Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-03-21
CAPTAIN TOM.

morning and the last thing at night. I'm
tired of hearing it,"
The cook glanced through the open win
dow as she spoke; but even she, with her
sense of the humorous blunted somewhat
by lifelong contact with pots, pans and
spoons could not help smiling.
The scene of action was a government
reservation known as a navy yard. The
"rum-i-tum-tum" of which the cook COM
planned came from a much battered tin
kettle suspended from the neck of small
sized drummer boy. He was furnishing
the music for the army, and the army was
composed of five others, including the cap
tain.
It was marching past the kitchen win
dow. At its head, bearing himself proud
ly, was the captain. A paper cap, with a
feather that fell to the shoulder, was the
only insignia of his rank, except the
wooden sword which he flourished in the
air as he gave his commands. He wore no
Jacket and no shoes, and his trousers were
held in place by single suspender.
His age was twelve or thereabout
With an eye to a possible mutiny among
his forces, he had made up his command
of those younger and weaker than himself,
and had wisely allowed no commission to
be held but his own.
The next in rank was the sergeant. He
was a worthy follower of his leader. His
cap, also of paper, differed from the COM
mander's only In the absence of the
feather, and as became his humber rank
he wore no suspenders. This circumstance
interfered somewhat with his military
bearing, for one hand was frequently occu-
pied in pulling up his trousers.
| The next in rank was the corporal. His
emoluments must have been better than his
comrades, for his clothes were of the latest
and most approved fashion, and the chew
rons which adorned his sleeves were evil
IDENTIFY put there by skillful hands.
This left only two to be common SOL
diers. One of these had for a weapon a
| baseball bat, while the other, as became
her age and sex, swung by its strings a
white sunbonnet. Brother and sister were
they drafted from the once happy home of
the paymaster Of the yard.
The band, marching little in advance,
J was noticeable for its smallness and the
vigor with which it pounded music from
the kettle drum.
| In spite of the expression of displeasure
to which the cook had given utterance, the
relations existing between her and the
captain evidently were amicable, for, as
he caught sight of her through the open
window, he halted his forces with much
ceremony Then he sheathed his sword in
a conveniently large button hole inside the
waistband of his trousers and advanced
upon her window with an engaging smile.
"Did you hear the soldiers, BridgetP' he
asked.
"Hear them, indeed" she replied with a
snort. ''Pll tell you what it is, Captain
Tom. one Of these days, when the commo-
dore isn't feeling first rate and you go rum
i-ti-tuming around the yard, he'll send you
all a-Aying."
"But we don't go near him, Bridget"
replied the captain, land besides. Charley
is in the company"
| Charley was the commodore's son, and
was the we'll dressed corporal already men
toned.
"Well, you mind what say" returned
the cook, "that's all. Do you want some
bread this morning2"
IF you please" he answered; and soon,
bearing large slice of bread and butter
for each of his command, he returned to
his troops.
"A fine ladp' said the cook, as she re-
sumed her work.
This fine lad was the son of an orderly
sergeant in the marine corps who had died
after thirty years of faithful service, leav-
ing behind him widow and one son. The
widow also died soon after, and at three
years of age Thomas Fitzgerald was left
alone.
In consideration Of the small pension al
lowed by the government, little Thomas
fol In oh hx or he
lived not far away, but the cares of guard
ianship did not rest very heavily upon this
relative, and Thomas was usually to be
found at the marine barracks, to which
place he naturally drifted.
He received his early training from the
noncommissioned officers, with whom his
father had always been favorite. Many
of his teachers were harsh and coarse, but
there seemed to be an Unborn goodness in
the boy that pulled him safely through all
temptations. 1t was the unchallenged
boast of the first sergeant that "Thomas
Fitzgerald had niver told lie."
From the day when the good natured
major had helped him to toddle by the aid
of his scabbard, Thomas had been of the
military. He was hardly four years old
when he was discovered calmly sitting just
back of the rifle butts-with the firing
party ON the other side.
How he ever slipped past the danger
flags no one could tell, but he wept bitterly
upon being removed and begged that he
might be taken back to hear the booms"
When he was six years old nothing de-
lighted the men in the barracks more than
to buckle around his waist an old sword
and see him strut about the courtyard,
trailing behind on the stones the Gathering
scabbard, and giving orders in unconscious
mimicry Of the major commanding
The major himself saw this one morning
CHANGING to look out of the window he
saw four Of his men standing in line. Fac
ing them was Thomas, who, with drawn
sword, was putting them through the man.
ual Of arms.
"Carry humsi Order humsf'
The command was so like the majors
that he recognized the imitation at once,
and burst into loud laugh.
by Georger said the major, telling of
this afterward to some of his brother Of
ficers, you should have seen the way in
which the young rascal came to a salute! |
on y, wish all the men could do IL as we'll