, 1881-02-18
TIE sERGEANTS sTRATAGEM.

"Oh, John, dear, and the wife of John
Edgeworth ran into the little parlor,
where he was seated thoughtfully before
the fire, one December night, zone of the
soldiers that have just come into town
has been billeted upon u.s."
Send Nancy out to the Princes Arms.
and engage a bed for him, Mary" he
quietly said ''We can't have him here,
and Matte, poor child, going to be mar
ried tonight"
"Oh, bless your heart, John, this ism t
q common soldier. He's sergeant, and
one would think, from the way he strut
ted in, that he was a colonel. When I
proposed to get bed for him outside, he
bridled up, and says, with as much au-
thority as if Ire was talking to a landlady,
"u you can't accommodate ne With q
bed, can pass the night on the rug be-
fore the parlor fire. A soldier, you
know, can sleep soundly, however hard
his bed. So here I'll stay" says he.
here I'll stay" echoed a laugh
ing voice; and the speaker, tall, manly
fellow, attired in the dress of British
sergeant, strobe into the room. ''The
fact is, SIR" he continued, addressing
John Edgeworth, ''I am inclined to
think, either your good lady must be a
most unloyal subject of his gracious
majesty, King William, in denying a
welcome to one of the pillars of his
throne, or that tonight, at least, she is
unwilling to lay an offering at the feet of
that beautiful household-god, hospi-
tality."
Here one of the pillars of King Will
ham's throne dropped maiestically into
q chair, complacently stroking, as he did
so, q beard and mustache dark and luxu-
rious.
My good man." John Edgeworth re-
piled, " my wife and myself have always
regarded and fulfilled, as pleasing duty,
the entertainment of a soldier billeted
upon us; but tonight the pres
ence of any one beyond our small
family circle must prove embarrassing in
the extreme. My daughter is to be mar
ried tonight, and"
"Oh, do not imagine for moment,
my good sir, interrupted the sergeant,
" that shall find my situation embar-
rassing. I assure you, am always very
well at my ease. And q Weddingi OF
all things, excepting, of course, the deli
cate amusement of battlefield, we'd
ding delights a soldier"
We must endure his society, Mary, -
John Edgeworth said, in a low tone, to
his wife. "Do not let it annoy you, my
dear; for Mattie's sake, be cheerful Is
Amy with her?"
"She is, answered his wife, signing
deeply as she spoke. God bless Amy
Bradleyp
God bless herr John Edgeworth
said.
God bless her" echoed the sergeant,
and continued rapidly, Yes, God bless
all as good as she is. Is she your daugh-
ter, STRIP
'' She is not. John Edgeworth sternly
said. ." And remember, my man, though
We are compelled to give you shelter for
the night, any further impertinence on
your part will be reported to your Off
Ger"
Pardon my impertinence, then" re-
piled the sergeant, and his softened tone
arrested the steps of the couple, as they
were leaving the room, land hear me for
moment. Perhaps you both have a
little corner in your memories occupied
by the dear old room in your childhood's
home, where you used to sit during the
long, wild winter nights before a fire
blazing away as merrily as that one over
there Is blazing now, and watch the
flames as they burst forth from their
prison and shed faint splendor through
the gloom-I think You have. Almost
every one has. know that 1 have and
tonight, when was passing the window
here, and saw the light of that pleasant
fire streaming through the chinks in the
shutters. tie shadow of many sorrowful
years was lifted from my heart. 1 was
again happy little lad. sitting at nv
dear mothers feet, my head upon her
knee, and tracing with wondering eyes
the quaint pictures of the flames.
We'll for you, poor fellow thinks I.
to keep this memory fresh tonight
And so entered here. 1 have been
rude, but pardon the roughness of a
soldier"
Mrs. Edgeworth burst into tears.
bid the poor fellow stay, john" she
sobbed.
And John Edgeworth, with faltering
voice welcomed the sergeant, for both
husband and wife saw again, in that
same room, q little boy kneeling before