The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-11-21
TIE GREEN COATED MAN.

Many long year ago three or four
regiments of Russian soldiers were en-
ramped on flat sandy plain upon the
shore of the Gulf of Finland, not far
from new town which had Just been
built at the mouth Of the river Neva and
called st. Petersburg. The sun was be-
ginning to set, and the men, having fin
ished their marching and exercising,
were having rest after the days work,
or beginning to get ready their supper.
Most of them were strong and sturdy
fellows who looked as if they could stand
good deal of hard work, and hard
lighting, too, before giving in. But they
certainly did not wear very soldier
like appearance, for all that; they moved
heavily and clumsily, and handled their
muskets as if they had been more used
TO plows and spades than weapons Of
war.
Awkward though they seemed, how
ever, these very men were to be able,
only few years later, to give King
Charles, of Sweden (who was then
thought to be the best soldieralive), such
o beating that neither he nor his army
ever meddled with Russia again. But
rs they were now, they made al poor figure
enough and so, no doubt, thought big
red-haired man in Russian uniform, who,
with his arms folded ON his broad chest,
and scornful smile on his face, was
watching half dozen of them light q
fire.
pretty fellows you are TO call your
selves soldiers ~ cried he, in broken
Russian, "when you can hardly tell the
butt of a gun from its muzzle, and don't
even know how to kindle fire yet. We
manage things better in Silesia, where l
was born and bred"
"Well, if your country is so much
better than ours, why didn't you stay
there 7" asked one of the Russian re-
cruits, sulkily.
Because was wanted here to make
you Russian mbbers into soldiers" an
Bwered the Silesian, fiercely; land a
mighty hard job it is.
The recruit muttered something be-
ween his teeth, but did not venture to
make any direct reply; for this Silesian,
Michael Kratsch, was noted bully, and
ihe strongest man in the regiment, and
my one who tried to argue with him
generally ended by getting broken head
for his pains.
While Kratsch was still fuming at find
ing no one to vent his anger upon, a
little drummer-boy, coming past with
ean of water much too heavy for his thin
arms, stumbled against him by accident.
Like lightning big Michael faced round
and dealt the poor little fellow a kick
which sent him to the ground, screaming
with pain, and caused him TO spill every
drop of the precious water that had cost
70 much trouble to bring.
An angry murmur ran through the
group of Russians and the Silesian
turned savagely upon them.
"What are you growing at, you dogs2
II you have anything to say to me, say it
out. You ought to know by this time,
] should think, that one honest Silesian
Is match for half dozen such as you 7"
Are you quite sure of that?" asked
deep voice behind him.
Every one looked round with start,
for nobody had noticed a soldier standing
near the group, and listening to the
Silesian boastful talk with smile of
Quiet amusement
The newcomer picked up the little
drummer-boy very tenderly, reflled his
Pan from bucket that stood near, and
sent him away rejoicing. Then he came
slowly up to the tall Silesian and looked
him full in the face.
Kratsch eyed the stranger from head to
foot, and did not altogether like the look
Of him. His dress was nothing very
grand, to be sure, being simply the plain
green coat of Russian private, so soiled
and threadbare that an old-clothes man
would scarcely have taken it as gift.
But he was as tall as Big Michael himself,
while his huge limbs and brawny chest
made such show of strength that most
people would have thought itmuch better