The National tribune., 1892-10-27
For THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
MAGUIRE ON GUARD.
BY DE WITT C. sPRAGUE.

BY DE WITT C. sPRAGUE
Just after Antietam's fierce battle fought
An Irish recruit to our quarters was brought;
Green, wliwnrd, but strong-it Michael Ma
guire, ~
Who ne'er had smelt powder or been under fire.
With the stick and the spade renown he had won,
But never had handled a sword or a gun.
Yet he soon learned so much of the tactical drfii
That great grew his pride of his soderly SKILL
And he swore in the richest of brogues he would
show
In fight what he'd do to the "bowld ribil foe."
Now, the first time Mcguire was guard at night
He was carefully cautioned to keep there a bright
Sharp lookout all round with keen ears ana eyes,
For the rebels lay neara and might try n surprise
If any one came he should act with great care.
And challenge at once with Halt! who goes
there?"
And when all his duties were fully made clear,
That without the countersign nothing could near
The line of his beat, if there should he must fire.
Faith, well,' said Mike, list what ye re-
quiren
And he marched down the beat with proud.
measured pace.
Twas dreary November and lonely the place;
The trees all around it were withered and bare,
SHOOK ike sptctSTs III ehc 't'a
AS round them the nght-winds all dismally
moaned,
Like voices of wood-hags, that mumbed and
droned.
Hard by, near the forest, were graves newly made,
Where many poor soldier to rest had been laid.
The onslaught of battle, the cannon's dread roar
The danger, the hunger. the trials were oer
Far away from their homes and their loved ones
they lay
To sleep on and on till the great Judgment Day!
That Mcguire at this time was somewhat oppressed
With gloomy reflections at once may be guessed.
Still he felt in his bosom fear and no care,
And hummed to himself old Irish air
While he quietly kept up his regular round
Harkl he suddenly stopped; there a sharp
sound
OF footsteps approaching, though nothing was
seen.
Mike WAS on the alert, with eyes and ears keen.
Whist" tap-sap-tap, tap-tap-tap fell on his ear.
"Begorra, see him now; soon he'll be here.
Let him come thin; I am ready frinds to re-
Whist! hisself on this pint sure, he mustn't de-
cave"
Sure enough, coming down from the graveyard
side,
dim figure was seen. and the steady stride.
He's near enough now sure, ter him tie
word.
How'll! stop wild yer eomiD. ye dirty spalpeen!
Till AK fur ther sign-word What de ye mean,
Widout givin that same, ter be comm on still?
How'll! if ye come inny furder. be jabbers, will
Blow the dv clane out o. ye jist where ye air I"
But the bold intruder, not seeming TO care,
Came steadily on, as If Mike were not there.
"Howt! Stop! be sowle, Oi nadcn't ye
more."
flash. sharp report, and terrible roar
On the gloom and the stiffness Of midnight fell,
Startling the troops. who rushed out pell-nell
Running hither and thitcr with din and clatter.
Loud talk and swearing; but what was the matter?
For the moment one was able TO tell;
But they very soon heard Mike Maguire's loud
yell
"whoopI hurra! byes, hurral come on; it's all
right
Thafe or divil I've kilt. or some other spritel"
And now Sam Mcdonald. the Colonel stepped out,
Demanding to know what the row was about;
And what he told fiercely kindled his ire
As he hurried away to look after Mcguire.
When lie came TO the place the guard stood around
In silence for lying there prone on the ground
Was the Colonel's great pet-his small donkey,
joel
And s.roked his deao head and his name:
ITS you, my poor fellow. they've brut-ally
slan."
When his grief was quite spent he turned on Ma
euire,
With his voice full of wrath and his eye full of
fire:
"You bog-trotting greenhorn, your brain is of
dough-
man from q donkey you don't seem to know
Faith yer honor" said Mike, must know very
will
That sich is not always 80 aisy to till
] name, sur, iv coorse, at ther did iv ther night,
When donkey or divil's tlier ter the sight"
There was just slight wink in that Irish eye:
Sure wasn't told. sur should let no one go by
Till he guv ther sign. Be ther powers above,
axed him three times. divil u ansur lie guv.
Ye lift no DISCRETION, but all ter refoose;
No right, thin, / had, sur, tber baste to xcoose"
The Colonel look ed mad and went quickly away.
Faith, fear now," said Mike. "ther dvil 8 to
pay"
When we had paraded the very next day
The Colonel announced he had something TO say {:
ITO obey is the soldiers first duty" said he.
"And therefore it is great pleasure for me.
Before the battalion to-day, TO make known
The promotion OF who on trial has shown
Such soldierly conduct all must admire;
L promote to be Corporal-Mcliae Mcguire"
Read "Better than Pension" on page 4.