St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-04-10
FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS
CAPTAIN HEADS SOLDIERS.

Young Captain Head was i'm great
perplexity and trouble. In fact, he
looked utterly bowed down with the
weight of care that was resting upon
him. At quite an early age he had en-
listed as soldier in a great army,
promising to be faithful and true. to
fight manfully under the banner he
bore. and ever to uphold the honor of
the Great Commander whose cause he
served
But Captain Head had not sufficient
ly weighed the difficulties to be met,
when with fervent. glowing heart he
enrolled himself in this great army; he
had thought much of the glory of
conquerOr. but he had little counted
the responsibility and vigilance that
would devolve upon him during the
long warfare, and when he remembered
that he had enlisted for life, he was
sometimes utterly east down.
1t was true. he often had troubles of
his own, difficult. important work to
perform, that often made him ache with
feverish weariness; but, as he admitted
to himself, these trials were as nothing
compared to those brought upon him
by his unruly soldiers, especially by his
young officers, who were far more pre-
sumptuous and rebellious than those
whom they should have helped him
govern.
Now, there were the two young
guardsmen belonging to the light in
.fantry, two brothers, bright and intel
ligent, bearing the singular name of
Eyes. No sooner were they given some
special duty to perform than instead of
faithfully attending to it. there they
were straying off in every direction,
looking after things that had best been
left alone. and prying into everybodys
business but their own.
Then there were two other brothers
by the name of Ears, quick and ever on
the alert, whom the Captain had
chosen as special sentries to stand
guard on either side of the camp to
listen for the first sound of approach
ing danger, and to hear all that could
be learned for the good of the army.
Yet no sooner were they stationed at
their posts, than instead Of listening
for danger signals. or useful news.
they were giving all their attention to
some silly story of gossip, or, perhaps,
worse still, to some wicked scandal of
others, or even to some impure joke.
Then there was the Adjutant, little
fellow, it is true. yet quick and active
in his movements, but verify the most
unruly member of the Captains COM
pany. This was Adjutant Tongue. APP
pointed to carry his commanders or
ders, and to speak for him on all occa-
sions. delivering messages of advice,
warning or encouragement. What was
the Captains modification often to
hear this spry young officer pouring
forth a perfect volley of abuse on some
companion. raving loudly in passion,
or worse than all. sometimes uttering
words that for hours afterward filled
Captain Head with shame.
Then there were two Lieutenants,
two cousins bearing the name of Hands.
1t is true. they had under their charge
quite a number of stupid young pri-
Yates to drill and keep in order; but
this should only have made them the
more serious. On the contrary, how
ever, half the time, when detailed to
lead of on soNe necessary work or ac-
ton, instead of doing so. the whole
party would be found engaged in
something else, having either forgotten
the duty assigned them, or perhaps re-
belliously idle and Indifferent.
Then there were two others, CorpOr-
al Foot and his brother. most necessary
and useful officers. and surely not so
handsome or high i'm Office Is to be af-
fiicted with vanity; yet for some unac-
countable reason, they were the most
restless, most unreliable of the Cap
tain's troop. Never contented, ever
lastingly wanting to march when the
order was to halt. to stand still or lag
behind when the order came to march,
and when least expected, actually as
suming command and leading the
whole company off in some direction
wholly contrary to orders, and bring
ing Captain Head into disgrace and to
receive a reprimand from his superb
Ors. Truly he sometimes felt inclined
to hang himself for shame!
But the Captain was beginning to
wake up to the serious importance of
this state of affairs; surely he must be
somewhat to blame as a commander,
for such disorderly conduct among his |
own soldiers. Perhaps he had been |
too amiable. or too Indifferent, or, most |
probable of all, too thoughtless; he
would rouse himself, institute a new
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 his de-
termination into practice.
That very day the gay young guards
men were placed on duty, and as usual,
no sooner was the Captains attention
diverted than of they darted. straying
away after pleasure. But they had
offended once too often. Instantly they
were caught, and after n brief trial.
each was imprisoned in a small cell,
doomed to perfect darkness, even the
blinds being 50 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 mufiied that
they might hear nothing but the buzz
of their own unpleasant thoughts.
Adjutant Tongue was the next to Of
%