Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-21
CHAPTER IT.

Ash saw his slender. erect figure passing
dovn the street | rememb er used, at first,
20 watch and see on what errand ne vas
bent. thinking II would oe something IN
teresting or elevated IN some tr0H but ne
was only going for morning paper. or TO
sit with tho tailor, or 10 lolter at the VII
lage tavern.
Mv chamber window overlooked his
small house and / could not help seeing
tbat he WAS ALWAYS idle. He had no books
or flowers. or pets, thoroughly uninter-
es,ing specimen OF the human hnd-eat-
ing, smoking. fishing; fishing, eating,
smoking. dlled all lifetime between polish
Ing up his old sword. cleaning hlsGu and
reading q book of somebody's Tactics.
Ii was this aforementioned employment
Of his which FIRST brought him to our spe-
cial notice. ] was masking my children
Charlie and Nelhe-lcaTn their catecnlsm
and 1t CHANGED that the book taught
them from was Just the counterpart II
shane and size 10 Major Noydens lac
tics :" and seeing him sit quietly dav by
day reading and bordering they fancied
he, too was studying lesson IN religion,
and Charles big, childish heart warmed
towards him and never turned away tlll
death came in dividing them.
The old man, who was quite 1lon IN his
cottage, used sometimes TO amuse my hus-
band and me by speaking aloud and
waving his hand as If addressing troop of
soldiers marching into battle, for his heart
was in war more than IN peace and he
dwelt on the glorles Of that Mexican cam
paign. though 1t was many years IN the
past. q,
Tho children would invest him with all
kinds of romantic qualities, when was
quite natural in one respect IN that as he
Showed not vestige of character OF ms
own he was very suitable object TO IN
vest with any imaginary one they lleased.
Now the children tancied these eXhorta-
tiOns TO the unseen troops must he praNers 3
and reveTentlaly bent down their curry
heads on the window-sil whenever they
heard the low gutterals of the OLD man. In
vain explained. Charlie knew II must be
praying; he had no knowledge of war ex;
cept of It's being a great sin and an evil
thing 10 fight and kill, as had taught him
so this good. devOut old man was II course
praying ell alone there III his little, quiet
fooln "See, a. hewayed his hand, mamma,
he has pushed his prayer-bOOk out OF the
window. May i run aud get it for him
j. has fallen IN the high grass outside. y
yes" said William, and IN o moment
moro my little boy was standing before
Major hoyden trying TO attract his atten-
ton.
Here is your book. sir"
The old man was in deep dream, and
looked at the child for a long time with.
out any Consciousness of ms presence.
Your prayer book" said Charlie; "but
you arc busy. VIII run back now"
"Oh no here little fellow" and the
Major caught his hand. ~ didn't SEQ you
at first. was in Mexico. | saw the
enemy coming TO attack us, but ] didn't
see you. Come and sit down. And he
cot up ont of his chair and tried to put
Charlie IN il.
"Iet me sit on this nice low box: IL i,
ss good a seat as that char and mucl
L.. o. L.. Zoo. a
In iti" With childish curiosity he tries
20 lift the lid. Charlie was six years oil,
aud knew better, but the old man wa
pleased 20 open Il.
/, il battle flag" impressively.
But II is all In rags" said the child
pointing out several holes. rs with cage
bands Major Roydon shook out the heay.
flag.
Are you ever going TO sail it? Let
put 1t up"
:" 1t will neyer so up any MORE" said tn
old man.
Then what are YOU keeping il for?"
Till have fought my last battle witt
death. will die here quietly some day o
night, and then / wish to be wrapped il
the old flag. II has been with me in manl
aglorlous battlo-it has seen, an child, i
II could talk"
what Is battle? said Charlie.
In a little while the boy had crawled III
quite 70 the Majors feet, and an eager lit
tie face was leaning on his knee listenin,
Is the sodler told him what was a battle.
THAT Is the way q mothers teaching
goes" ] thought As ! looked at the pail
with their flashing eyes. - teach hin
gentieness and love. Major RoydeD undoei
e ali In an instant with his heroics."
II wish was soldier. Are you going
IN any more bsttlesy"
mo. ! am old and WORKOUT now. / an
more than eighty years old. would have
liked to die on the field, but it was not &c
ordered"
How do you know" said Charlie
"Ths enemy might come any day, II
seems to me-"
At this interesting point called him Ia
laneheon. and % did every day for sew.