The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-07-10

How an Omoer's Servant Acted ~ the |
Grand Rounds."
As showing the attachment of some of
the military officers servants to their mas
tiers, l will relate an incident which oc-
CURED in a garrison town in which the
writer was stationed for some time. An
officer of rank in the artillery was named
in garrison orders as the officer of the day.
As the "grand rounds" it was his duty to
visit the garrison guards at night. Having
sat pretty late at mess, and being fond
of the bottle, his gait was very unsteady
when he rose from the table to proceed
to his quarters to dress for duty. Before
dressing he threw himself on his bed,
saying:
"I'll just snatch half an hours sleep;
call me at one o'clock"
At one O'Clock the servant attempted to
arouse him, but without effect The serv-
ant got the officer upon his feet
shook him, applied wet cloths to
his head, but all to no purpose the gentle
man had been going on short allowances
of sleep for a week, and now nature had
taken hold of him, and being backed by
the wine he had drank, held him fast.
The servant was almost frantic, knowing
well the consequences that would ensue if
his master did not make the grand rounds.
While wondering what course to pursue
his eyes fell upon his masters uniform,
sword, ETC., all ready laid out for him to
put on. The master and servant were
about of size; the clothing Of one fitted
the other to perfection.
There's no other plan,'' said the servant
to himself; Its an awful risk, but I'll
attempt it."
Hastily throwing off his clothing, he
donned his masters regimentals-the
splendid uniform of the artillery-buckled
on the sword. drew the heavy busby over
his brows, and casting an admiring look
| at himself in the glass, notwithstanding
his anxiety, locked the door upon his
master and went out. The orderly was
waiting in the barrack guard d-room, and
turned with the guard to present him.
self.
"Go ahead" said the pseudo officer.
| (Which guard first, sir:'
"ThL magazine guard"
The orderly led the way. Guard after
guard was visited, and the servant be
gan to enjoy The masquerade. II was
something unusual for him to he an
nounced as grand rounds, and to have the
guard present arms to him. There was
no suspicion that the master and man had
changed places for the time being, as
though the subalturn officer in charge Of
the main guard perhaps felt a little nettled
to have his friendly salutation, after the
guard had been TUNED in, responded to 81
gruffiy. -...
On returning to the quarters the servant
found his master still sleeping. Unable t.
resist the temptation to admire himself
once more in the glass, the servant parad
ed up and down the room, casting side.onE
glances at the mirror. While so doing
the officer awoke. He was not little sur
prised to see what appeared to be himsel
strutting up and down the apartment. HI
soon discovered however, that the appara
tiOn was his servant, anu, anxious to know
what the unusual masquerade was for
kept quiet. The servant, after two o
three turns, sat down and leisurely drew
off the spurred boots, Invested himself o
other articles Of uniform in their order
and then, heaving sigh, said:
Its id well over" i
Il should think it is" cried the officer
what dye mean, you rascal, by putin
yourself in my uniform, eh ="
II didn't know you were awake, sir; i
you know what time it ~
The officer had forgotten that he was o
, duty, but it now flashed upon him at one,
Jumping from the bed he looked at hi
watch.
"Halfpast four! MY God, I'm ruined
: Then turning to the servant he SAID
: "Now, then, why don't you call me ,
= one o'clock? Do you know what you'y
done:"
t "Sir, / might as well have tried
| awaken a dead man. / used every mear
! to awake you, and you will see by IL
stains on your linen that even deluge
e your head with water" -1..
/ "Too late to take the guards now
S groaned the officer; ''tbe night has passe
Y away and day is breaking"
"Nevel mind. sir; cheer up. The gran
? rounds visited the guards; every thing
4 correct. Just make out your report as
r you had taken the guards"
I "What dye meanY"
I ~ mean that / have been the gran
S rounds to night, and acted the part 50 We
/ that not soul suspected but that it W;
{ you. Now you know that / had on yol
e uniform" ..,.. t..
!, The officer started at this man m
s ment. - @i'
a "Do you mean to say that you have pc
c sonated me and taken the guards ~
= "Yes, sir: that's it. 1 personated you
b The officer grasped the servants han
) Ashton, y said he, "you have done me
Y great service tonight. shan't forget it
e Nor did he forget it, and the serval
kept his counsel so well that the incidel
would never have become known but f
i the officer himself, but who blurted it o.
one evening while in his cups to some
: his associates. The story was too good
. one to keep, and it quickly spead over Il
: garrison. The authorities, however. pa
I no attention to it, and the officer did n
!. suffer from the expose.-TBoston Comme
! cial Bulletin. A4. .'t-,r lta ..-
One-Sided Matrimony.
An application of Harry Nichols,
, Meriden coachman, about 20 years oil
4 for a decree OF divorce from Mary Gree
aged 40, developes romantic episode
n lite at the Reform School. Nichols, wi
!, was released from that institution la
February, relates that some time previo'
a Miss Green, the laundress, in an appareu
! ly joking way TODD beside him befo
|. some of the boys, and playfully sal
j WED make nice looking coupl
= wouldn't we ?" to which he replied, laug
I ingly, that the idea was good on
i Nothing more was thought of the affa
/ until his release, when the woman can
: to him and insisted that he keen his Dror