News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1899-09-20

ly fell over on his lace II
you desert I'll have you shot" sait
Tommy. This particular tin soldier
was Tommy's favorite. Upon him Eel
the bulk of the action and the stragetlC
work of the tin regiment. Tommy
looked over the Artillery Corps, the
tents of the sleeping camp, shook his
fist at the little soldier sullenly stand
ing guard. said his prayers and tum-
bled into bed.
He was awakened by the roll of a
drum and. raising his head, looked out
over a level sandy plain. Seated at a
table near him were number of lit
tie officers with cooked hats and
swords and uniforms that seemed to
have grown fast to them. Beside
them was little soldier beating a
drum. All around as far as the eye
could reach was drawn up, line after
line. regiment after regiment of SOL
diers. and a hum came from their
ranks like the sound of one tin plate
scratching softly against another
Tommy looked more closely and trem-
bled-for they were all tin soldiers.
The ranks parted, and, with stiff,
hat and sword advanced to the table.
Tommy recognized him at once and
trembled still more. for it was the lit
tie soldier he had just before placed
as sentinel over his camp.
"Comrade." in a throaty, tinney
voice said the soldier on the table,
who was standing before an immense
ink pot, "of what does Tommy, the
prisoner. stand accused" Tommy
tried to speak. but found that he could
not utter a word. He tried to rise
up, but could not stir. Extreme
cruelty to his soldiers" replied the
sentinel "and reducing worthy officers
to the ranks without cause" A threat
ening murmur ran through the ranks
Explain" said the officer at the table
The sentinel cast a stern look at Tom
my and Strengthened himself up.
"Be it known" he said. Your Hon
ors. I was turned out into the toy shop
a duly uniformed and accredited col
onel. l was held in respect by my
men. and until l came beneath the
command of my oppressor there led
happy military life. With a oneness of
aim I wanted to be a trusted colonel
of the army. The reason | have APP
pealed to the Grand Court Martial og
all Tin Soldiers is because at present
I do not know what I am. Sometimes
and here he glared at Tommy, 81 have
been forced to be a Spaniard." A howl
of Indignation rose from the clustered
ranks. "Silence!" roared the soldier
at the table "Put that down. adju-
tamil"
''It all began with the war with
Spain" continued the soldier. up to
that time my life was fairly pleasant.
Then I was appointed commander of
the American army and my heart was
filled with pride and exultation. But
the very next day ] was degraded
turned into captain of band of
Spanish guerillas and forced against
my flag. Twenty times dag have
I been forced to storm San Juan Hill
and been killed each time. l have
served in the Philippines as American
soldier and insurgent and, comrades
I blush to owne it to you, I have even
been made to representation the lit
tie soldiers voice rose into Shrek OF
Observation-Disclosures" Another howl
burst from the ranks. and thousands
of army guns were levelled at Tom
my, who ducked down beneath the
sheets of his bed.
"Silence!" shouted the General. "Ad-
jutant, put that down. It is treason"
but the worst is yet to come" con-
tinued the tin soldier. Yesterday
Tommy made me General Miles end
stood me up before a cannon, from
which Secretary Alger, represented by
private-a private mind you, and one
whom / despise as an inferior grade
of tin and without a particle of soldier
ly epirit-fred cannon balls at me at
least sixty times. I have been Dewey
in the battle of Manila, and that was a
proud moment, gentlemen; but the
very same day | have been forced to
be a Filipino spy and have been hung
by a rear rank private of my own regi- |
ment. oh, the shame of it, General!'
81 have been every general in the
American army and every Admiral in
the Navy.
I have been spy, traitor, hero, mar
tyr and Spaniard and Filipino. But |
to be shot at by General Alger, to have
been forced to be Aguinaldo and. after
fighting the battle of Santiago four
times and marching UP San Juan ten
times to-day and killed each time,
gentlemen-killed each time mind
you-is too much. l was forced with
out resting to stand sentinel over the
camp this entire night. l want to
know who I am. l want to know what
] am. and I want to be protected from
the distress of being Spanish spy one
and an American general the
next have served faithfully, and,
now peace has been declared, ] want
rest. And l want revenge on our op-
pressor."
The little soldier folded his arms
and sobbed. From the army rose loud
cries and bowls of Lynch him." "Kill
him." The little soldier raised his
hand. "You understand" he said.