Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-07-05

THE COLONEL
AND MAJOR

). - u 49,
The Colonel was born on the 10th day
of December, and the Major followed
promptly the next day. At least this
was the tradition in the old Virginia
town which was the place of their Da-
tivity. To be sure. heard one mau say
that he looked into the Family Bible
and had found the record of the Major s
birth i'm March; but he was a croaker
and skeptic generally. and his cynical
utterances have no weight against a
well established tradition.
This much is sure. however, that the
day after the Colonel was first sent to
school the Majors name was also en-
rolled on the list of pupils. You see the
way of il was this: The two families
lived next door to each other. and natur
ally the boys became playmates. and
continued so until the Colonel's eighth
birthday Then the Colonel's mother
decided that he was old enough to go to
school. Not so, however, with the Ma
jor's. She thought that the Major was
'entirely two Young to be sent out into
the world yet"-the world" meaning
Miss Fannie Adams school down at the
corner. So the Colonel went to school
and the Major stayed at home-for one
day He could bear it no longer than
that; the side yard was desert with
ont the Colonel He pleaded and wept
until finally, with fearful eyes. the
fond mother decided to send her son out
in the world; and two young hearts
were made supremely happy.
On account of his advantage IN age and
his longer experience in school life, the
Colonel undertook the office of patron
TO the Major; which services tine latter
accepted very gracefully. until. having
acquired some experience himself. ne be.
gan 10 reason that the Colonel was scarce
ly far enough ahead of him to warrant
his attitude. So he rebelled against the
Colonel's authority and proclaimed his
independence.
This lasted three days. and then the
Colonel regained his ascendency i'll a
manner altogether unusual among the
powers of tile world.
While so little older than the Major,
he was a good deal larger and stronger.
though it must be added i'll justice to
the latter. not bit more courageous
He did not use his superior strength to
coerce his former follower into renewed
allegiance; but the day that Tom Sykes,
the bully of the school. attempted to take
by force the Major top. he knocked him
down. and was proceeding to administer
severe thrashing. when suddenly the
Col. appeared on the scene. and. prompt
" placing himself i'm front of the bully,
engaged him in battle. What battle
it was 1t took rank among the ella ssics
of the school, and to this day the two or
three surviving witnesses will tell you,
with bated breath. how after long
struggle, the Colonel succeeded in whip
ping Tom Sykes, who was so much old
er and bigger and VINO had never been
whipped before.
And from that day forward the Ma
jor never questioned the propriety of
yielding his allegiance to the Colonel.
And the Colonel in turn appreciated
this devotion. so that when he raised
a company to enter the Mexican War.
they elected him captain aud Fred.
Collins first lieutenant, he refused to
accept the honor unless they made the
Major first Lieutenant: and so they got
together again and nullified the election
of Fred Collins, and elected the Major
in his stead. And this added to the
strength of the army. for Fred Collins
left that company and raised one of his
own. and was elected captain and went
to the war. and. poor fellow. he was
killed.
And then when the great Civil War
broke out and their regiment held a
meeting to elect its officers, the fore
most local orator arose. after Major Jett
had been elected full colonel. and said: