The National tribune., 1896-05-14
THE LITTLE MAN IN BUFF.

WILLIAM HENRY CLARK, POST 49, DErART-
MENT OF MAssACHUsETTs GAR, w SOMERSET,
MASS.
1t may seem to you, gentle reader, or
other reader, that the Man in Buff, whom |
shall endeavor to put before you in the
progress of this sketch, would be n person.
age of small importance, Judging hastily
from the admission made in starting out
regarding his unimposing bodily presence.
by no manner of means is such the case.
Rather, his diminu.ive size has doubtless
given him great advantage in the transac-
ton of his business, which, while certainly
not of commercial nature, has proved TO
one individual, at least, to be business of
the greatest importance.
/ can cheerfully bear witness to the fact
that il has ever been transacted in a most
thorough and altogether business-like man
ner When have trusted him implicitly
and followed his counsel without swerving
il has been well with me; while in the few
instances where | was so presumptuous as
TO think that i knew better than he, the
utter failure and misfortune which followed
soon brought me 10 my senses. On such
dolefu occasions would offer an apology,
with the best grace possible under the cir
cumstances, and my mentor would receive
ii with a quizzical look which said very
plainly q told you So" but not word of
reproof OF censnre did he utter.
SO early in my life was / favored with his
counsel that ii would be in vain TO endeavor
II fix the date of lis first importation.
While he was evidently invisible TO all
others, that fact awakened no surprise in
my own mind, for he was like second self
as to familiarity.
The first learly-remembered monition
from his lips was upon the improperly Of
my joining party OF my schoolmates on a
bathing trip without the consent Of my
careful and excellent mother. l soon reai-
lied the force of his objections TO my
truancy when, inst beyond my depth in
the limpid waters OF The cove" choking
and almost stranglei, was pulled out by
a larger and stronger boy, only to see the
face of my guide, philos0per, and friend"
wearing slightly reprOachful look.
Tie next instance that / recall at this
time occurred in the quiet borough of New
castle, Me-, some two years later. During
a short sojourn with Capt. E, n bluff
old retired seaman of that town, in the
Summer of 1853, ! was one day assisting, in
boy fashion, at hay-malling. Getting per-
mission from my companion, re alive OF
the Captain, 10 try my hand at moving,
as he turned away, the scytle, carelessly
swung, cut an ugly cash below one of his
knees. To my unspeakable relief, the viii
lage doctor just then appeared Oh the adj
joining highway and speedily stayed the
eifusion OF blood. My good genius-who,
as | have forgotten TO say, that morning
earnestly counseled ne TO use all due care
in handling dangerous mplements-graveiy
surveyed the good physician Samaritan-like
work IRON Il rfeighboring stone wall, upper
ceived by the doctor or his patient. The
latter spoke no word OF reproach, ut which
j have an later years sometimes wondered.
! viii cite further hut single incident
which occurred during my army life. 1t
was while the old 34lh Mass. was sta toned
at Camp Fort Lyon, near Alexandra. Va,
and the watchwoTd n that time was Arms
and plates must shine" The Little Man
in Buff" who, during The 10 years that had
elapsed since the Newcastle incident, had
from tine 10 time APP cared with his good
Offices on the morning in question, perched
himself on the side of my bunk in our stock
AIDED Silley tent, and admonisbed ME to lie
very careful IN preparing for inspection"
WHICH was to he held OH that Sunday fore
noon. Failing 20 heed the warning, | was,
IN consequence of an alleged spot of rust
upon my Springfield muslet, forced to pay
"A most reluctant visit to the guard house.
Such is life, however, in war time, ut least.
Much more testimony might be adducrd,
both in cases where my good genius was
needed, aud where unheeded, but | iorbear.
lie has never led me asiray, but has often
hsdged the way of possible error. Long
life, cay /, 10 the Little Man in Buff"