Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-07-20

Wett on careleSSly and as III he had
heard nothing of all the lad had said.
Here, fix that necktie of yours proper
ly.' He arranged ithimself) There,
that's much better! Now, there should
be no folds or creases in your coat--it
isn't soldierly.' (He pulled and patted
the tunic into position.) Tip your cap
over on the ear--so IL gives you a
mOrerakish aspect
| The conscript smiled.
Garry yourself like a man, with your
shoulders back and your head up, and
when you walk step out resolutely,
boldly, just as you did when you played
| tenpinS in the yard of our house and
had made a ten-strike. Do you remem-
berT
The lads face showed plainly that he
did.
and continued the officer, leaning
against the wall, look every man you
meet squarely in the eye, because you
should be afraid of nobody and have
nothing to blush for. If it was the
King himself whom you met, lift your
head and look him in the face, as much
as to say, Here am II Don't forget
that. And remember that in the army
| you must change your way of speaking.
Few words, and those to the point No
matter who it may be that speaks to
| you, answer Yes or No When you
are in the ranks be as quiet as if you
were at church but once you have
broken ranks, you are home and your
own MASTER Ii the others are making
a noise, raise more racket than they do,
but don't sit gazing at them enjoying
themselves it will make you feel down
in the mouth. Love your comrades !;
you will find friends among them
friends who will love you like a brother.
Many things are lacking here, but not
good acknowledgements that
Did you ever hear of Perrier,' said
the officer, 'Perrier, the soldier that
| threw himself between his officer and
the enemy and fell with three bullets
in his body, crying: Remember me,
Lieutenant; die happy in saving your
lifeT Nor of that grenadier who, rath-
er than surrender his wounded captain,
was bayoneted to death, shouting, Take
him when / am dead-not befOreT
Nor of the eight or ten others who ut
Rivoli went under hail of bullets to
! rescue their commanders body from
the Austrians, so that they could see it
buried in camp with all the honors?
And there are hundreds of others whose
names and deeds have been written
down in all the big books, who are re-
membered and beloved as il they were
with us still. Have you matchr'
The conscript, who had been gazing
at him as If an ecstasy, his mouth and
eyes wide open, drew box of matches
from his pocket ard handed them to
the officer.
when one remembers all this, said
the officer, and when one has a little
philosophy. one overlooks the little hard
ships and worries of soldiers life.
You must remember everything you
are taught, and as you are a sensible
fellow you will. Keep them i'm your
head and little by little you will take a
liking to everythiDg-yOur arms, your
uniform, this yard, this staircase, these
walls, and when your time of service is
up and you have said good-by to your
sergeants, and when all the other sol
diers come to see you off and wish you
good luck and bid you remember them,
your heart will feel as it felt when you
left home; and when from the road you
take your last look at the windows of
your barrack-room, you will turn and
say-if you can say anything, 'good-by,
my second home, where / have loved so
many friends, where L have passed so
many happy days with quiet con-
science, where / have so often sighed
for my loved onesp Good-by to my
poor hard little bed; good-by, sergeant;
geod-by captain Why, what's the mat
Ter with YOU
The conscript was standing rapt,
motionless, his features working, his
breast heaving, his eyes wet with
tears.
What is the matter with you?'
The lad endeavored TO find his voice,
drew long breath, as If about to
speak, but could only whisper hoarsely:
'Nothingp
The officer smiled. Now to please
me, you will go and drink one glass of
Wine to good luck for all conscripts.
Here, take thisp
oh, SIR stammered the lad, REDEEM
ing, and declining the coin.
'WhatT said the officer sharply.
The conscript took the coin and
strove to stammer something,
Not word. Off
He rushed into the yard, dancing,
rubbing his hands, laughing, talking
to himself. He entered the canteen
and drank his glass of wine, which the
cantiniere poured out for him with her
sweetest smile. On his way out he
met the corporal, who accosted him in
much more gentle fashion.
Say, is that officer that has been
talking with you for the last hour any
relative of yours?'
NO.
But you know himg
Ultimately
SO he's the officer from your place
you were looking for? If / had known