The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-09-04

one moment lost faith in your being
we'll and happy, and finally restored to
u.s."
Eyes, l shall return, father" said
John. But l want this war ended
first"
After the boy had inquired for all the
family he said:
"But why didn't you bring Zip along,
too?'
Poor Zip!" was the reply. HE
mourned himself to death before you
had been gone week. He never
touched another mouthful of food, and
would only lie on your bed and moan. :"
General Knox soon returned with Or
ders from the Commander-in-Ch to
conduct Mr.. Holden and John to his
headquarters-a summons that must be
obeyed at once.
General Washington received Mr..
Holden very kindly and said, smilingly:
II hear a story that sounds like ro-
nance in. the midst of war. Tell me,
my little fifer, how you came to leave
your parents without their knowledge,
and to join my army at such tender
age?'
John was somewhat abashed by this
direct question from so dignifed and
august a parsonage; but the General
added, kindly:
"You have the name of being one of
my bravest boys. Tell me how it hap
pened. You never ran away. did you?"
mo, sir, never" answered John with
spirit. II was playing with my dog
Zip, on Sorrel Hill, when big wagon,
full of men, came along. They stopped
when they saw me, and one of them
called out: 'Halloo, my little fifer! We
are looking for you. Jump IN asked
them if the British bulls and lions were
here, and they said; Yes, hurry up!' l
jumped in, sir, and that was the way it
happened"
Mr.. Holden then remembered for the
first time what he had said long ago,
when John asked him if he would be
needed when the British bulls and
lions appeared.
Johns story was met by burst of
laughter quite unusual with Washing
ton. Then, patting the boys rosy
cheeks, the General said: After this
you must give us some music, my lad"
And John, quite elated, rendered a
stirring march.
II don't see how we can part with
this brave boy of yours" said General
Washington to Mr.. Holden when the
boy had finished playing, "but parents
have the first claim"
John was just then ordered to 60 and
dismiss the men he had been drilling,
and he departed with martial salute
to his superiors and II will be back in
five minutes to his father.
Mr.. Holden, left alone, told the
story of the mothers deep faith and
added: John seems to be in his ele-
ment here
Then General Washington told the
gratifed parent an incident, showing
the spirit of the lad.
When I, with number of my suite,
approached the vicinity of Monmouth
Courthouse" said he, II was met by
little musician, who archly cried out:
They are all coming this way, your
Hoc ar!'
"'Who are coming this way? said I.
"'Why, our boys, your Honor! Our
boys! and the British are right after
them"
"Impossible!' l cried; but squirting
my horse found the boys words only
too true"
''He is a good boy" added General
Knox, land invaluable in training raw
recruits. If they are homesick he talks
kindly with them and cheers them won
derfully with his ardent patriotism.''
The boy just then returned, and Gen.
eral Knox added: well, what did your
men say when you told them you were
going home?"
John blushed and answered.: II could
not tell them that, your Honor. Father.
let me stay another year. Then shall
be thirteen ard able to help you more
on the farm. You know mother is we'll,
and the war will soon be over"
What father in revolutionary times
could resist such an appeal?
Washington smiled, and Mr.. Holden
consented. And after kind farewell
from the Father of his Country, and a
loving one from the young fifer, Jonas
Holden rode away, saying to himself:
"My boy could not hold more hon
ored position,-I leave him safe in the
hands of General Washington-and of
God"
When, after seven more days Of horse
back riding, Jonas Holden arrived at
his own door in Shirley, he was met by
his maiden sister with the words:
disappointed again! So it wasn't
our John at all? l tell you, you'll never
see that boy again."
But Mr.. Holden held out his hand to
the boys mother
My DEAR" he said, John is the hap
piest boy in the Continental army"
1t took long time to tell the story OF
the journey; of his reception at Wash
ington's headquarters; of his finding the
boy; Of his growth, improvement and
popularity; of his close adherence to
the principles of right and truth which
tney had taught him; and of the great
commanders praise of their son. But
at last the father said:
Have 1 done right in leaving him
there?'
Just right" said the mother.
John Holden returned to his parents
when the war was over and lived to
good old age And his name may be
seen, for the searching, even now, on
the books at Washington, as a PEN
sioner of 1776.-Toledo Blade.
They Didn't Want to Work.
An old Missourian tells this story:
1--WE had about twenty-five miles to 60
by stage in Missouri, and it was early
spring and the roads were very bad.
The stage started about half an hour
before daylight, and there were five
men of us and two women. These last had
the back seat and talked only to them
selves. We were not over two miles out
when the stage got stuck and down
every man had to get and lift and pull
and pry. Three miles further on we were
stuck again, and it was the same. per-