Waterbury Democrat., 1901-10-28
"sToNEwALL' JAcKsoN's RIDE.

year 1S41, two anxious-looking young
 men sat i'll the public sitting room or
 the old Bailey house, at Weston, in
 what is now Lewis county, West Vir- ginia.
 You'll be the one, Tom,' whispered one to the other, as waiter entered
 bearing a letter in his hand.
 I'm fraid not, Gib,'' was the reply,
 from a serious faced youth, who was large for his age, which was only IT. As the negro looked around, Glib fair ly trembled with eagerness, while Toms features settled into sort of grim composure.
 MT Gilbert Butcher called the waiter.
 Glib sprang forward, seized and tore open then envelope, then waved it en-
 enthusiastically.
 tsIt's mine!' he shouted, and was
 about to follow the assertion up with
 an old-fashioned yell, when the sight of his companions face checked him.
 "I am sorry, Tom, on your account
 he had the grace to add. By George,
 am! I thought Mir Hayes would cer-
 tainIy have chosen, you"
 But by this time, Tom Jackson, re-
 covering from his disappointment, was able to congratulate his fortunate rival.
 T am glad you got it. Gib,' said he,
 "seeing that I didn't. You are ahead of me in mathematics, and they say that counts at West Point. But now the agony is over must serve these suhpoenas or Uncle Cummins will raise Ned,'e especially as l failed on that appointment
 He went sorrowfully out and mount ed a jaded looking gray mare. lie was hailed from an upper window or the hotel.
 ..sory I couldn't appoint you both, Tom" said an elderly, well-garbed congressman. "But as I have only one West Point appointment falling to me this term I had to let Glib have it. He is ahead of you in his studies, you know"
 '.I've always had to work com mented Tom rather sadly "Gib could go to school But, if I should ever have another chance, please don't forget me, MT Hayes"
 As Constable Thomas H. Jackson rode away, his earnest tone and man. ner impressed the congressman so deeply that he remembered it later on, when Toms second chance unexpect- ly came. for Butcher, after a month or two at West Point, suddenly re- turned home. One of the first to meet him was Jackson, still riding as constable for Uncle Cummins, who was justice of the peace.
 What brings you backY asked Tom, who was greatly surprised when Glib confessed that the haZing, disci- pline and military seventies were more than he could stand.
 It apeared that Glib had resigned. Tom hurried to his uncle to resign his constableship, borrowed ten dol lars from the squire, packed his sad- dlebags. and headed the gray mare toward Washington, over three hun- dred miles away. In two weeks, ne knew. the power of appointment would lapse into the hands of the secretary of war. The winter roads were ter rible.
 When the old mare gave out, Tom sold her, and managed to go on py stage coach, though various delays nearly drove him wild with fear of arriving too late. He reached the cap- ital, cold, hungry, tired, and late at night. MT Hays, though surprised, greeted him kindly.
 s.I fear you are too late, Tom" said he. "The appointment passed to the secretary this very day.
 sThe day isn't over until midnight" said Jackson. Tt is hardly eleven | o'clock yet. I couldn't get here soon- | err 1
 Again impressed by Toms dogged | the congressman took him | in hack to the secretary's house, 1 routed that official from his bed, and | as his best excuse for such strenuous | placed Toms weary, home spun figure and simple story before | him. While the congressman and the | great war official talked, Tom fell | asleep in his chair. The secretary was a reasonable man. As he gave his ready assent, he pertinently added:-
 This is the kind of youngster West | Point needs-he don't quit easily"
 The following day the appointment was duly made, and Mir Hayes inter- ested himself still further
 .'Got any money, Tom?" he asked with a shrewd perception of the F young mans situation.
 Jackson confessed that his. financial resources were about exhausted by ex- Dlaining that he had walked from Harper's Ferry, leaving his saddle bags to come by stage.
 How will you reach West Point from here? Should you fail like Butcher, how will you get, back home?'
 .I won't fail. like Glib. You have always known me, MT Hays I lowed you would loan me enough to get ,here-that is all I need"
 Jackson's faith in himself and his patron shone in every lineament of 1is face. The congressman's constit- 1ents said that their member had good deal of '.horse sense.' He then eyinced it by sending Tom, rejoicing, 70 West Point. where he passed" and and, finally, was graduated with honor.
 Four years later. when he returned Q Weston and his old home with a ieutenants epaulet on his shoulder, lis first task was to repay his uncle md the congressman their loans Both hese gentlemen lived to realize, per- 'onally from what small beginnings great things often fow" Before the ieath of either, the lad who had rid len his old gray mare over the Alle- yhanies and sold her to pay stage fare, md, finally, walked when his means rave out. passed into history from the atal field of Charlottesville under he name of "Stonewall Jackson."-