The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-04-23

Of any kind by the troops between
the hours of tattoo and reveilie.
Jonathan Niles was one Of Lafay.
ette's musicians, and bis instrument
the fife. He vas Q son of G 1nnecticut,
add he had q MANNED aud disabled
brother sho was q cunning srti6cer,
and who, among other quaint things,
had made the fife on which Jonsshsn
played.
1t was so constructed that it could
be blown TO the shrill and esr-pierc.
Jag notes that belong with the drum,
or it could be 30 softly and sweeily
bresthed upon as to give forth notes
like the gentle dulcimer.
One evening Jonathan wandered
down to the waters edge, and seated
upon q rock, gazed upon the darkly
flowing, s~tar-gemmed food.
His Thoughts were Of bis home
and If the loved ones there; aud anon
came memories Of the old songs that
had been wont IL gladden. the Gre
side.
Unconsciously he drew bis du,e
from bis bosom and placed 1t to his
lips. la bis mind, at that moment,
vas q sweet song. adopted fron Mo
Fart, which had been his mothers ia
vorite.
He knew not v hat be did. To him
all things of The present were sbui out,
and be was again at home, sittlug &C
bis moIber's feet aud the charm
WAS not broken until a rough blow
upon tie back recalled him to bis
senses.
Map, what are you dsing? The
general may be wake. If he should
hear yon-sh !"
IL was a seniinel and even this
guardian of The uight after ard
confessed that be had listened, en-
~tranceo, [ o the raVishiug music for a
long Iime before be thougbtit bis duty
to stop it.
Ga the following morning an order
ly came u The spot where jonathan
bad been eating his breakfast, and iu-
formed him that the general wanted
TO see him at headquarters.
Poor j nathan turned pale and
trembied. He knew that Lafay ette
was very strict, and thati Ia those per
ilUus times even slight infractions oi
military orders we're puui-bed severe
ly
As be arose to his feet, the sentinel
of the previous evening came up aoG
whispered into his ear:
I'll 1t should be about The mu-ic.
} ,rathap, don't you be alarmed
Not Il soul save you aud me knows
anything DO ut it; | can swear II
that So d, you just say 1t wasn't
yon. Stick TO is, aad you'll come out
ali right
Jonathan locked at the man pity
ingly
What! Nv mothers son tell h
lie Ike that? IL would be the heav.
lest load | ever csrried-heavier than
ever mean 10 carry, if have my
sensesn
He then went to the generals
quarters, a tent pitched 10 d COM
mandlug site, overlooking the whole
line be had TO guard.
Lafsyette was paciag TO aud fro, sad
and moody, as though his thoughts
were unhappy.
"Comrade, who are you
jonathan Niles, general"
Last evening | beard music down
by the rivers bank. Were YOU tbs
musician 2"
cit was |, general but | knew rot
what ] did. meant not to disJbey
your order. sat thinning Of home,
and Of my mother, and"
The general started at the sound of
that word, aud the shadow upon his
face grew soft and ethereal.
"Of your mother? And thought
Of mine. H. was a theme of Mozsrt's,
and was my mothers favorite. II
YOU will be SO kind, go bring your
instrument, and play for me thai
strain here in my tent. II will do
me good"
10 the after years-even TO bis dy-
ing hour-tbe man loved to tell that
story.
Though be would never urge the
truth upon any man 10 consideration
of SO mean a thing as the benefit that
might result. yet be could lot put
away the thought that the sweetest
and most blessed memory OF all his
soldiers experience might have been
lost had be grasped at the opportuui-
" to tell a lie on the Ii occasion Of
his life when q lie might, to some,
have seemed most opportune and pro
itable.