The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-05-08

much from my country for performing
so conscientiously my arduous duties.
The sentries were very much scattered,
and / had TO walk two miles to visit
them ALL 1 accomplished my task,
however. and returned to the guard
room, where / treated myself to stiff
glass OF grog, and throwing off my reg
| imentals / jumped into bed, feeling
| that really deserved the luxury.
In few moments / was fast asleep,
not even dreaming of any OF my fair
partners of the ball, but sound asleep.
| Suddenly became conscious of great
noise which sounded like drum being
beaten.
At first l did not realize my position,
and could not remember where / was,
but at last it flashed across me that
was on guard, and that something was
the matter. Jumping out of bed, L
called to know who was there.
The Sergeant answered in n great hur-
ry, saying
"Sir, the field-officer of the day
is coming, and the guard is turning
out"
rushed for my boots, pulled them on
over my unstockinged feet thrust my
sword-arm into my large regimental
cloak, which pulled over me damned
on my forage-cap on my head, and
grasping my sword, looked to the out
ward observer as though " fit for pa
rade."
was just in time to receive the field
officer, who again asked me if my guard
was correct L 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 pro-
ceeding was unusual, and perhaps my
tone seemed to imply that l was sur
prised Whether it was that, or wheth
er treacherous gust of wind removed
the folds of my cloak and exhibited the
sighted taste in life of the end of the
night-shirt, i know not; but the field
officer when he had received my answer !;
turned his horses head in the opposite
direction, and said
"Now, sir, want you to accompany
me around the sentries.
Had he told me that he wanted me to
accompany him to the region below L
should scarce have been more horror
struck; for already / had found the
change of temperature between a warm
bed and warm room, and the outside
air-and to walk two miles on n windy,
frosty night, with no raiment besides
boots, night-shirt, and cloak, was really
suffering for ones country and no mis-
take. / dared not show the slightest
hesitation, however, for fear the state of
my attire might be suspected, though l
would have given weeks pay to have
escaped for only five minutes. A non
commissioned officer was ready with a
lantern, and we started on our tour of
inspection.
The feld-officer asked several ques-
tons connected with the position and
duties of the sentries, to which / gave
answers as well as the chattering of my
teeth would permit mo- The most nerv-
Gus work, however, was passing the gas
lamps, which were placed at intervals
of one or two hundred yards. The wind
was blowing SO fresh that it was with
difficulty ] could hold my cloak around
me. Every now and then an extra gust
of wind would come around a corner,
and quite defeat all the precautions
which L had adopted to encounter the
heavy gale. l managedto dodge in the
shade AS much as possible, and more
than once ran the risk of being kicked
by the field-oflicers horse, as L skunk
behind him when the gas might reveal
too much.
1t was terribly cold, to be sure, the
wind and snow almost numbing my
limbs l had a kind of faint hope that
the feld-officer might think that be-
longed to Highland regiment, and if
he did observe the scantineSs of my at
tire, 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 l could not again get warm during
the night.
We had nearly completed our tour,
and were within hundred yards of the
guard room, when we passed the field
officers quarters. l fondly hoped that
he would not pass them, and that he
would dismiss me at the door. but
was rather surprised to see a blaze of
light come from the windows, and to
hear the sound of music. 1t was evil
dent that there was chop" going on
inside, and 1 already began to tremble
from O. sort of instinct that even worse
misfortune was yet to attend me.
My premonitious were true, for upon
reaching his door my prosecutor, IN a
cheerful tone, said {:
"Well, we've had a cold tour (; you
must come in and take a glass of VINE,
and perhaps waltz will warm you.
"I'm really much obliged, L hastily
answered, "Dut / should not like tc
leave my guard.
Nonsense, nonsense, mantle
guard will be all right; you must
come il"
This must he said in quite q de
termined tone.
felt desperate, and again declared
that 1 thought L should be wrong t.
1 leave my guard.
: "I'll take the responsibility, saiC
l the demon $50 come along" saying
which he grasped my arm, and almos
= dragged me INTO the porch of hi
quarters.
When we entered the house and wer,
$ exposed to the light of the hall lamps
/ / fancied [ saw a slight twinkle in tn
. eye of the officer, and L began to won
!. der whether he really knew of my pre-