Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-10-18

| Listened aud beamed as the word was said,
And the sun lifted his head and smiled
Good morning, world" Good morning child"
-WOmdns Journal
"SENTRY CO."
Many years ago | was serving as a cap
tain in the 10th regiment At the period
Of my story we were quartered at D.,
fortress of considerable size in the south Of
England.
In order that the circumstances Of the
adventure | am about to describe may be
understood, | must explain at the risk Of
being tedious that the citadel Of the for
tress, in which my regiment lay, is defend
ed by two circles of dry bitches, each about
% feet wide The side walls of these
bitches, technically known as escarps and
cOunterscarps, are, as was usual in fortih-
cations of that date riveted with masonry
aud are perpendicular. The outer circle
ditch is 400 feet deep, the bottom being
paved with flag stones. The inner ditch is
40 feet deep and is similarly paved, 50 that
! need scarcely say that fall from the
edge would be almost certainly fatal. The
| regular approach to the fortress is by
wide road Of gradual ascent, so contrived
as 10 be raked by fire from one or other of
the bastions, or out works, throughout its
course. 1t crosses the bitches over draw
bridges, protected by special works of great
strength.
In time OF war these draw bridges would
pe kept raised, and would only DE lowered
temporarily on urgent occasions w men
raised, the fortress would be inaccessible
from without unless sealing ladders were
used to cross the bitches. In time of peace,
however, the drawbridges are rarely raised,
| a strong guard nevertheless being inya-
riably posted over them.
for the convenience ol the officers and
certain OF the residents IN the cltidel, there
was short cut winch might be used. Ihis
was iootpath up the steep CHI, through a
! strongly Suarded posterh gate Inc pain
led IN Mgzag fashion up TO the counter
scarps OF the dltches which we're crossed
10y light plank bridges, so designed as to be
removed with great ease IN few minutes
None nut officers quartered IN the citadel,
ana lew persons with special permits sign
ed by the oIiicer commanding tne garrison,
we're allowed TO make use OIL TINS short cut
the soldiers and others who mad occasion to
VISIT the citadel beng restricted TO the
main approach.
At the time OF which l write had been
new y appointed 70 the rank OF captain,
ana AerNes himself was not prouder OF his
vast army than OF my gallant little com,
pany. was lucky as to promotion, and
my zeal had not been so damped by long
years OF subaltern life as to prevent my
throwing myself heart and soul into the
work OF supenntendence was ambitious
to have my company recognized as the
smartest IN the regiment, and was con
vnced OF the hopelessness OF the success
unless l could INSPIRE my men with the
same pride IN the company that had my
Sel' III Iruer 20 succeed lei' sure .hat i
Si'ou'' euueaNor 10 "ecoiiie acquainteu WIN
V"e ciinrac'er VI every "'eniVer Vi 'ne COM
! pa"S' 10 gam Uhelr respect oy stiIct aieC
tloh' "y constant sympathy ana Dy arl0rd-
ing such helP III thelr aihuSeihentS OF thelr
Iiouuies as caP'u'n lrequentiy mas II III
ms m power 10 give since my appointment
! hau Vrle1 10 WORK on thls system ana
'"cus"' Vi 'Iuise' ha' occasional ''isaP'
Polnuhehts, hau no reason 10 complain
ror an infantry captain was toleraoly
wen on an" nelhg very iona ol OUTDOOR
sports l encouraged cricket ana otner
gaines oS presents Oh oa1s' oai's ana other
materials ana spent hiuGh OF my tlihe III
cricket hlatches among the men IL was
not iohg peiore began 10 acquire cohsiu-
eraoie insight l1to Ine characVer oi the
men, anu iearhe,i 70 distinguish my oiack
sheeP ~ 'HSe ana IL posse
was a Ia1 oI the name Oh Aualr cameron
I ma" a horror OF iayorltisln' the oau Ell
ieets oi "hlch ! hau oiten seeh' out " was
nnPossioie ho1 10 leel sUrohe interest III
TINS young lello"' Cleah ana soldlerllKe
III appearance smart at drili' wei SET up,
ana steady as rock, ne was model OF
"hat young soiuler shoulu ne' \ deadly
bowler ne was one oi the mainstays ot our
company crlcketlhg teali' ana as nlaUcheS
were frequent l sa" hluCn Oh MN ana
hothlhg 10 lhu iault WIN lhough care
lully aVoiued taxing uhdue hotice OF Gam
eroh' the natural lhstlhct whicn thihk
men nave 10 hhd out their ineEds ana
thelr enemies maze me aware that, "hlle l
greatly hked MN ne, on MS SIDE, was
Warmly attached 10 me
one uay oauch OIL recruits arrived al
head quarters Inc au Jutaht' oelng away
ON leave 1au got me 10 40 ms duties ior
MN, ana was ousy All the AFTERNOON
draiuhg the new arrivals INTO companies,
ana arranging lor thelr ratiohs ana bed
dlng
ABOUT nan an hour before mess was
sitting IN my room IN the citadel parracEs'
rather tired when heard Knock at the
door, ana my color-sergeaht appeared.
'frNate Cameron wishes TO know II he
could speak TO you, SIR
certainly, replied, tell nm To come
IN.
Cameron entered, saluted, and stood
iookIEg ,A!4g III "a at ease, .,..,,1.
..o,t en- Oaliier9n WAT MIa' '' ~ ihquireu.
lease' 81, l "'Sneu " SPEAK aoou'
So,.vEuins PiItaVe: :,,,.
"eI' "Ial Is asSeu again
cameron hesltaJeu, anu looheu hV Ihe