Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-22

pumDcr IN Ni'''''"'F tN' All Vcl-VhaVo
enoopy"
1t Nas 't'.. "a taps and 10,
nv the re.. .ts wutch when the
three hasa L.Proyiacd infantrymen
erawed ont VI cuicp. The moon was at
the full, sailing high through the light
clouds. and now and then plunging like a
ship into u darker bank piled up by the
Christmas wind that nipped noses and
6uttered capes as 1t rustlsd on It's way over
the fields. When the moon was plunging
the boys stole across the opeu at other
times they chung to the shelter of the
fences.
OTIS tree days we've been here" says
Teddy in hoarse whisper, ian its disil a
rail there'll be left when we'll be here
foivc. Sure the beauty av the soldierin is
The foine work we gets in betune night an
mornin, barrin the fghtin, which is mostly
hll drillin, an bed cess to ut"
"Phwat's the matter wild shtalen rush
On the guard an tyin him wild gag in his
mouth while We does the job" continued
| Teddy, chafng at the temporary hindrance
of the light.
"Git out wild ye fur Llundern moke,"
says Snoopy; who'll be untyin of i'm
when we've Quilted der mill~
"Of one haversack of four" chimed in
key. Come off, fellers; you talk like two
! burglars gcin to crack n bank"
"Well, it's burglin we be, young feller,"
said Snoopy, "whedder We takes mout'-
full or a carload or de stun"
The Christmas wind nipped and shook n
stray snowflake now and then from it's
wings, and the boys took such advantage
Of the moon when it was plungng in the
seas that they got themselves safely into
the graveyard overlooking the mill.
"Oi'm known this place thin" whis-
pered Teddy as he raised his head among
the stones and looked about him; "be the
daylight raid we made on the havshtac6
in the ovid miller's cowpen, carryin 1t off
in surcinres an watherin brides fornnst
his eyes like common thaves, an the liftn-
ant cappin the joke wild q receipt"
Crawling along through the shivering
brambles and over the graves of two CEN
turtles of millers and their kinsfolk, the
trio gained rustic stile where they could
take a safe survey Of the field of opera
lions. The moonlight fell on the irregu-
lar roofs of the mill, huddled against the
blacl4ness of the woods, and repeated itself
in the pond and started on a merry sprint
with the water tumbling over the dam
and rumbling and churning in the dark
pool below where the moon could not fol-
low. The rear end Of the mill lay in deep
shadow, and n small window, which key
said was for them, was barely discernibe
alongside the black wheel. At the front, in
stead Of one guard three 'doughboys'
were smoking their pipes and boiling cof-
fee over fire.
"An phwat do yez think av thin fur a
shtall?" says Teddy, surveying the enemy
from under the stile.
"Wud yous tie up der tree on 'em," said
Snoopy, ian gag der tree mouts? Git out
wild yousl Wen do der job neater; seer
Listen ter mel Pm comm up der road de-
centlike, akin for de Mint Jersey wot' s
in der Second division. Fl der blolles shud
belong ter de Mint, why I'm lookin fur
me cousin; see? An then / engages the
gang in conversation An l tells 'em a
string o stories wot dey amt heard an
then it III be time fur yous to work der
mill; seet'
"There's nothin mean about you" said
key, and then the three began to wrsngle
about details in way that would certain
ly have exposed their position II the rus
Ting wind had not been blowing fresh
from the direction OF the guard.
"Iiould yer whist" says Teddy, clap
ping one dirty hand on each Of the others
mouths. "PhwaU's the matther wild ye2,
ell, Ike? Ohm ashamed av yez. Lave
Snoopy to DO his bist indivor wild the
doughbyes. Cud ye intertain thin yer
stiff Ye cudnt."
"Thep" continued Teddy, eyed betther
be shakin yersllf, Mister Schley. IT'S Il
gud shtep roun the pond an ut's getthin
cowld under the fluce. Win we see yez
take off yer cap IN scratch yer bloomin
head by the fire Well sit out O this an 10
woruE."
Surely it was growing colder as the might
advanced. The uususpectingg guards heaped
fresh wood on their fire and Teddy and
key chafed their numb fingers and tin
Cling ears under the bleak sJile. The wind
cane in shivering gusts that walled amonG
tie graves and shook the dry BRAN blcs rs
if the ghosts Of the buried millers were
playing hockey among the stones and rus
Ting together in their dryuess.
In due time "a traveller, buttoned up in u
blue ovcrcoat having short cape and
nearly persisted with cold, approached the
guard fire ai.L craved a little warmth
Presently the traveller took OFT his military
capand scratched his head and seated him
+ self by the fire.
, Then two others, twice as cold as the
traveller by the fire, scurry back through
the brandy graves and make their way
; down the bank to the race and cross il by
a foot bridge. Out of the cover of The
shadow they take Il nearer view Of the sol
diers and the very entertaining traveller
who has lost his regimenl.
, "Begorra" whispered Teddy, pokinq
key in the ribs, snoopy IS layn it down
to thin foine, Did yez hear that? He}
tellin thin lie was prlvut ortherly wild 6 n
= eral Burnside an Jest afthcr bein relieved
! He'll be KNOWN ther brothers MKT, an THU
! he'll be putthin his tut III It,"
> a plank lay up 10 the open window oyel
~ ~ L.. 80 II
and Teddy crept up it till he lay on hi.
belly, with his head well in the opening
and then he reached down an arm lengtl
and lighted a match, and then smother,
> it the next instant against The boards. Ii,
. had seen the steps landing in a bank O
: meal, and with u motion TO key TO follow
he disappeared inside. key looked twice
I rs big a. ever he had looked to Teddy be
u fore as he crouched on his knees in tA
, small window and glared into the dark
- ness. Teddy flashed another match, unc
. key made u dash at the steps and LANDED