The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1899-02-18
HOW THE P SAVED \
THE DAY. s
By Walter Williams. /

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 five years old, but
nobody believed the calendar, least of
all those who saw the small figure for
the first time.
Every body called him the Cap'n, be-
cause he held himself up so straight
and walked with such military pre-
cision. He wore a bit of flag on his tiny
coat one day as he went down to the
negro cabin where his old NANNY
stayed. 'Lawd Dress us" said she, i
broad grin on her face, 'heah m d.
Cap'u." The nam stuck to him. He
carried himself like a king, and even
his ''nightie.' as be 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
played in the roadway 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 leased him with the go~Od-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 a part of the
-1E+ % s+S11 ha cot "a "a fpr 4hn Il - ~
that waved the flag. so solemn he was
and white, like a carven image, his face.
The men took off their hats to him and
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 a.
though she were a 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
rood-by as they marched off. From the
grave and reverend colonel down to the
scrap of a drummer boy the whole regi-
ment was literally at the Cap'n's feet.
II was company B that first adopted
him. One morning, or dress parade,
Lieut.. Martin stated that he had a new
recruit. a commissioned officer. whom
ne 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 a cheer that shook the very trees.
And the Cap'n walked slowly down in
front Of the long line and took off his
little hat and bowed a sober bow. and
said, as though he had been so years
old and a 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
Threats 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 a mascot? Men of the other
companies tried to beg or borrow the
Cap'n, but company B only laughed az
them. They sought to bride the Capri.
but he Indignantly refused to leave his
first love. Only once was he tempted
and that was when company F offered
him a little pony. with saddle and
bride, if he would ride with them on
dress parade. But he did not go any
further than the officers tent, and then
said, in his childish drawl: excuse
me, but I must go back to comp'ny B."
The men of company B heard of il.
and they ransacked the country for \
pony for the Cap'n. Finally they found
one. about the size of a large St. Rer-
nard dog. and equally as 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'n
and g~ravely inspected them. He would
blow a little bugle and wave his sword.
He sat firm and dignified, and touched
his hat in military salute, like a trained
veteran of half a hundred years. Not
a 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 lannon's
mouth. He ruled them like a tyrant.
Thus the long summer days came
and went. The Cap'n would ride from
his home a mile away, to the white city
of tents. His old nanny followed him
on foot, and hung around the camp and
watched him from afar. Sometimes his
little sister came, a bit of a baby with
rosk cheeks and great brown eyes. The
soldiers thronged about him, made him
curious toys of twigs and leaves, and
talked to him in fashion almost rever-
entail. He stood in their eyes for wife
and children.
But one day the unexpected hap
pened, as it always does in war-and
peace. The regiment was stationed on
guard duty. The men were held in re-
serve miles away from the active war
fare, and had grumbled much thsreat.
They were eager to show their patriot
Ism by fighting.
The opportunity came. The enemy,
by a forced march, hurled a detacn-
ment double their number upon the