The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-18
Jonathan Niles and his Fife.

In his youth, Jonathan Niles was Il mu-
scian of the Revolutionary Army. In
l778, while the American Army was en-
campcd at Tappan, On the Hudson. Gen.
Lafayette had command Of the advance,
his particular duty being to guard the
watcr-f front; and in order that any attempt
on the part Of the enemy 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 rcvcillc.H '.JH,
Our Jonathan Was one ;pf LaFaycttc's
musicians, and his instrument the fife. lie
was son of Connecticut, inpd he had Il
manned and disabled brother who was u
cunning artificcr, and who, among other
quaint things, had madeA'thc fife upon
which Jonathan played.stt IT was so con-
structcd that 1t could be blown; to shrill and
car piercing notes that belong with the
drum, or it could be softly gand swcctIy
breathed upon as to give forth notes like
the gentle dulcimcr.
One evening Jonathan wandered down
to the waters edge, and seated upon rock
gazed off upon the darklX, flowing, star
gcmmed flood. His Thoughts were of his
home and of the loved ones, ,<ahd anon came
memories of the old songs that had been
wont TO gladden. the fircsidc.,
Unconsciously, he drew his flute from his
bosom and placed it to his lips. In his
mind, at the moment, was sweet song,
adapted from Mozart, which had been his
mothers favoritc. lie 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 fcet-and the chasm was
not broken until rough blow upon tho
back recalled him to his senses.
"Man what are you dolngI The Cen
eral may be awake. If he should hear you
-ah!"
1t was a sentinel; and even this guardian
Of the night afterward confessed that he
had listened, entranccd, to the ravishing
music for 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 sec him at head
quarters.
Poor Jonathan turned pale and trembled.
He knew that Lafayette was very strict.
and that in those pcrilous times even slight
lnfractions of military orders were punish
cd severely. AS ho rose to his feet the
sentinel of the previous evening came up
and whispered into his eur:
eff it should be about the music, Jona-
than, don't you be alarmed. Not soul
save you and me knows anything about 1t.
| 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 pityingly.
"What! my mothers son tell a lie like that2
1t would be the heaviest load ever carried
heavier than ever mean to carry, if
have my senses!"
He then went to the Conc, a6'n '1u",te, o
a tent pitched III a 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.
''Comradc, who are your"
Jonathan Niles, General"
. "Last evening / heard music down by
the rivers Lank. Were you the musi-
clamp
at was I, General, but know not what
| did. l meant not to disobcy your order
| sal and thought of home and my mother,
and"
The General started at the sound of that
word, and the shadow upon his face grew
soft and ethereal
"Of your-MoTnER! And thought of
mine 1t was theme of Mozart's, and
was my mothers favori.e. If you will be
so kind, go bring your instrument and play
for me that strain here in my tent 1t will
do me good"
In the after ycars-cven to his dying
hour-thc man loved to tell that story.
Though he would never urge the truth upon
any III consideration of so mean thing as
the benefit that might result, yet hc could
not, tl,o&
and most blessed memory of all his soldiers
experience might have been lost to him had
he graspcd at the opportunity to tell lie,
might, to some, have seemed most oppor-
tune and profitable.