The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-08-29
jonathan Niles and His Fife.

A WRITER in the New York Ledge,
relates this story:
In his youth, Jonathan Niles was a
musician of the Revolutionary Army.
In 1873, while the American Army was
encamped at Tappan, on the Hudson,
Gen. Lafayette had command of the
advance, his particular duty being to
guard the waterfront; and in order
that any attempt OH the part OF the en-
envy at surprise might be guarded
against, Lafayette issued orders that
there should be no noise of any kind,
by the troops, between the hours OF
tattoo and reveille.
Our Jonathan was one of Lafayette
musicians, and his instrument the fife.
He was son of Connecticut, and he
had manned and disabled brother who
was a cunning artificer, and who,
among other quaint things, had made
the fife on which Jonathan played. 1t
was SO constructed that it could be
blown to the shrill and ear-piercing
notes that belong with the drum, or It
could be SO softly and sweetly breathed
upon as to give forth notes like the
gentle dulcimer.
One evening Jonathan wandered
down by the waters edge, and, seated
upon \ rock, gazed off upon the dark
ly-howing, star-gemmed flood. His
thoughts were Of his home and of the
loved ones, and anon came memories
of the old songs that had been wont to
gladden. the fireside.
Unconsciously, he drew his flute from
his bosom and placed it to his lips. In
his mind, at the moment, was a sweet
song, adapted from Mozart, which had
been his mothers favoritc. He knew
not what he did. TO him all things of
the present were shut out, and he was
again ut home, sitting at his mothers
feet-aDd the charm was not broken
until a rough blow upon the back re-
called him to his senses.
''Man! what are you doing? The
General may be awake. If he should
hear yOu-ah!'
1t was sentinel; and even this
guardian of the night afterward con-
fessed that he had listened, entranced,
to the ravishing music for Il long time
before he had thought of his duty to
stop it.
On the following morning an orderly
came to the spot where Jonathan had
been eating his breakfast, and informed
him that the General wanted to see him
at headquarters.
Poor Johnathan turned pale and
trembled. He knew that Lafayette
was very strict, and that in those per-
ilous times even slight infractions of
military orders were punished severe
". AS he arose to his feet the sentinel
of the previous evening came up and
whispered into his ear:
IF it should oe about the music,
Jonathan, don't you be alarmed. Not
soul save you and me knows anything
about it. 1 can swear to that! So do
you just say it wasn't you. Stick to it
and you'll come out all right
Jonathan looked at the man plying
ly. "What! my mothers son tell a lie
like thatp 1t would be the heaviest
load ever carried-heavier than ever
mean to carry, if 1 have my sensesr'
He then went to the Generals quar-
ters-a tent pitched in commanding
sight, overlooking the whole line he
had to guard. Lafayette was pacing
to and fro, sad and moody, as though
his thoughts were unhappy.
Comrade, who are yOu?"
jonathan Niles. General"
"Last evening l heard music down
by the rivers bank. Were you the mu-
sician?''
"It was 1, General, but l knew not
what did. l meant not to disobey
your order. sat and thought of home,
and of my mother, and''-
The General started at the sound of
that word, and the shadow upon his
face grew soft and ethereal.
"Of your-MOTHER! And thought
of mine. 1t was a theme of Mozart's,
and was my mothers favorite. If you
will be so kind, GO bring your instru-
ment and play for me that strain here
in my tent. 1t will do me good"
In the after ycars-even to his dying
hour-the man loved to tell that story.
Though he would never urge the truth
upon any man in consideration of so
mean a thing as the benefit that might
result, yet he could not put away the
thought that the sweetest and most
blessed memory of all his soldiers ex-
perience might have been lost to him
had he grasped at the opportunity to
tell lie on the one occasion of all his
life when a lie might, 70 some, have
seemed most opportune and profitable.