The National tribune., 1899-07-06


the North Georgia mountains rapidly rob
ing themselves in fresh green, to welcome
the coming Spring. The effervescent boys
had entirely forgotten the worries of the
previous night, and were frolicking in the
bright sunshine as if 'out-at-recess' from
school.
Mackall, Jo5lyn, Humphreys and Baker
hal gotten hold of a ball. and were having
game of "two-cornered cat with noise
enough for whole school playground.
Russell and Scruggs were running foot
race, for the entertainment OF a squad of
cooks and teamsters, and little Pete Skid
more was giving an exhibition before the
same audience OF ability to stand on his
head, and turn somerSaults.
little thought they have of the serious
ness of war;" thought ST, with shrug of
his shoulders, as he called out:
Come. boys, fall IN here"
When the boys had first come under Sis
command they regarded him as one of the
greatest men in the army. In their
shadowy notions of military matters they.
rather thought that he stood next to the
great Generals whose names filled all
mouths. These ideas had been toppled
into dust by their arrival in camp, and see
ing so many different men order him
around. They felt ashamed of themselves
that they had ever mistaken him for great
man, and put him up on pedestal. That
is the way with boys. They resent nothing
more tIldH 6lt tIiOu RHts Vi lflelI
having been deceived into honoring some
body or something unworthy of honor.
They can stand anything better than a
reflection upon their shrewdness and judg
ment.
Hear KIegg a-calling?" said Joslyn,
pausing for an instant, with the ball in his
hand.
"Let him CALL" said Mackall, indiffer-
emily, finishing his run TO base. HE amt
big boss no more. He's only the lowest
Sergeant in the company. Throw the ball,
Harry. You must do better'n you've been
doing. We're getting away with you."
sternIy that Pete Skidmore stopped in his
handspring, but seeing the bigger boys
making no move to obey, decided that it
would be improper for him to show any
signs of weakness, and he executed his
fiip,fap c.,u
shouted Harry Joslyn, as he caught the
ball which Mackall had vainly struck at.
ST strobe over to the group, snatched the
bat from Harry'S hand, spanked him with
it, and started for the others Of the group.
Say, you mustn't hit that boy" ex-
claimed Gid, jumping. on Sis back. Gid
with him. The others rushed up, school
boy like, to defend their companion against
"the man." and little Pete Skidmore picked
up stone and adjusted it for throwing.
why, you little scamps, YOU gasped Si
in amazement "Whatd you mean?
Amt you goin' to obey my orders?'
you haint no right to give us orders no
more" asserted Humphreys, fourishing
his bat defiantly. You're only an en-
listed man, same as the rest O us. They
told us so, last night, and that we mustn't
let you impose on us, as you'd bin dom.
mand us. We've bin posted. And if you
dare hit any O us We'll all jump on you and
maui your head often you"
The rest looked approval of Jim's brave
words.
'We're goin' to strike for our affairs and
our fires. Strike for the green graves of
our sires, God and our native land" de-
claimed Monty Scruggs.
The waspish little mutiny was so anus
ing that ST had to smiie'in spite of himself.
With q quick, unexpected movement he
snatched the bat from Jim Humphreys
hand and said good-humoredly:
"Now, boys, you mustn't make fools OF
yourselves agin. Stop this nonsense at
once, tell you. I'm just as much your
commandin' officer as ever was.
"How can you be commanding officer,
when everybody else bosses you about?"
persisted the argumentative Monty
Scruggs. Everybody that comes near
you orders you around, just the same as
you used to us, and you mind 'em. That
amt no way for commanding officer.
We don't want anybody boSSing US that
everybody else BOSSES"
"WeIl, that's the way O. the army" ST ex-
planned patiently, "and you've got to git
used to it. Most every body bosses some
body else. The President tells Gen. Grant
what he wants done. Gen. Grant orders
Gen. Thomas to do it. Gen. Thomas
orders Major-General. The Major-Gen
eral orders Brigadier- General. The
Brigadier-G General orders our Colonel. Our
Colonel orders Cap McGillicuddy, Cap
McGillicuddy orders the Orderly-Sarjint,
the Orderly-Sarjint orders me, and l COM
maud you"
why, it's worse'n The e-House-that-
Jack Built" said Monty Scruggs.,
"Weil, you needn't learn all Of it, said ST.
ITS enough % for you TO to know that !, com 3Ps
business, and all you need know. A man
in the army gifts into trouble often by
KNOWN too much. You git it well into
your craws that command you, and that
you We got to do Just as l say, and I'll do the
rest O. the knowin' that you need"
"But Ii E're we to know that you're right
every tims% argued Monty Scrhggs.
"Well," explained the patient ST, "if