Evening journal., 1896-11-18
GREAT COMMANDER.
THE JOY HE BROUGHT TO A BRAVE
BOY AND HIS FATHER.

was AOtN anu Ab Aouhus
In st. Nicholas Sara King Wiley has
q romance of the American Revolution
entitled Maurice and His Father" "
A brave little English lad is separated
from his father and falls into the hands
of the Americans. His father afterward
embraces the patriot cause. and his son
is restored TO him through the medium
of Washington, as shown IN the follow
ing extract:
Maurice was informed that General |
Washington was there showing the /
works TO General Lafayette and his /
heart began to flutter and thumpwithin |
him.
Barney was sitting beside him, look |
ing at his master with bright and loving !
eyes, his little black nose quivering
Barney" said tho boy, '-we're
afraid, but we're not going to stop if
we are.
And, picking up the dog, he took his
way through therustling leaves that lay
like heaps Of gold toward tho house
which one of the soldiers, from whom
Maurice ventured to ask for directions,
utu pointed out 10 MN.
eyes, General Washington is there
and alone, he was told.
Could he see him?
Sure, no, ye little bye" said tho
Irish sentry. "It's wore out the poor
gintleman is, already, and it's mesilf
wouldn't bother with all thin jabber-
ing Frinchmenl'
1Torr,foo 4r~oo To-rso..oAo
"Oh, pleasep' he said. beg, Barneyi
you beg too.
The little dog sat up at once, with
dropping paws.
Sure, me own names Barney. And
is your dogs name O'Reilly, too?" said
the sentry.
ooh, if he is your namesake," ex-
claimed Maurice, you must let him
inl Oh, see, you can hold him while 1
go inl" Maurice thought no one could
resist such an offer.
'I'll see, said the soldier, and he
stepped within, and, returning, said,
go on. "
Maurice yielded up Barney and
stepped into the hall, went along it and
paused just inside an open door. He
was trembling. A voice said, "What is
your errand?" a voice even, grave and
rather severe.
Maurice raised his eyes. just before
the fireplace stood the great commander.
To the boys excited thought he seemed
even larger than he was Washington's s
hands were behind his back, his hand
some head bent little forward.
"What is your errand, my lad?' said
/ he again. with a note Of command in
the tone.
''Oh, my father, my fatherr' he said.
81 have been lost from him so very
longr
Something in the thrilling childi
voice, something in the piteous and for.
| lorn expression of his face, went straight
to the warm heart that the general car
ried beneath his calm exterior. He
crossed the room in quick strides, and,
laying his hand ON the boys shoulder,
said kindly:
MY poor childw
This was too much. Maurice had
borne bravely the long strain Of wait.
ing, the repeated disappointments. but
the unexpected sympathy broke down
his self possession. He put his head in
the crook of his arm and sobs came fast
-sobs that shook him from head TO foot.
The general drew him aside, sat down
in an armchair, and, taking the little
hanging head in both his own, said,
'There, there, stop crying and tell me
all about itr'
Maurice ohoked down his sobs and
told his story. At his father S name the
general rose quickly.
Colonel Terraine's sonl Why, then,
your father was here a short time ago.
He may be up stairs nowl'
Maurice forgot even the great CHIEF
and sprang Cor the door. But Washing.
ton caught him by the arm.
Ny dean boy--he does not know
will go. ."
Maurice stood still in the center Of
the room and pressed his hands hard to-
gether. The general went out and NJ
stairs. 1t seemed to Maurice that he
stepped very slowly.
Colonel lorraine sat in an up stairs
room writing. He laid down his per
and rose as the general entered.
Colonel, - said Washington, 81 have
some wonderful news for you. HI
paused. The officer took q step forward
and opened hts lips, but did not speak
"Come down stairs with me, " con
tinued tho general slowly, land remem
Der as you 60 that passage in the Scrip
lures, But tho father said. Let us b,
merry, for this my son colonel Ter
raine caught the back of q chair" fol
this my SON " went on tho sweet
grave voice, " was dead, and is aliv,
again. Ho was lost and is-found. -
Colonel Terraine stood an instant
with wide, questioning eyes. Then HI
rushed through the doorway and dow
the stairs. Tho general followed hin
quickly. There was q loud cry as th'
colonel entered the room, and Mauric
sprang into his fathers arms. Genera
Washington closed the door and stool
guard oveq it himself Barney, having
escaped from the soldier, tore in, an'
the general stopped from his great heigh
20 pat the little dog. If Barney ha'