The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-18
The Sergeant's Stratagem,

"Oh, John, DEAR" and the wife of John
Edgeworth ran into the little parlor,
where he was seated thoughtfully before
the fire, one December night, Zone of the
soldiers that have just come into town,
has been billeted upon u.s.
"Send Nancy out to the Princes Arms,
and engage bed for him, Mary" he
quietly said "We can't have him here,
and Matte, poor child, going to be mar
ried tonight"
"Oh, bless your heart, John, this isn't
a common soldier. He's sergeant, and
one would think, from the way he strut
ted in, that he was. colonel. When
proposed to get bed for him outside, he
bridled up, and says, with as much au-
thority as if he was talking to a landlady,
IF you can't accommodate me with bed,
| can pass the night on the rug before
the parlor fire. A soldier, you know, can
sleep soundly, however hard his bed. So
here I'll stay, says he."
"And here I'll stay" echoed laughing
voice; and the speaker, a tall, manly, fell
low, attired in the dress of a British ser
geant, strobe into the room. 1.-THE fact
is, SIR" he continued, addressing John
Edgeworth, 81 am inclined to think, either
your good lady must be most unloyal
subject of his gracious majesty, King
William, in denying a welcome to one of
the pillars of his throne, or that tonight,
at least, she is unwilling to lay an offering
at the feet of that beautiful household /,
hospitality"
Here one of the pillars of King William's s
throne dropped majesticaliy into chair,
complacently stroking, as he did so, a
beard and mustache dark and luxurious.
"My good man." John Edgeworth re-
piled, "my wife and myself have always re-
garded and fulfilled, as q pleasing duty,
the entertainment of soldier billeted
upon us; but tonight, the presence of any
one beyond our small family circle must
prove embarrassing in the extreme. My
daughter is to be married tonight, and
"Oh, do not imagine for moment, my
good sir" interrupted the sergeant. "that
shall find my situation embarrassing.
assure you, l am always very well at my
ease. And wedding! OF all things, ex-
cepting of course the delicate amuse-
ment of battlefield, a wedding delights a
| soldier"
"We must endure his society, Mary
John Edgeworth said, in low tone, to his
wife. "Do not let it annoy you, my dear
for Mattie's sake, be cheerful. Is Amy
with her %
"She is," answered his wife, signing
deeply as she spoke. "God bless Amy
Bradley! :"
'God bless her." John. Edgeworth
said.
"God bless her." echoed the sergeant
and continued, rapidly, "Yes, God bless
all as good as she is. Is she your daugh
ter, sir ?"
"She is not" John Edgeworth sternly
said. "And remember, my man, though
we are compelled to give you shelter TO-
the night, any further impertinence OF
your part will be reported to you
officer.'
"Pardon my impertinence, then," re
piled the sergeant; and his softened ton
arrested the steps of the couple, as the,
were leaving the room, "and hear me TO
moment, Perhaps you both have
little corner in your memories occuple
by the dear old room in your childhood
home, where you used to sit during tn
long, wild winter nights before fire
blazing away as merrily as that one owe
there is blazing now, and watch tn
flames as they burst forth from thel
prison and shed faint splendor throug
the gloom-I think you have. Almo'
every one has. know that | have; an
tonight, when I was passing the wlndo
, here, and saw the light of that pleasall
. fire streaming through the chinks in tt
shutters, the shadow of many sorrowt'
years was lifted from my heart. l WI
again a happy little lad, sitting at II
dear mothers feet, my head upon he
t knee. and tracing with wondering eyes IL
ouaint pictures of the flames. well II
YOU. poor fellow thinks l, 'to keep tn
memory fresh tonight" And so e
a tered here. have been rude, but pard'
r the roughness Of a soldier"
n "Mrs. Edgeworth burst into tears.
q "Bid the poor fellow stay, John," S
e sobbed.
5; And John Edgeworth with falterl1
u u voice welcomed the sergeant, for both hu
band and wife saw again, in that sal