The Irish standard., 1890-09-06

sAnd now Is mOtuSI 80 .ss$
:. boy. t.Oh! i have been 50 sorry g: for
dear mother. tell you, Their not q
night have I camped down to sleep
but 1 have thought Of mother; and no
every time thought Of her the ' tears l:'.
came. thought perhaps she might ole
and I should never see her again.
ssYour mother is we'll, was the faith i
ers answer. pAnd she has never sfor1
one moment lost faith in your being
we'll and happy, and finally restored 't 20
u.s." $si ID Ne N v s5 n y.
eyes, I shall return, father said
John. ssBut I want this war ended i
first 5@1
After the boy had inquired for all the
family he said: .g@ Z. B.
.'But why didn't you bring Zip along
too?'
.sPoor Zip!' was the reply. "He
mourned himself to death before you
had been gone a week. He never
touched another mouthful OF food, ana
would only lie on your bed and moan.
General Knox soon returned with OF
ders from the Commander-in-Chlet 10
conduct Mr. Holden and John to his
headouarters-a summons that must be
obeyed at once.
General Washington receiyeRMMr.
Holden very kindly and said, smilingly:
II hear a story that sounds like a ro-.
nance in the midst Of war. Tell me,
nv 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 dignitied and
august 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, dad your
.No, sir, never" answered John with
spirit 81 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 upP !.
jumped in, sir, and that was the way 1t
happened" ..es~e
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
| stirring march.
! Il 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 go 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
the spirit of the lad.
when I. with numb Of my suite,
approached the vicinity OF Monmouth
Court House, said he, Il was met by a
little musician, who archly cried out:
They are all coming this way, your
Honor!'
"'Who are coming this way?' said I.
"'Why, our boys, your Honor! Our
boys! and the British are right after
them!
"Impossiblev l cried; but squirting
my horse found the boys words only
] too true"
''He is q 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 Cen
eral Knox added: ''Well, what, did your
| mon say when you told them you were
| going homer" ) ss
John blushed and answered: 81 could
not tell them that, your Honor. Father,
let me stay another year. Then shall
be thirteen and able to help you moro
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
!, 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 againl SO IT. wasn't
our John at all? I 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
It 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
\ ,annu 1srftv. nf his clna4a nd horanon Il IL,