The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-02-16
White Feather"

There is no need to mention the name
OF his regiment here That Is a secret
that belongs to the army alone.
Suffice it TO say that his comrades
are proud of his name.
He should never have entered the
army at all, much less a hard riding
cavalry regiment which had rcpu-
tation to sustain By yearly tribute OF
broken neckS and collar bones.
His proper vocation was that OF a
linpn-draper's assistant, and he had
filled that occupation ye~y satiSfactor-
fly, till one evil day he had fallen in
love with a girl, Il silly, shallow girl,
: at whom no practical man or boy
would have taken a second look.
4" He adored her, and she adorcd 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
rinched his arm and exclaimed, "Oh.
T. Jack. look at that lovely soldier" his
heart gnve him pang at the thought
that he. was only Diapers assistant,
with nothing in common with the mill
tary but the handling Of red cloth. He
was dreamer by nature, and falling
In love did not lessen his weakness In
this direction. Dreaming Is pardon
able In poet, but an objectionable
crime in Il linen-drapcr's assistant, and
as he stood at his counter his mind was
far away from his work. Instead of
listening to the "Forward' of the shop
walker, he could only hear the short
flung word of command and the blarc
|. Of. the buslcs that sounded through
his dreams, wherefore 1t was not long
before he came into conflict with his
practical chief A few sharp words
passed. He threw up in three second:
position it had taken six years Of
hard. unremitting labor to attain. Then
| he enlisted.
lie gained his title on his first dis
play in the riding school, where, af-
ter short ride on the neck of the
riding masters pet buck-jumper he
turned deathly pale and cried aloud
that he might be allowed to dsmount.
The horse ut once gratificd his de-
are by throwing him on to the tan,
Where he lay trembling in every limb,
much to the diversion Of couple of
Tough riders who were standing by
lhey were quick to inform their re
pectlve squadrons, and, his former Oc-
fdpation being known, he was prompt
~ chrlstosled White Feather"
IN those dark days it was the joy Of
me more; hardy recruits to take him
asde solemnly and request the service
three,pence three farthings' worth
White feathers. Any morsel of
soWn of'fuff that might float into the
rracks was promptly captured and
Aesented to him with due ceremonies
Y Irunpeter Pipes, the low comedian
the regiment.
me older men forbore to join In
win these somewhat firing repetitions
a ale joke. They remembered
~.N own experiences in the riding
shoo4, and recognized that white
~, was quiet ana lnOnenSlNe
eno", devoid Of the impudence and
w manners peculiar to recruits and
spectfnl and helpful to his seniors.
1ne sergeant-instructor. too. after a
.u,e' took fancy to his timid recruit.
enu look extra trouble to teach hi q
70 Keep his heels out, his hands |
wi and his head up.
We made smart cavalrynen out O.
YseE buffers than YOU" he used to
M encopragingly as he ficked
AFe Feathers horse into a canter.
vi III make rider O. you. or I'll
Your neck" White Feathers"
- remained unbroken, SO it is to be
uhed that the .sergeant-instructor
alflled his WORD
1 iesehtly he began to lose the hang
.ook Of suppressed terror with |
ne had been accustomed to en-
Ae riding school. and TO acquire
Easy swasger of cavalryman. |
Guest, contracted by long hours at
oAhser, developed under healthy
Nnlng. Fresh air and much cxar-
helped white Feathers" deyel-