The National tribune., 1891-04-09

those young worms, whom considered mere
civilians"
was at once fitted out with a new uniform,
! like AT the others, In pattern not unlike that
/ Of q MHioT-Gcneral Of the period, consisting
chiefly Of double breasted swallOw-tailed coat.
trimmed deliberately with gold lace; pair Of
/ dark blue trousers TO match, with n dazzling
stripe down the seams; a large pair Of epau-
lets, which ] Erieye Go confess were con-
structed Of yellow worstcd, made 10 look as
nearly ms possible like bullion fringe; a tar
bucket hat weighing about two pounds Though
i would not own that, of course), decorated
with an immense red-aud-white fountain
! plume" nearly rs tall ms myself and as good
/ as ib when the wind blew. In fact j was
complete, with my fife under my arm-inelud-
ing an old aguiilet which j insisted upon
wearing, although much in the way-cxcepL
4 alas. that the resources OF the armOry did not
afford n sword suited 10 my stature.
OF course / could not afford 10 risk my So
4 cred person upon tho public streets without
sdc-arms, and bayunet WAS offered me, which
! j rejected rs j remember. with scOrn aud con-
tempt Although it was wonderfully hoayy,
1 and invariably skinned my hip, ] therefore,
until otherwise supplied, wore Uncle JoshS
old Florida Indian sticker. polished il until
/ It's hlt was like gold and rs blade like silver
/ and when my new sword came j returned IL TO
| him, and he hung il in ITS old place on nail
4 IA the wall near his cottage door whore i had
I often sat aud listened 10 his wonderful tales Of
camp and march aud battle.
Alas! one day a desperate wretch quarrelod
\ with someone ia nClghb0rng mill, struck his
/ opponent with a malct aud fed. Late in the
day be approached Josh's cottage and asked
for food and drink. While the good old woman
went TO prepare the homely meal with her
/ kindly hands old Josh, who knew him not,
/ civilly asked him in and seated the fugitive in
/ his best chair The Devil WIS loose that day,
for as Josh bent down TO light his pipe from the
embers this arraHt villain-GOd only knows
why-suddeuly snatchod the old sword from
] the wall, aud with one fearful blow cleft the
old man TO the very chin, flung down the sword,
and ran.
Though her husband Of nearly half cen
/ fury WAS thus wautOuly and instantly killed in
Der very presence, the brave old lady ran 20 the
nearest neighbor, long country distance,
across fields and walls, and gave the alarm.
! The farmers turned out az once, and before
many hours the murderer was securely lodged
1 in jail. Indignation was great but he had a
! fair trial and was sentenced 10 be hung.
bad been summoned a witness 10 iden-
! tify the instrument Of death, and my soul was
50 full of wrath az the bHrly young rufan
who had so wantonly murdered my good old
4 friend that, boy rs j was, determined TO see
him hung How 10 accomplish this was not
very clear, hut an unexpected way was opened
10 me- and took advantage Of il.
This wretch, IL seems, had large following
Of rough friouds.' who IL was given out. in
tended, on the day set for the execution, 10
storm the jail and rescue the murderer So
convinced was the Sheriff Of the imminent
danger that he not only called up0n the Mayor
for the militia hut also asked Of the General
Government the company Of Regular United
States Infantry at the fort 20 guard the jail.
Both bodies Of troops turned out, several
rounds Of lall-caTtriages being served out TO
each man. o. course, my father, on that event.
inl morning, said 20 me sternly at break fast
that no iiior was wanted on that occasion, aud
babe me stay ut home. Toall Of this Of course,
! did not pay the SLIGHTEST attention, but slip
ping into my uniform, hid behind the base
drum or otherwise kept out Of my fathers the
Captan's) sight until had succeeded IN thrust
ing myself within the jail yard among the long
legs OF the soldiers Though pcrcmptOrily
ordered 10 20 out stubbornly refused 10 bulge,
and there ] stood. reycngelul little imp that
was, and saw the death penalty paid. Then
flied the company back 20 the armory 10 the
tune Of the Bold SogeT Boy" and the Captain
never said q word.