The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-07-27
always takes charge; he's never in the

tain" and from the white haired commo-
dore down all saluted him as II he were a
captain
So it was quite to be expected that the
army which was quietly eating its rations
behind the surgeons house, preparatory to
the campaign Of the day, should be under
| the command OF Captain Thomas Fitz
| gerald The rations disposed Of the cap
tain formed the company. But mutiny
was brewing in the ranks. The soldier
with the trailing sunbonnet announced
that she was tired and was going home.
This was desertion. The stern captain
could not tolerate it, of course. To brighten
her into subsection he declared that he
would send her to the guardhouse
Whereupon the soldier in the sunbonnet
sat down upon the ground and began to
| cry.
! 1t was a new experiment for the captain.
| Never before had any of his troops been
Amazons AS he was undecided how to
act, he wisely resolved not to act at all,
Leaving the weeping soldier to herself he
took up the line of march
The one private soldier remaining moved
forward but ties of kindred attracted him
very strongly toward his weeping sisters
side. Her sobs grew more and more VIC
lent. His brotherly affection proved
stronger than his patriotism, and throw
ing down his bat he hurried to the little
girls side
The army was disbanded. A sergeant
and corporal, although valuable as nu
cleus around which to build a company
are of little use without at least one pri-
vate. Captain Thomas Fitzgerald sheathed
his sword, and, declaring that "he'd have
no such kids in his company again."
stalked gloomily away.
So it came about that Captain Thomas,
instead of drilling his troops, was loung-
ing about the navy yard gate, chatting
with the sergeant on duty, at the very
moment when Nine Randeau stepped
into her carriage to take an airing in the
park.
just then piece of paper, blown by the
wind, startled the horses Whether the
coachman fell or was thrown from his
box, or indeed whether he was there at all
to catch the reins, is uncertain, but in a
moment there was a runaway.
A shout from the corner was caught up
and echoed from the row of houses that
faced the wall. Windows were thrown
open and men and women rushed from
the doors. There was mad clatter over
the rough stones and Captain Thomas
Fitzgerald, still ounging at the navy yard
gate, looked up.
He saw two terrified horses dashing at
mad speed down the street, carriage
surging from side to side, and the blood
less face of terror stricken woman within
The street was long and narrow and
ended in high wharf The horses could
not be turned aside, and unless their speed
could be checked they would plunge into
the sea, which at this spot was very deep
and swept by swift current.
Captain Thomas Fitzgerald was of quick
and ready wit, and saw this at a glance
The flying team were almost at the gate
For an instant they swerved toward the
navy yard wall and as they did so a lad
leaped from behind one of the trees that
lined the curb and with single bound
caught the bride of the nearest horse.
A cry of horror rang out from all who
saw him. Surely the frantic animal woi Id
break his hold and trample the child to
death. But the ancestors of Captain
Thomas Fitzgerald were tough and strong,
and the lads muscles were good His grip
could not be loosened, let the frenzed
horse fling its head ever so madly.
Flung from side to side, with closed
eyes and clenched teeth, Captain Thomas
Fitzgerald bruised and bleeding chung to
the bride as the horses dashed down the
narrow street. Soon his weight, though
little, began to tell. The speed of the team
slackened; and now dozen men rushed
from the road to seize the trembling ami
mails.
But it was too late. Weakened and ex
hausted, the gallant boy slipped his hold
and the heavy wheels passed over his body
Then they came to a stop, and Madam
Randeau was taken from her carriage in a
dead faint.
Tenderly they lifted and carried the lit.
tie captain into the messroom; but he was
almost gone, and when the major, with
tears streaming down his wrinkled cheeks,
bent over him, smile luttered for an in.
slant across the poor crushed face and
only the major could hear him whisper,
"Parades 'missedw Then-he surren-
dered his commission.
1t was an irregular thing to do, but the
commodore gave to Thomas Fitzgerald,
son of an orderly sergeant in the marine
corps, and boy but twelve years old, all
the honors of a soldiers funeral, and the
next day the chapel could not hold all
those who came to do him honor. People
stood in crowds outside the doors, and as
the body was borne along every head was
barred.
The cortege wound it's way out through
the gate where so short a time before the
captain had lounged and chatted with the
sergeant, and up toward the wooded hill
so thickly strewn with marble slabs.
With slow and measured tread to the
wailing music of the dead march, came the
marines with arms reversed, and in their
mid Grape draped and furled, was the
flag Oh the captains company. Then came
the long line of officers, in the full uniform
of their rank, paying their last tribute to
the heroic lad.
Over his little grave three volleys were
fired Then the bugler, clad in gold and
scarlet stepped upon the mound of new
turned earth and sounded the sweet, sad
call of Lights Out" which ends the part
ing day.-Youth's Companion.
The ruby is valued highest when it