The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-09-23
MARY'S SOLDIER.


poor fellow"
.-Tcll me about it, urged. as the
man brought Us our coffee and cigars.
DO You know what In front Of the
enemy means in military parlance?"
he asked. thouchtfuily, as he hccl<ed
away she first ash.
.'vhy. suppose in front Of the
enemy mcans--in front Of the enemy"
-.Sapient youth: In time Of actual
warfare all troops as soon as they have
been mustered into service are in front
Of the enemy"
when they get there"
s.No at once"
.-Then y regiment raised here in New
York during the rebellion as soon as il
had been sworn in was in front Of the
enemy"
Precisely. And thereby hangs :
tale"
1T gave carpet knights chance for
pensions l reflected; but il must
have caused some cruel misunderstand-
in<~."
mot At all. The articles Of war are
explicit. and IL there's one thing
drummed into a soldiers ears. day in
and day out. its the articles Of war.
They are his creed"
.-Yet how many Of US can repeat our
creed correctly? Can your"
lyon jnst ought 10 hear me- But 70
my story: At one time during the lat
ter part Of the war was stationed here
in New York. detailed a. Inspector gem
eras 70 raise brigade. had been
successful. and my camp Of instruction
contained fair material. II was q few
miles distant on foreign soil"
-.Vhat.'
..les. IN Jersey. One afternoon. while
! was resting in my quarters after the
fatignes Of hot day. an orderly
my camp was in an uproar The men
refused 10 obey orders. and open vio-
lence impended."
s-Nhat was the reasun?"
There's no reason for disobediencc
In the services. vet. ] admit 20 you.
there was an excuse. had seen cause
Of trouble for some time. and had striven
70 avert il. The pay was in arrears
throngh ~c:ae rcd-;ape delay The men
were poor. and their families Were suf
fering.T
--Of course Won went man Of your
acknowledged daring"
Tut. tut. The bravest often fear
the most They don't show il. though;
and didn't I;ut il seemed the for
lornest Of hopes. dressed myself
carefully in full uniform. Why? Be
cause an officer who expects obedience
must first command respect II he
wishes his soldiers to be soldierly he
must set the example. for no men are
more critical or initiative FASTENED
over the ferry aud soon reached the
high hoard fence which encircled the
encampment From within came .
confused rumble like the portent Of a
storm approached the wicket II
was locked ! pcered through the lat
tice. There was the sentry. sure
enough; but with what difference.
His muslet leaned against post He
sullcnly slouched up and down. with
hands in pockets, in no wise needing
INV presence. / would like 70 have shot
that man. but ! was bound and braced
with self control
...Attentionr commanded. sharply.
The man started. then Strengthened.
seized his musket, presented. and stood
Is a soldier.
-Opcn that gate.'
ale obcyed at once, and passed
through and marched quickly forward.
All orc- the field we're knots Of men.
shouting. gcsticulating. tercclv ha-
renguing Here and there were q few
officers arguing and pleading in vain.
The majority. however. sat detected
within their tents. II was most dis
trc~sing sight for trnc soldier
II approached the first group OF
about two hundred frenzicd men. a
captain was Just leaving them. pur-
sued ~ taunts and jccr>. lie was an
insignificant man, with a repulsivc
face: naturally pompous in bearing.
but now thoroughly cowed. Yet as be
saw me he assumed a certain uneasy
bravato.
Capt johnson. at your service, sir.
be announced as he saluted.
\ What does this mean? asked.
They are ficnds incarnate. gen
ernl' be exclaimed. as he glanced over
his shoulder. They will murder Us al
and ravarc tho town. Oh. what shall
yon doe'
n shall form the men,
" Impossible Why. that's just what
I've been trying: but
4 silence. sir.
AS reached the mob noticed one
face alone which expressed respect or
sympathy All others bore look Of
malevolence. a young soldier we'll set
MP and scrupulously neat. seemed to be
attempting 10 dissuade his comrades
from some mad project lie was fine
looking fellow. with long. light mus
tache and bright. blue eyes. from
which, as say. ] caught fash Of ad-
miration.
~ drew my sword and stood upright
ard motionless before the men.
Attention. men. Fall in. com
mardrd.
There was hesitation. momcn-
tary hnddling together. then they ar
raycd themselves.
Present arms. Carry arms. Order
arms. Parade restr ordered and they