Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-07-25
A Communion For The Hatchet.


In his youth our hero, Jonathan
Niles, was musician of the Revolu-
tionary army. In ITS, while the
treason of Arnold was being con-
sumated, and the American army
was encamped at Tappan, on the
Hudson, General Lafayette had
command Of the advance, consisting
Of six battalions of picked infantry,
his particular duty being to guard
the water front; and in order that
any attempt on the part of the enemy
at surprise might be guarded against
Lafayette issued positive 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 LaFay-
cites musicians, and his instrument,
the fife. He was son Of Connecti-
cut. and he had a manned and disa-
bled brother who was a cunning ar
tificer, and who among other quaint
things, had made the fife on which
Jonathan played. 1t was so con-
structed 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 eavening Jonathan wandered
down the waters edge, and, seated
upon a rock, gazed off upon the dark
ly-flowing, star-gemmed flood. His
thoughts were OF his home, and Of
the loved ones; and anon came men,
cries OF the old songs that had been
wont to gladden. the fireside. Un-
consciously he drew his little flute
from his bosom, and placed it to his
lips. In his mind, at the moment,
was a sweet song, adapted from Mo-
ZoIt, WulCu udo oCOn hio AAOshSA .
favorite. He knew not what he did.
To him all things of the present were
shut out, and he was again at home,
sitting at his mothers feet-and the
the charm was not broken until a
rough blow upon the back recalled
him to his senses.
"Manl what are you doing? The
general may be awake. If he should
hear you,-ahl"
1t was sentinel; and even this
guardian of the night confessed af-
forwards that he had listened entran-
ced, to the ravishing music for long
time before he thought Of his duty
to stop it.
On the following morning an or
derby came to the spot where Jona-
than had been eating his breakfast,
and informed him that the general
wanted to see him at headquarters.
Poor Jonathan turned pale and
He knew that Lafayette
was very strict, and that in thos"
perilous times even slight infractions
Of military orders were punished Sc
verely. As he arose to his feet, the
sentinel of the previous evening came
up, and whispered into his ear:
"If it should be about the music,
don't you be alarmed. Not
a soul save you and me knows any
thing about. / 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 pity
ingly. WHAT my mothers son tell
q lie like that? 1t would be the
heaviest load / ever carried-heavier
than I ever mean to carry, il 1 have
my sensesI"
He then went to the generals quar-
ters-a tent-pitched in command
ing site, overlooking the whole he
had to guard. Lafayette was pac-
ing to and fro, sad and moody, as
though his thoughts were unhappy.
Comrade, who are your"
Jonathan Niles, General"
Last evening l heard music down
by the rivers bank. We're you the
ut was /, General; but I knew not
what / did. / meant not to disobey
your order. I sat and l thought OF
home and Of my mother, and"
The general started at the sound of
that, and the shadow upon his face
grew soft ank ethereal.
"Of your-motherl And thought
Of mine. 1t was 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 years--even to his dy-
Ing hour-the man loved to tell that
story. Though he would never urge
the truth upon any man in consider
alton Of so mean a thing as the bene-
fit that might result, yet he could not
put away the thought that the sweet
est and most blessed memory OF all
his soldiers experience might have
seemed most opportune and profita-
ble.-S. c., Jr.; IN N, Y. Ledger.
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