Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-09-24
WHITE FEATHER,
A Coward That Was
u Hero.

- ACIOs
:...'...'............. ................:c:
There is no need to mention the name
OF his regiment here. That Is a secret
that belongs to the army alone.
Suffice 1t to say that his comrades
are proud of his name.
He should never have entered the mr.
my at all, much less a hard riding cay
airy regiment which had reputation
to sustain by yearly tribute of broken
necks and collar bones.
His proper vocation was that OF
linen Diapers assistant, and he had
filled that occupation very satisfacto-
rily It'd one evil day he had fallen in
love with q girl, a silly, shallow girl, Mt
whom no practical man or boy would
have taken a second look.
He adored her, and she adored SOL
diers. In their walks abroad she would
direct his steps toward the Horse
guards or Wellington barracks, that
she might gaze in admiration at the
fine, strapping soldiers who were to be
seen there, and every time she pinched
his arm and exclaimed, ooh, Jack, look
at that lovely soldier!' his heart gave
him pang at the thought that he was
only a Diapers assistant, with nothing
in common with the military but the
handling Of red cloth! He was dream
er by nature, and falling in love did
not lessen his weakness in this direc-
ton. Dreaming is pardonable in
poet, but an objectionable crime in
linen Diapers assistant, and as he
stood at his counter his mind was far
away from his work. Instead Of lis
tening to the "Forwardw Of the shop
walker he could only hear the short
flung word OF command and the blare
of the bugles that sounded through his
dreams; wherefore it was not long be-
fore he came into conflict with his prac-
teal chief. A few sharp words passed.
He threw up in three seconds posi-
ton it had taken six years Of hard, I'M
renting labor to attain. Then he en-
listed.
He gained his title ON his first dis
play in the riding school, where, after
a short ride on the neck Of the riding
masters pet buck jumper, he turned
deathly pale and cried aloud that lie
might be allowed to dismount.
The horse at once gratified his desire
by throwing him on to the tan, where
he lay trembling in every limb, much
to the diversion Of couple Of rough
4; 1op xr,I,o cto ,11i Inv NNhnv
were quick to inform their respective
squadrons, and. his former occupation
being known, lie was promptly chris
tened White Feather.
In those dark days it was the joy of
the more hardy recruits to take him
aside solenlnly and request the service
Of threepence 3 farthings' worth Of
white feathers. Any morsel of down
or fluff that might float into the bar
racks was promptly captured and prc>-
scented to him with due ceremonies by
Trumpeter Pipes, the low comedian Of
the regiment.
The older men forbore to join in with
these somewhat firing repetitions Of q
stale joke. They remembered their
own experiences in the riding school
and recognized that White Feather
was a quiet nnd inotfensiyc follow, de-
void of the ilnpudence and bad man.
ners peculiar to recruits and respectful
and helpful to his seniors.
The sergeant instructor, too, after q
time took fancy to his timid recruit
and took extra trouble to learn him
how to keep his heels out, his hands
down and his head up.
1--WE made smart cavalrymen out 9
bigger buffers than you," he used to re-
mark cncouraginyly as he flicked White
Feathers horse into canter, land I'll
make rider O. you, or I'll break your
neckw White Feathers neck remain.
ed unbroken, so it is to be presumed
that the sergeant instructor fulfilled
his word.
Presently he began to lose the hang.
dog look CT suppressed terror with
which he lad been accustomed to enter
the riding school and to acquire the
easy swagger Of cavalryman. Fills
chest contracted by long hours at the
counter, developed under healthy train
ing, Fresh air and much exercise help
ed White Feathers development, which
had been sadly retarded by the heavy,
gas laden atmosphere in which he had
lived. His nerves acquired tone, and
he learned to take a tumble now and
then as q matter of course and to fire
his carbiiie without shutting his eyes
and blanching at the explosion Of the
cartridge:
"Blow me, If he isn't going to shape
into a man at lastw quoth the sergeant
instructor.
Then great blow fell upon him. He
received one morning letter from the
girl to tell him that she had given him
up in favor of a shopwalker who had
expectations Of being set up in busi-
ness by his father. She admitted that
she had adored soldiers and that she
had caused him to enter the army for
her sake. But she had omitted to state
that the soldiers she adored were sol.
diers who possessed the queens COM
mission and who wore stars instead Of
a worsted stripe.
If poor White Feather was a physical
coward, he was a moral hero. There Is
no chance of display Of feeling In
barrack room; so, like the Spartan boy
Of old, he Rugged his trouble to him,
SIinnino flo chem littla engagement