Look here, little fellow, you must
" sometuing else. Here"-he passed !
,wn .iapanned tin whistle, blowing on
a wheezy blast j.
:" Guess wont Uuy," said l, edging off. Z
didn't like the tone of the instrument. /,
/" Why not 2 You've got lots of money ..
rhaps you don't like the sound OF that /.
ere's better toned one" He took down v
e second one, which produced blast v
ore hideous than the first.
4" Guess won't buy" And | moved off
leways again. K
q Look here, boy,"-the fellow gazed 4
Iectly at me. D'you ever read how G
mkln bought the whistle ? i,
Z" Yes" O
d" .Jang'd if ! don't think so Wall, you n
n 60" h
I penetrated every crowd listened to I,
luolroI -. l..