The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-01-19
JUST IN Time.


tor Currie, English Commissioner at the
up-country station, at Huttee-Bagh, in
Northern India, had gone upon tho We
randa with his wife and his two guests,
tho Colonel and Major of the --th light
infantry, to enjoy the cool of the even
ing
On three sides the house was sur
rounded by its compound, large in
closed space serving the purpose of
courtyard, but the fourth was only sep
arated by a small patch of garden from
the road, along which a number of native
women were passing with their little
pitchers on their heads.
The sight of them naturally turned the
conversation upon favorite subject
with all Anglo Indians, viz, the char
acter of the natives and the best mode of
dealing with them.
,"There only one way" said the
Colonel, emphatically. "Tell 'em what
they are to do, make 'em do it, and
thrash 'em well if they don't. That's
my way"
"Well, venture to differ from you
there, Colonel" said Mr.. Currie, quietly.
81 had to do some thrashing once or
twice, L own, but most of my native SER
wants get along very well without it,
and they seem to serve me excellently, l
assure you"
81 wish you had been in my place,
then" retorted the Colonel "you'd
have changed your opinion, l warrant.
Why, the year before last, when ] had
charge of two battalions of the rascals
down Mt Suttepoor, because there wasn't
another Queens officer within reach
Just like my COMPOUNDED luck there
was no getting anything done unless |
did it myself. By Jove, sir had to
be everything at once-my own Quarter
master, my own Sergeant Major, my
own caterer. and"
"And your own trumpeter, Col. An
nesley?" asked Mrs. Currie, with an
arch smile.
The Coloncl's broad face REDEEMED
ominously, and an explosion seemed
imminent, when sudden clamor of
angry voices from the road below drew
them all to the front vernnda.
The cause of the disturbance was visi-
BILE at a glance. Two half-drunken En-
glish soldiers, staggering along the
road, had come into violent contact
with native who was running past ;
and one of them, enraged at the collis-
ion, had felled the poor lad to the
ground, and was unclasping his own
belt with the evident intention OF beat
ing him numerically.
"Served the young whelp right,
shouted the Colonel, rubbing hishands ;
chats just what they all want"
The other officer, Maj. Armstrong
popularity called Maj. Strongarm-was
huge, brawny, silent man, whose forte
Law in acting rather than talking.
During the whole discussion he had sat
like O great bronze statue, never utter
ing a word but, at sight of this man
ill-using this child, he woke up rather
startlingly.
To leap to the ground twelve feet be
low, to dart across the garden, to Vaui'
over the high stockade beyond, was the
work OF moment for the athletic Major,
and in another instant he had raised thu
bow tenderly from the gro1nd, while say
ing to the foremost soldier, in the low
compressed tone OF q man who means
what he says
"Be off with vou."
"And who the deuce are you, shown
yer nose in where you amt wanted !!
roared the Infatuated ruffian, to who's
ewes the Majors plain evening dress bor'
no token of his being an officer. Jis
YOU" ,
At the sound of that insolent detianc
Armstrong; sorely-tried patience CAV
way altogether, and the powerful riSh
hand which had hewed its way throug
: a whole squadron of Shiv cavalry tel
Ike sledge-hammer upon his oppo
! nent's face, dashing him to the groun,
as if he had been blown from the moutl
. of gun.
"Well done, Maj. Armstrong, "shoute
Mr.. Currie from above. You deserv
your name, and no mistake. -.
At that formidable name the soldle
: took to his heels at once, and Armstrong
without even looking ct his PROSTATE al
tagonist, proceeded to look at the hurt
of the boy"
The latter was sorely bruised in man
2 places, and the blood was trickling free
fy over his swarthy face; but the littl
: hero still did his best to stand erect, an
. TO keep down every sign OF the pal
q which he was enduring. .,H
= "You're brave lad, and you'll max
J. soldier some day." said the Major
3 him in Hindoostanee. Come with mi
!. and I'll see that no one molests 20
i again" hro,vn han
y which had defended him so bravei!
y and kissed it with the deepest reverence
II and the two walked away together.
!. Six months have come and gone, nm
Mr.. Currie's hospitable home presents