The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-03-06

order of things, and teach these unruly |
officers who. was Captain among them.
He would at once begin a course of |
discipline that would astonish them,
and he was not long in putting mis- de-
termination into practice.
That very day the gay young guards.
menwere placed on duty, and as usual,
no sooner was the Captains attention
diverted than off they darted, straying
away after pleasure. But they had
offended once too often. Instantly they
were caught, and after a brief trial,
each was imprisoned in a small cell,
doomed to perfect darkness, even the
blinds being so closely drawn that they
could not see thing without.
The two sentinels were out when
this happened at their posts, as usual,
doing any thing but their duty.
They had just begun listening to a
delicious story of scandal, when along
came Captain Head, and being caught
in the very act, there was no need of
trial. Quickly was their sentence pro-
nounced, and they were doomed to be
shut up in perfect silence, the doorway
of their cells being closely muffled that
they might hear nothing but the buzz
of their own unpleasant thoughts.
Adiutant Tongue was the next to Of
fend by giving way to hasty, unruly
words, and to his great astonishment
he too was brought to sudden check
and instantly imprisoned, shut up in
dark and gloomy dungeon, and
| al ~ +,,To aolS;o,, H. LolJ 4ho
door, and defed him to speak one
word.
Quite unconscious of the new disci.
pline being thus so summarily enforced,
the two lieutenants with the ten sol
diers under their charge had been off
on little excursion of mischievOus en-
ioyment, having had, as they thought,
a rare good time. But all of sudden
Captain Head came up with them, and
without word they were caught, their
misdeeds declared, and their punish
ment decided They were all chained
in group, pressed so close together
that they had to lock arms to be
comfortable, and stationed behind
thick rampant with the order to stand
there till released.
And where were the two restless
corporals all this timer Hearing a
faint rumor of what was going on in
the ranks above them, they were just
about to make off to place of safety
when a sudden "Halt!' stopped them
and Captain Head frowned down
angrily upon them.
1t was no use trying either to run or
creep out of the dilemma. though they
shuffled about uneaSily. Their penalty
was at once decreed, and they were per-
emptorily ordered to stand right where
they were and not tomove an inch with
out permission.
And now for once Captain Head felt
E himself every inch a soldier. Free to
, think and reflect on his responsibilities
{ and duties, he could but see how much
, he had been to blame for all the mis-
demeanors and irregularities that had
brought discredit on the great army
! of which he desired to be true and
worthy member. If he had but begun
this stern and watchful discipline with
his soldiers earlier, how much more re-
! spected would he have been as a COM
! mander, and how much more surely
a would he have won the commentator
of the Great Commander whom he pro-
1 fessed to love and serve.
BY the time Captain Head had con-
+ cluded these reflections the two young
o guardsmen were crying piteously to be
I released, promising ever after faithful
y ly to obey orders. The sentinels were
OF, it,i, 70, 4
f of approaching relief, and ready to
listen to any conditions of pardon.
q Adjutant Tongue longed for the use
q of his powers once more if just to utter
# the good resolutions he had been 81
= lently framing The two Lieutenant
= Hands, with their closely crowded
: company, were so tired and crampeC
l. that they were eager to work or dc
any thing if only permitted to come Il
- the front again and have their free
y dom.
q As for the two corporals, though
e they had tried to relieve one another
they simply felt that they could stanC
o their punishment no longer, and wer
i willing to promise any thing if only per
mitted the free exercise again so neccs
:. sary to their happiness.
: And having brought them all now t.
q this state of submission Captain Heat
i proudly drew himself up to his creates
# height, and looking down upon then
~ gave thCm distinctly to understand tina
v. henceforth this rule of discipline wa
% to be rigidly enforced, and no olfende
G. need hope for escape nor for any i'm
lie Partially.
in He is now said to have one of the hes
m drilled and best regulated companie
e. in the whole army, and is frequentl
pointed out as not only wise Captai
r but one universally looked up to by hi
~ brave and honorable soldiers.-L L
50 Robinson, in n. y Observer.