The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-05
MAJOR CARRAWAY.

Major Carraway was not handsome, Dut
the boys liked him very much he was so
full of wonderful "reminiscences. and he
was always willing 10 tell anybody who
would listen all about himself. To Jack
and Molly he was the greatest nero that
had ever lived. Napoleon BOnaparte. on
the Majors own authority. was not half
the warrior that he, the Major had been,
nor was Caesar in his Dalmiest days
one-auarter so wise or so brave. How
old the Major was no one ever knew.
but he had certainly lived long enough
to have travelled all the world over, and
to have stared every kind of death in
the face. He had fought Zulus, Indians.
tigers. elephants-iu fact, everything that
fought the Major had encountered, and
In every contest he had come out VIC
torious He was the only man the emil
dren had ever seen who had lost three
legs in the battle and then recovered
them after the fight was over; he was the
only visitor to their house that had been
lost in the African jungle and wandered
about for three months without food or
shelter. and. best of ALL he was. on his
own confession, the most truthful mar
rator of extraordinary tales living. The
Youngsters had only to ask the Major
auestion-any one, 1t mattered not what
Il waste start him off on story of ad-
venture, and, as he called upon JACK and
Molly's father once month, regularly,
the children were not long In getting
together a collection of tales beside which
the most exciting episodes in history
paled into insignificant commonpaces.
"IJncle Major" said Jack one day as he
climbed up into the visitors lap, were
you ever up in a balloonY
"Only once" said the Major. calmly.
but | had enough of it that time to last
me for a lifetime"
Were you in it iong?" queried Molly,
taking possession of the Majors other
knee.
well, Il seemed long enough the
Major answered. Three months off in
the country playing all day ana sleeping
all night seem a very short time, bat
three months in balloon and the con-
slant centre Of attack from every source
Is too long for comfort"
"Were YOU up in the air for three whole
months?" asked Jack, his eyes wide open
with establishment.
IAN but two days" said the Major.
"For two of those days We rested in the
top of a tree in India. The way OF II
was this: j was Always, as you know, Il
great fayorite with the Emperor Napoleon
I'LL, Of France, and when in 1870 he found
himeslf involved in war with Germany,
ne replied TO one of his courtiers, who
warned him that his army was not In con-
dition TO fight the Prussians Any army
Is prepared for war whose commander-in-
chief numbers Major carraway among
his advisers. Let me have Carraway at
my right hand ami l will fight the world.
so they sent for me and as / was not
very busy concluded TO so and assist the
French, although King William and l
were also very good friends. / reasoned
II out this way. In this fight William is the
sire niger. He does not need me. Napo-
leon does. Fight for the weak, Car raway.
said TO myself. and so / went. OF course
VIII en- reached Paris i went at once 10
the Emperors palace and remained at his
side until he took TO the field, when / re-
manned behind for few days 10 put
things to right for the Imperial family
Unfortunately for the French, the King
Of Prussia heard OF my delay in going to
the front. and he sent word TO his forces
TO intercept me on my way TO join Ma
polcon at all hazards. and this they did
When 1 was within ten miles of Napo-
Icons headquarters, / was stopped by
the Prussians. and had II not been that I
mad provided myself with q balloon for
just such an emergency, should
HaSs been captured and confined In the