Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-09-18

dear mother. tell you, father, not
night have / camped down to sleep
but l have thought of mother; and
every time thought of her the tears
came. / thought perhaps she might die
and should never see her again"
- Your mother is WE'LL" was the faith
er's answer. "And she has never for
ono moment lost faith in your being
we'll and happy, and finally restored to
u.s."
"Yes, shall return, father" said
John. But / 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 Zipr was the reply. "He
mourncd 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 tho Commander-in-Chief to
conduct Mr.. Holden and John to his
headquarters summons that must be
obeyed at once
| General Washington received Mr.
Holden very kindly and said, smilingly:
II hear story that sounds like ro-
nance in the midst of war. Tell mo.
my little flfer, how you came to leave
your parents without their knowledge,
and to join my army at such tender
ago?'
John was somewhat abashed by this
direct question from SO dignified and
august parsonage; but the General
added, kindly:
"You have tho name of being ono Of
my brayest boys. Toll me how it hap
pened. You never ran away, did you?"
mo, sir, never" answered John with
spirit 81 was playing with my dog
Zip, on Sorrcl Hill, when big wagon,
full of men, came along. They stopped
when they saw me, and one OF them
called out: 'Halloo, my little flfer! We
are looking for you. Jump IN asked
them If the British bulls and lions were
here, and they said; Yes, hurry up!'
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 bravo 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 go and
dismiss tho men he had been drilling,
and no departed with martial salute
to his superiors and 81 will be back in
five minutes" to his father.
Mr.. Holden, left alone, told the
story of the mothers deep faith and
| duu6u' OOuu Sc0ulS w w iu LILO OiO'
ment here"
Then General Washington told the
gratiHed parent an incident, showing
the spirit of the lad.
when l, with number of my suite,
approached tho vicinity of Monmouth
Court House." said he, II was met by q
little musician, who archly cried out
They are all coming this way, your
Honorr
"'Who are coming this way| said l.
"'Why, our boys, your Honorl Oul
boys! and the British are right after
themr
"Impossiblep l cried; but squirting
my horse / found the boys words only
too true"
"Ho is good hoy" added Genera,
Knox, land invaluable in training raw
recruits. II they are homesick he talk:
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 you
men say when you told them you wert
going homer"
John blushed and answered; 81 coult
not tell them that, your Honor Father
lot mo stay another year. Then shall
be thirteen and able to help you mor'
on the farm. You know mother is we'll
and tho war will soon be over"
What father in revolutionary time
could resist such an appeal?
Washington smiled, and Mr.. Holder
consented. And after kind farewell
from the Father Pf his Country, and
loving ono from the young flfer, iona
Holden rodo away, saying to himself
"My boy could not hold moro hon
ored position leave him safe in tn
hands of General Washington-and o
God"
When, after seven more days of horse
back riding, Jonas Holden arrived a
his own door in Shirley, he was met b
his maiden sister with the words:
disappointed againl So it WASH
our John at all? tell you, you'll neve
see that boy again"
But Mr.. Holden held out his hand +
tho boys mother.
MY DEAR" he said, John is tho hap
|, piest boy in the Continental army"
1t took a long timc to tell the story @
the journey; of his reception at Wash
ington's headquarters; of his finding tn
boy; of his growth, improvement an
popularity; Of his close adherence t
the principles of right and truth whic
they had taught him; and of the grea
commanders praise Of their son. Blu
at last the father said:
"Have | done right IN leaving hii
there?"
Just right" said the mother.
John Holden returned to his parent
when the war was over and lived to
good old age. And his name may B
seen, for the searching, oven now, o
the books at Washington, as pei
sioner of 1716-Toledo Blade.
. "A weighty observation-disclosures