Sunday Washington globe., 1901-12-22
[couclusioul

standing guard, in order that they may be
fresh for duty, the other relief not on duty
remaining at the guard.horse TO turn out
for general officers / shall follow that
course here until see good reason to
change it. II is needless for me TO ask that
the instant the call is sounded you come
promptly to the guard house, as that will be
necessary not only to good understanding
but to the continuance of the privilege
Sergeant tell off the men and send out the
first relief"
The guard looked at one another but
whether they meant 70 say that / did not
know the men had TO deal with or whether
i had found and touched a susceptible
chord, / could not tell I threw the hand
cuffs into the furthest corner of the guard
house and turned TO the inspection of the
guard-book. The first relief went out; the
old relief came in, and were marched away
under command of their sergeant; the
second relief went to their tents, and was
left 10 myself with the third
During the next TWO hours I managed to
say a pleasant word to each of the men left
at the guard-house, and to visit all those
upon post. changing their beats for the
better when / could. This done, 1 waited
most anxiouslY for eleven o'clock. If then
the men promptly responded to the call /
should be master of the situation. If they
did not
AT FIVE minutes to eleven I ordered the
call to be sounded, aud then turned away
I cannot begin to describe the agony Of that
interval. II seemed an hour Every few
seconds would consult my watch, half be-
lieving that it must have stopped. What if
they should not GOMEZ Were not officers
and men against me2 Would not the colonel
himself wink at disobedieuce? Possibly he
had even given the men secret instructions
to disregard me. Should / order a cor
pOral's guard to arrest all delinquents, and
If the guard refused. or the men resisted,
should l shoot them2 had a right to do
this, but it would be a terrible measure
Ny own life would not be worth penny in
that event, and would be measured by
seconds
At length the five minutes passed With
out turning I ordered the sergeant 10 fall
in the guard The order was given
heard the stir Of men and the handling Of
muskets, and knew that some, at least
were present In a moment the sergeant
began to call the roll, while I listened
breathess.
Number One % Two, Three +" Pour"
Five" F" Six, " Seven, " Eight" (to each
came the answer "Here" and my breast
began TO heave) Mine, Ten, " Eleven,
Twelve all there
My heart leaped to my throat, and tears
filed my eyes. / turned, but everything
swan before me. I attempted to speak,
but my chin trembled and my tongue re-
fused its Office. I felt that I was fast losing
control of myself; 50. whirling upon my
heel, / walked a few PAGES away. A
moment suficed to subdue my feelings
and returning spoke few earnest words
of gratitude to the men and sent them
about their duty. Nor was the only one
affected for I saw a big corporal draw his
sleeve across his face and thus betray the
presence of a heart.
/ allowed the next relief to go to .heir
tents, and again visited the seutries When
I returned to the guard-house at noon the
big corporal came awkwardly toward me
and, touching his cap, said: Lootinant,
can I make ye a cup o. coffee, SURF"
Again I was ready to break down, and It
was seconds before could answer Thank
you, Corporal not only for the coffee,
which / shall take with pleasure, but also
for the first kind word have had IN this
regiment"
10 fetch the water and another putting a
bit of pork on a stick roasted it over the
Goals for me. In fact, il was evident that had
won the day. My spirits rose for the 6rst time
40 something near healthy level, and
began to see daylight I talked Familiarity
but digni6edly with the men, and the rest
of the twenty-four hours passed without so
much as a shadow of annoyance. Never
were soldiers better behaved or more
prompt Not a word not an act that was
not both cheerful and respectful So when
we were relieved the next morning, I
marched my guard to the parade ground
and there spoke briefly my heartfelt satis-
faction and gratitude, assuring them that il
should not be MY fault if we were not soon
the best Of friends; then dismissed them
and turned away. had gone but pace or
tive wien the big corporal sang out:
Three cheers fer the new lootiuautp
And cheer they did, with such a will as to
bring the whole camp, officers and men, out
of their tents I raised my cap in acknowl-
edgemeut, and walked on to my tent,
feeling as proud as a lord and saying to
myself I've got the men on my side and
the officers may 60 to--the hospital for all /
care"
Tired nervous and trembling, [ uufast.
ened my belt loosened my clothes and,
without thought Of food sank upon my
blankets FOrty-eight hours had been
without sleep the greater portion Of the
time under intense excitement my nerves
strained to the utmost Now the reaction
came. losing all self control, prone, with
arms outstretched, with the tears streaming
down my burning cheeks, and with heart
almost bursting, / walled Motherl
Motherl have you forgotten your only SOM
If there is a Cod if there is a heaven. If it
is given 70 those who have passed beyond
20 guard aud guide their loved ones come
to me- Come TO me. my mother lam sore
tried. Hold up my hands in this my hour
of need" aud there did come to my heart
a warm, soothing pressure. Arms-whether
of recollection and imagination know not
but arms encircied me I seemed to hear a
voice Of bygone years saying. Sleep my
poor boy, sleep The morrow will bring