The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-12-29
HOW THE. CAp'N SAVED
THE DAY.
y walter Williazns.

lie WAS such . little fellow. The
III lily which bloomed In the corner
Of theyard was taller and scarcely more
slender than he. His head, even when
he wore his high-heeled shoes, did not
reach up to the great iron knocker that
hung on the front door. The calendar
said the Cap'n was Ave years old. bu,
nobody believed the calendar, least OF
ell those who saw the small figure for
the first time.
Everybody called him the Cap'n, be-
cause he held himself up 30 straight
and walked with such military pre-.
cision. He wore . bit Of flag on his tiny
coat one day a. he went down TO the
negro cabin where his old nanny
stayed. "Lawd bress u.s." said she, a
broad grin on her face, "heah comes dc
Cap'n!" The name stuck TO him. He
carried himself like . king, and even
his "nightie," az he walked away into
the dark to bed, always chung to his
slight little body like the robes Of a
prince OF royal blood.
The Cap'n was afraid Of nothing. He
laughed, a brave little laugh. into the
eyes Of a strange and angry dog. He
play ed in the road way under the horses
heels. He climbed on the horses backs.
the widest of them. and bestrode them
just like a miniature Centaur. He
clinched his fist and struck at a visitor
who teased him with the good-natured
brutality with which some grown-up
people treat children.
When the soldiers came to town the
Cap'n sat on the gate post and waved
his little flag. He looked part Of the
post. so still he sal. save for the arm,
that waved the flag. so solemn he was
and white. like carvcn image. his face
The men took of their hats TO him ard!
threw kisses as they passed. They
camped on the common. not far away.
and the Cap'n. in charge of his old black
nanny. whom he ordered around as
though she were u dog and who obeyed
him as willingly. went to see them every
day.
1t was not long before the soldiers
became his devoted slaves. Perhaps
they thought OF the dear ones at home.
and Of a little figure that had waved
good-by as they marched OF. From the
grave and reverend cnloncl down 10 he
scrap Of drummer kov the whole regi.
ment was literally at the Cap'n's feet.
It was company B tha, first adopted
him. One morning. on dress parade.
Lieut.. Martin stated that he had new
recruit, commissioned officer. whom
he would introduce to the men. He
went into the officers tent and led out
the Cap'n. dressed in full uniform.
sword and belt and all. The soldiers
set up cheer that shook the very trees
And the Cap'n walked slowly down in
front Of the long line and took of his
said, as though he had been so years
old and real general: "My men, I'm
glad to belong to comp'ny B. thank
you for your kind reception"
Then the soldiers almost split their
throats with shouting, until the colonel
Of the regiment came riding over to see
what the matter was. Company B was
the most stuck-up company in the en-
tire regiment from that day forward.
Did not the Cap'n belong to It. and
was not he mascot? Menof the other
companies tried to beg or borrow the
Cap'n. but company B only laughed at
them. They sought to bribe the Cap'n.
but he indignantly refused to leave his
first love. Only once was he tempted.
and that was when company F offered
him little pony, with saddle and
bride. II he would ride with them on
dress parade. But he did not 60 any
further than the officers tent. and then
said. in his childish drawl: "Ex-cuse
me, but must go back to comp'ny B."
The men Of company B heard Of It.
and they ransacked the country for >
pony for the Cap'n. Finally they found
one, about the size Of large st. Ber-
nard dog, and equally 40 gentle. They
fitted the pony out with bride and sad
die. and made the presentation in
proper form to the Cap'n.
Each morning thereafter the Cap'h
rode his pony out I'm front of rhe men
and gravely inspected them. He would
blow q little bugle and wave his sword.
He sat firm and dignified. and touched
his hat In military salute, like trained
veteran Of half hundred years. Not
man in the company but would have
rolled in the dust for him-or, what
seemed little more serious to them.
would have faced death at the cannon's
mouth. He ruled them ike tyrant.
Thus the long summer days came
and went. The Cap'n would ride from
his home mile away, to the white city
Of tents. His old.mammy followed him
on foot. and hung around the camp and
watched him from afar. Sometimes his
little sister came, bit of baby with
rosk cheeks and great brown eyes. The
soldiers thronged about him, made hin,
curious toys of twigs and leaves. and
talked to him in fashion almost rever-
ential. He stood in their eyes for wife