Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-03-21
4 WORTHLESS FELLOW

A WORTHLESS FELLOW.
There was rumor aloat at the fort that
Tom O'Halloran was to be discharged from
the regiment for drunkenness, and every
body was sorry for il. Even though those
were stirring days. and every man and wom-
an had their heads and hearts full Of the ex-
pedition against the Indians for which the
regiment was preparing, yet each had
thought Of pity for Tom, q word Of kindness
for Toms mother. They had, after a fash
ion, belonged to the regiment longer than any
officer or soldier now included in it, for Toms
father had been band-master from the early
days Of the war to his death, which occurred
Just after Tom was enrolled as private,
some five years since while Mrs. O'Hallo-
ran, whose faithfulness and patience as n
nurse was beyond praise, was endeared to al
most every officers family by some battle
with death which they had fought together.
They had more than their share of Irish
beauty, those two and the gray eyes which
laughed or flashed under Toms dark brows
were, his defenders said, very like those
which looked at the world with such gentle
kindness from beneath his mothers white
hair. He was a strong, clever young Irish,
man, with an aptitude for doing well any
thing that he was set to do, from fighting to
his mothers prayers, his Colonels warnings
and his own resolutions were powerless to
overcome. Clever and handsome and brave
as he was, and "Child Of the Regiment as
he was jokingly called" his officers could
scarcely have had such patience with his al
ways recurring escapades if it had not been
for his mother, whose love for him was so
devoted, and whose faith in promises to re-
form 80 unwavering that the the hardest
hearts (and soldiers hearts are not very hard
onos) always yielded to her entTeaty for an
other chance for her boy.
But this time things looked very serious
for poor Tom. He had been drunk while on
duty as a sentry, and being in a quarrelsome
humor, had been with difficulty prevented
from knocking down the officer of the day
who had ordered him uuder arrest. Within
week a large portion of the regiment was
to start on an expedition OF several months,
and As Toms company was among those
which were to go, the Colonel had been
heard to say that patience in his case had
reached its limit, for q drunken sentry could
endanger an army, and nobody could posi-
bly, rely upon Toms sobriety from one hour
to another. Punishment and warnings had
alike failed hundred times, and Tom must
be left behind and discharged. think the
good Colonel, under whose bluff aspect was
hidden a very kindly heart, was quite con-
soious that he was in disfavor with all the la
dies, and many OF the officers, that day, and
it was even whispered that he had been re-
pulsed With great disorder, il an attempt to
prove TO Mrs. Colonel that he was right in
his resolution. At all events he carried rath-
er q gloomy countenance about his duties,
and it was with tagging footsteps that, toward
evening, he entered the little hospital. There
was only one patient at present, but be was
'one who would never leave it alive, man
who had been good soldier, and the Colo
nel's orderly for years.
A little old woman with a white apron and
a quaint cap rose from beside the bed where
poor Butler lay-a pale little woman, with a
| look of patient trouble in her soft eyes that
| touched the Colonel more than vehement re-
proaches, for this was Mrs. O'Halloran, and to
| him, as to most of the officers, she WAS the
old and tried friend of many an illness and
anxiety rather than merely the mother of a
| private soldier who was in scrape. The
room was as neat and pleasant as though his
nurse had no thought but his welfare and
the sight of this also touched the Colonel,
who would have done his duty under any cir
| cumstances, and who respected the evidence
| of such a character in others
Butler must not talk much If you please,
| Colonel, Mrs. O'HRlloran said, as she left
the room and sat down on the lowest step OF
| the ball stair, for she was trembling SO that
she could scarcely stand.
After a few moments the Colonel came
slowly out He was surprised that Butler
had not interceded for Tom, because he
knew the mans liking for the nurse, who, a
a special favor, had been allowed him instead
of the usual hospital steward, and that he
might reasonably expect to be heard with pa
tience at least by his old master
| kFnuy mia xvoul1 fOiDnpl
MIRO. OHalloran began, rising and claspinl
her wrinkled hands. my heart has beer
breaking to say it this long day, but l coul'
not leave Butler"
docs Butler know anything of this af
fairY'
mo, sir. Sure, l could not trouble a dy
ing man, who has been a good friend to Tom
and his father before him, this many day.
II wish Tom had your sense of duty, Mrs
| O'Holloran :" cried the Colonel, with sud
den dimness in his keen eyes, as he though
of the mothers agony of suspense that sh
had concealed for the good Of her patient.
~ knew that l could see you when yo
came to see Butler, as you always do, Cole
mel, she said simply and then, while til
slow tears Of ago crept down her pale face
"Colouel, it is good aud kind you have bee
to my poor boy many and many time, an
sorely he has tried you kindness But hl
heart is set on going to this fighting, and
you turn him out of the regiment now, tn
regiment that has been his home since he wa
a little lad, sure sir, you will ruin his life er
tirely, aud he so young. He is brave DO
too, is my Tom, Colonel, and have fee
ing here" (pressing trembling hand againi
her hearty "that if you take him with yot
he will do something to make you and his rel
iment proud of him"
1t was weak logic but the brave, pathet
old eyes, the passionate pleading OF the ia
tering voice. made it very eloquent, an
though the Colonel told himself that no wa
fool, he knew that he was yielding.
Take him with you this once Give hi
} this one more chance !" she implored. "Sur
! Colonel, the God of the widow will not /
p any harm come to you, because you heal
the widows prayer
, "Very well, MIS-. O'Hallorau, for yol
sake Tom shall havo another trial but
J shall keep my eye ON him, and If he does al
: harm, it shall only be to himself" cried Il
1 Colonel with sense OF Gpologi2ing to
conscience. 1.-The son of such mother
you are ought 10 be better stuff than hopele
drunkards are made Of.
c God bless you, sir, for ever and over ="
catching his hand and kissing 1t. "His mot
! or knows Tom O'HAlloran better than hiI
Q self does aud you will be glad of this day
I mercy as long as you live, Colonel.
9 The sun had risen ON such hopes and SUI
a confidence, such light hearts and sueh
D laughter, on wellordered, well-appolnt
0 regiment that scoTned its foes and belev
: in its own invincibleness. The sun "
/ sinking, at the June days close, on couI
Q of hundred exhausted men huddled togeth
within a rampant of saddles and dead hort
4 on the bare crown of q steep hill, whose ba
e was surrounded by bowling savages, "
!, stretched in dusky hordes, it seemed to
3 tired eyes that watched them, endless
through the valley beyond the little riY