San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-13
.-rnen come WIN me. :

aid, but in half an hour ordered him to be
brought to his tent
"Now, my boy" said the officer, looking
intently into the child's honest brown eyes,
~ am going to send you on an important err
rand Though you are boy you must have
the courage Of a man"
The boy made no reply He was looking
straight at the general
"Iwant you to take thisn-he held up some
thing that looked like pill. Its roll of
tissue paper in tin foil, and there's message
written on it. Take it to Gen. -, COM
maniing the Confederate force at j.
There's but one road-you know the road;
go down the pike till you come to the picket
near the fork by Scagg's tavern. Take the
right fork, and you'll find another picket line
on the opposite slope. Do you underestimate
ayes, SIR"
General" interposed an aid, impatiently,
"this is a duty for me, not for this child"
How could you pass the enemy's pickets'"
demanded the general sharply. Then, with
out permitting reply, he went on giving the
boy his instructions.
"You are so young that think the pickets
will let you go where you please
"Tm l2," interrupted Tom.
Are you' Well, you must keep up stout
heart and not look frightened"
II reckon | won't be scared consid'able."
"Take this" The general put his finger
into the pocket of the boys jacket to see if it
was whole; then, rolling the pellet in piece
of newspaper he slipped it into the pocket.
'If you must lose it, swallow it"
Swallow itg"
Swallow it."
81 WILL" said Tom resolutely.
The general took the little fellow by the
hand 1t was curious contrast, the grizzly
bearded southern commander looking down
from his six feet of height into the boys little
round face and holding the chubby fist in his
knotty hand He was loath to relinquish it;
loath to let the boy go. He was about to
send the child on a perilous errand. He could
have sent man without conjunction, even
if he knew the chances were nine in ten that
he would be shot; but this boy
"Gol" he said, suddenly, and motioned the
aid to take him away. Another moment
and he could not have done it.
Tom Lane, Jr., now advanced to the dig
nifty of a Confederate courier was placed on
a good natured horse which was to carry
him on his journey The aid took him to
the Confederate picket line and started him
off up the road He stood looking at the
haxen haired urchin, whose little legs stuck
out on either side over the round TANKS of
the horse at an obtuse angle, wishing that he
might call him back He watched the boy
till he rounded a curve in the road The
Young courier turned and smiled a smile of
innocence, of courage, of conscious pride in
the work to be done In another moment he
was lost to the officers view
That day passed and the next The COM
mander, who was awaiting the outcome of
his plan of communication, did little but
pace anxiously back and forth before his
tent Though abrupt in manner, he was
usually sngularly kind to those under his
orders. Now he seemed the very incarna-
ton of military severity. When twenty-four
hours had passed and his courier did not re-
turn, he became so crusty that no member of
his staff cared to approach him.
On the second evening at dusk the pickets
heard the Gathering of horses hoofs on the
pike. They sprang to their guns, and leveled
them in the direction Of the noise. A horse
came in sight, and on his back was the little
courier, hatless, swaying in the saddle, but
riding at gallop. The soldiers grasped the
bride.
Take me to the general, quick"
He was deathly pale and the men noticed
that he was bleeding. They led him away
from the picket line, man walking on each
side sustaining him in the saddle As they
walked along he told his story On going out
he had little difficulty in getting within the
Union lines, as anticipated, on account of his
youth, but was obliged to try several times
before being able to leave them. On reach
ing the Confederate lines he went to head
quarters, delivered his message, and was well
cared for by the generals order.
The next morning reply to the message he
had brought was given him, and he started
back. Again he passed free into tho Union
lines, and again he found difficulty in leaving
the lines on the opposite side. At last, get
ting some distance beyond picket who was
watching him, he resolved TO make dash for
it. II thought he wouldn't shoot me-" said
Tom, ZOOS war so little. l reckon he
couldn't see who | war fur the trees n
things"
"Where are you hit?n asked one of the men
Here" He put his hand to his left side be-
low the heart. go on, quick I'm weakenin'.'
A drop of blood fell in the dust at the feet
of a rugged infantryman. He shuddered and
hurried on.
When the party arrived at headquarters
they found the general still walking back and
forth in deep anxiety. When he saw his
little messenger sitting on the horse, pale and
bleeding, he strobe up to him and brushing
away the men, without a word took him in
his arms carried him into his tent and laid
him on his own camp cot. Then he bent over
him and groaned.
The boy took from his mouth pellet sim
liar to the one he had carried on his journey
outward and held it to the general The sol
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