Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-01
CHAPTER I.

yen accuse mo bOwldniss 1" said
he, "but Dim afther roisin 60 perpouse
hilth an long loifo to Misthrcss Revcll
an sure Old betthcr be namin her
Mother Revell at onct, fur it's that the
whole rigimint names her. more power
to her. "
"Hcar, hcarr' cried tho newly made
sergeant, patting his mothers wrinkled
hand, hand of boiled looking white
from much laundry WORK in the old
troop.
Good boy, Healy," cried old Fin
Strait, the farrier "Wait till get
pencil TO report that speech"
"Ye'ro an ignorant ould blatherskite,
Fin. Ye couldn't report nothin. Whit
wud the loike nv youse he doin wild
pincil?" the corporal asked, grinning.
"Shut yer face till Oh be through SIP ak
in. Martin, mo son, yo be young to be
a sargint, but faith it's natural We
shu'd jump over me, who's bin cC&o'ril
IN brul1 an corp'ril an brulS i'll the rigi-
mint tin tonnes over. It's liver bin mo
plisint practice, Martin, an yer mothers,
too, to tacho promisin young noncom
the roight way to do his duty, which
has bin fruitful NV thrubblo an foight-
in OWN TO tho consated freshness NV
young noncoms ginerally, who think
they know it all. But youse wuz BORN
wild the throop IN c'ud larn his drill to
any Johnnie como lately frum Wist
pint An fur them manifowld blessin's,
Martin-sure Oh shud say Sargint Row
ell-ye'll thank yer mother, fur why?
She's bin the Dist fri'nd Nv iv'ry man
in tho ould throop since youse wuz in
frocks, mo son. She's saved miny a
wan frum bobtail discharge an miny
n wan frum hell, God bless her. An
what we wudn't do fur Mother Revell
an her boy amt worth dom, begab an
begob. That's all, an now ye can blow
off all the gas ye've mind TO, Fin
Strait, fur Jim through wild me sp'ak-
in. !"
"Hear, hcar!' old Fin croakcd. "I'm
no orator like Heuly, Mrs Revell, be-
caus1G've nothin to say. Only wei re
to wet Martins stripes, so we'll
open another bottle to lis health. He
was bugler when he was Is an II cor
p0ral at 90, an now he's sergeant at
%, an there's not a man jealous Of
him either. Martin, 1 spanked you
when you was small for tho love of you,
an I'm proud to think them spankin's
helped to make man of you. Keep on,
my sou, an you'll be first sergeant Of
the old troop in another year, like your
father before YOU.
"Achoor'
Hcaly was seized with an attack Of
sneezinS so that he buried his face in
his handkerchief Little Mother Rev
ellis tanned and wrinkled face whiten-
ed, and she looked reproachfully at the
farricr with big, gray. sorrowful eyes.
Fin himself turned red and opened sew
eral bottles of beer in his confusion.
"And I'll bet my father made Il good
one," said tho young sergeant. "Eh,
mother? You never tell me much about
him."
1T was so long ago, dear" tho laun-
dress answered in whisper.
There came rap on the door, per-
emptory and official, and Martin rose
and opened it, letting into the room a
shiver compelling gust of wind and a
whirl of snow.
Hello Seddon" he cried. whats
up? Come inn
A snow despatched orderly, coated
and befurred, entered with stamping
of overshoes.
"With the majors compliments To
Mrs. Revell," he said formally, land
he know when stripes should be wetted. "
The orderly grinned and placed two
bottles of wine ON the table and dashed
out again to resume his post at the
house Of the major commanding.
Tears sprang to Mother Revell's eyes,
and her son reddened with pleasure.
How kind Of the old major she
said. Hes been good friend to me.
To think he should remember your pro
motion, Martini
"Ah, it's you he remembers, mother
cried Martin. "Do you think he forGcts
how you nursed him when the Apaches
gavc him that bullet i'll the ribs?"
Faith, Healy mutterod, ian may
be he moinds further back than that, me
boy, whin he wuz only sargint hisseli
in the war, an yer mother nursed more
nor him through the bullet fever"
"Healy" cried Mother Revell nerv,
ously
MAN." said the long legged, red
haired corporal, "shall be afther open
in bottle NV wine?"
SIS it shampeen, cried the farriel
excitedly, or maybe sherry wine?"
pass me tho bottle Fin, av yt
please, said Healy, ''an DIN be afthel
tellin ye. It's naythur It's port, ar
old fashioned .,intleman wine. Mish
tress Revell, me grandfather had dozens
NV it in his castle in the ould country. ;
"Give it here" the farrier cried
waving a corJtscrew.
Fin Strait" said the corporal, sud
denly snatching it, while he frownet
upon his friend. SIN matther NV thil
gintility yell be koind enough to re
mimtber me rank is superior to yours. ;
And he opened the bottle with dig
nifty.
They had but once slipped the unwont
ed LIQUOR and were beginning to com
ment upon its taste when once agai
there came rap upon the door, q ia
as peremptory and official as the frs,
Fin Strait, fearful Of intrusively thirst
threats, hid the second bottle promptly
and Mother Revell drew nearer tn
stove away from the draft Of the open
ing door. Again the snow drifted in q
Martin Revell answered the knock, an
again snow despatched orderly enter
ed. This timo it was tho orderly trum