The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-01-02
AN ANXIOUS NIGHT.

had, when boy, always an inclina-
ton to be a soldier, and as l grew up
this desire increased with my growth.
My parents were not wealthy enough
to send me to a military college, so 1 de-
cided to enlist and endeavor to obtain a
from the ranks. At the time
| enlisted England was on the verge Of a
struggle with Russia and recruiting was
very brisk. had no difficulty in pass.
ing the medical ordeal, and was allowed
to choose my regiment. chs the
Ninety-second (the Gordon Highlanders)
thinking that, being a crack fighting
corps, it would be most likely TO be one
of the first to be sent to the front.
After joining my regiment and passing
through three months recruit drill, the
captain of my company, finding that ]
was better educated than the general
run of recruits, and that | took great in
terest in my duties, recommended me fol
promotion, and | was made Glance cor
poral," my first step on the ladder ol
fame. | was proud of it, and wrote tC
my parents such letters Of hope! / al
most pictured myself with the queens
commission in my hand.
But such is not unusual with newly
made noncommissioned officers. They
don't seem to think that they are hkt
young bears, with all their troubles be
fore them. l found later that had {
great deal of responsibility to contend
with, although my rank as yet did no
amount to much.
Nevertheless, the officers spoke of INT
as a promising "noncom," and up to tht
time at which my narrative begins l hat
given them no cause TO think otherwise
But on the night of Dec. 81, 1SS--, wa
within an ace of being caught tripping
and of being put back for a court mar
tial.
Christmas in English regiments is tn
day set apart for feasting and me-ri
ment, but the Scotch celebrate the new
year. Discipline is relaxed to a grea
extent on that day, and soldiers may d.
things then for which at any other tim
they would be severely punished.
CA4 AAAG AAAOA Allk5 VI AfEAs IA 4 Was Nt
tailed as corporal of a guard Of thre
men. 1t was my first guard, and | mis-
trusted my ability to pull through thi
important duty without assistance. On
Of the privates of my guard was a veter
an. He had been years in the servic
and had been formerly color sergeant
but through intemperate habits ha,
gradually been reduced to the ranks
This man volunteered 10 give me point
ers" and come to my assistance in cas-
of need. l accepted his kind offer gladly
and resolved to be as indulgent as l pos
sibly could with him and his comrade
during the twenty-four hours that W
would have TO remain on duty.
At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon
everything had gone on without a hitcl
until then-this man, Mcdonald by name
came to me as | was sitting by the guard
room fire, and handing me bottle, said
"Have sup out Of this, corporal
Don't be afraid of It; it's only whisky
Itll do you good this cold weather an
warm you up
"Why, Mcdonald" / replied; "yo
ought TO know better than TO bring liqu0
into the guardroom. You know very we
it's against the rules, and that you az
going the right way TO get us all int
trouble"
"Not a bit Of it," he answered, 1T
New Years eve, corporal When you'y
been in the regiment as long as hay
you'll not be SO squeamish about sue
small matters as that I've been eightee
years in the service, and when / was
'noncom' on guard Of a New Years evl
never objected to allowing the me
have a wee taste, as long as they did NJ
oyerdo it, OF course everybody know
it isn't allowed 10 the guard, but BILE
your soul, corporal, it's wiuked at q
New Years"
l did not like TO be more severe wit
the men than was absolutely neCessar,
as though / might become unpopula
among them, so l asked him If that We
the only bottle he had
yes" he replied, "and it's only thr,
parts full at that My chum as fetchC
the dinner down brought it along fro
| the mess"
"Well, if that's the case, said,
will allow you to have it, / won't tai
any myself, but you must put it ava
until tonight, after the orderly officer hl
been his rounds and all is quiet"
knew l was not justified in giyin
this permission, and if it leaked out
stood a good chance Of getting into SCI
Gus trouble, but reasoned with myse
that three parts Of a bottle Of spirits b
tween three men on a bitterly cold mig
would not be likely to hurt them, ar
that there was no possibility of its beir
found out.
The general routine of a guard is vel