News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-12-07
AN OLD SOLDIERS STORY

to pass the time, and seized upon ever,
opportunity for "fun," as school-boy
do.
We all have our favorites in this world
and there were two men In the regimen
who seemed worth more to me than a
the rest put together. One of them wa
our chaplain, handsome man of forty
with a loud, ringing laugh, face tina
told of a conscience as clear as man
may be, and friendly manner that wo
the hardest heart.
He had a fashion of speaking of til
wife and children at home that showe'
how well he loved them, and he wor
her miniature about his neck and haC
showed it to me In a fond, proud way
soon after we became friends. Home
was always in his thought and often OF
his tongue, and I liked him better for it
Ny other friend was young, nct
lieutenant a dreamy, sensitive young
fellow, who had engaged himself on the
eve of his departure from England to q
beautiful girl whom I knew very well
and believed to be a firt of the first
water. He had given me his confidence
entirely; and I, who had never had a
sweetheart, and believed that / should
never care enough for any woman to ask
her to be my wife, somehow took a
great interest In his heart affairs, and,
fond as I was of him, could not have
smiled at his raptures over shallow
hearted Phoebe Dutton for my life.
We three-the chaplain, young Her
bert and I-were breakfasting to-
gether one morning, when my ser
want entered, and, with an odd express
sion on his face, explained that there was
a queer-looking Indian chap outside who
asked admittance.
81 know something about him." he
said, sand he's in league with the devil
If ever man was. That lad of his knows
more than he ought to, " he added. eve
had a peep at the show last night and
frightened ourselves finely. Still it's
curious"
1T is probably an Indian magician, y
said the chaplain.
Yes, sir, said the man. "That's the
name for him, 1 believe. Shall he come
IMP"
"Let him in, said I. "WeIl see him,
at all events.
The servant retired and in a moment
more re-appeared, ushering in a very
sinor1Iar iDdivid17aI
1t was an old man, with a bronzed skin,
a long, hooked nose, flashing black eyes,
and long white beard. He stopped as
he walked, and leaned on a long, thick
staff with one hand, and with the other
upon the shoulder of beautiful boy of
perhaps ten years old. As he approached
he made US a low reverence and addressed
us in some words that were incompre-
hensible to me. The chaplain, however,
interpreted them.
"'The man declares himself to be
magician" he said, "and desires to
know whether we have any wish to know
what has happened in our own country
since we left 1t. OF course it is all rub
bish, but these exhibitions are said to be
curious. Shall we let him do what he
can, gentlemen?"
by all means, said eve are too
old to be frightened, fancy"
Herbert merely nodded, but lovers are
always a little superstitious for the time
being, and saw hope of hearing some
thing about Phoebe Dutton in his big
blue eyes.
Turning from us, the chaplain signi-
fed to the magician that he might pro-
coed, and he in turn addressed the boy,
who at once proceeded to business by
spreading a rug, which he carried under
his arm, upon the ground and placing
the old magician carefully upon it.
Having done this, he Frustrated himself
at his feet and lay there, face downward
and perfectly motionless.
Meanwhile the magician drew from
his bosom a small flask, and having ut
tered some words over it, touched the
boy upon his shoulder. On the instant
the little fellow started up and knelt be-
fore him with one hand extended, the
palm upwards and followed into a sort
of cup, and into this the magician slowly
poured from the flask q black liquid not
unlike ink, and then grasping the boys
wrist, addressed the chaplain.
"He says that the boy viii look for
anyone any person present desires to
see" he said, :" and he begs us to make
haste, for the condition into which the
child is thrown is very exhausting.
What says Nesbit-do you desire a peep
at anyone?'
8" Not /, F." he answered. "But, come,
Herbert, You try"
The young man turned his dreamy
blue eyes upon me.
eyes, he said, frankly. "fI hoped
he knew anything of Phoebe I should be
very glad. Ask him if he can do any
thing for me, will your"
The magician seemed to understand
him. He motioned him to advance. and
spoke to the boy, who at once began to
speak in English.
81 see-yes, I see, he faltered, in a
strange, rapid way, as people speak who
suffer from fever; 81 see such a pretty
thing-a place-a house. There are
columns; there are painted windows:
there are people-so many people land
there is a lady; she is all in white; and
there is flowers, orange blossoms, in her
hair and she has a veil. And there is a
man dressed like you, and another man
dressed in white robes; and the first man
is putting a ring on her finger-on the
Iady's finger; and now he kisses her; and
now-I can't see any more; it is gone
cit is a wedding happy prophecy"
said the chaplain.
Herbet blushed and dropped a handful
of coin into the magician's lap, and our
chaplain addressed the boy.
''My lad, - he said, ''try to go to Eng
land again; try TO follow my thought. L
am thinking of home now-of my wife.
Do you know what think of, and of
whom ?"