Evening star., 1902-08-30

erai Lee had acted in; direct >diSobedience Of
the commander-in-chief's orders. who was
convinced that the country and the army
had been willfully imperiled by the dis
obedience of Charles Lee With the ar
rival OF Washington a new aspect was soon
realized. The army was hastily reformed
the retreat suspended, the troops rallied
and soon order and discipline were re-estab-
lished in our ranks. To General Lee was
given the work of checking the advancing
enemy, while the commander-in-chiefh has
tened back to arrange the lines of the main
army. General Greene was given the right
of the line, Stirling the left, while the sec
ond line was placed under command of La
fayette, and then the fourth and last skir-
mlsh, which developed the real battle of the
day, was commenced. And now have done
with what fear have been simply dry and
unlntereSting facts" said the drummer boy
with glance at Dorothy, who, to tell the
truth, had not taken much interest in all
this marching and fighting, "and come to
my part in the story
Dorothy unconSciously assumed a mora
attentive attitude, while the king and Jack
exchanged confidential looks.
for some time the renewed battle had
been raging without any particular advan-
tase to either side. Our forces, however
were now prompt to respond to all orders
steady under fire. showing at once that orr
chief had inspired them with new hope
ana courage. 1t must have been about 4
o'clock in the afternoon when one of our
regiments which had been bearing the
brunf of the enemys attacks for some
time suddenly began to waver, and them
to the horror of us all, give way In an in
slant the keen eye of Washington grasped
the situation Our regiment, which up to
this time had been acting In support, was
rapidly pushed to the front. By this time
the waver had grown into an absolute
movement to the rear. Stop them at all
hazards, came the chiefs order clearly
ana distinctly, as we rapidly moved out to-
ward them. On and on We went at run,
our officers well to the front, shouting en-
COuraginR words he
falling rapidly back upon us. At this mo-
ment, a little to my right, noticed a mound
or elevation which commanded clear view
of our whole position, and before realized
it had climbed to its top, and unslinging
my drum, began to beat the assembly,
10 me 1t seemed as II the rest of the
whole world had suddenly grown still, for
my own drum beats sounded In my ears
like the roaring Of cannon.
ANA then enc OF the retreating COM
panles heard 1t, and took 1t up: then an
other and another and soon all the drums
of the broken regiments were rolling in
unison. and the retreat was checked. And
such cheer as went up from both armies
1t was only after I had rejoined my
company that l realized the blood was
slowly flowing down my right arm from a
slight wound. OF course, my regiment
made a great deal of me. but" here the
boy rose to his feet, the greatest honor
was yet to come.
THAT night, when the sun had gone to
rest, and a blessed breeze came to cool US
after the hot and sitting day, I was lying
upon an improvised bunk that some of my
comrades had built for me, watching the
camp fires some little distance Off and the
men moving around them, who in the soft
summer twilight seemed Ike shadows and
unreal beings.
Suddenly 1 became aware OF some one
standing over me. and. looking up, beheld
our chief, Gen. Washington.
In moment rose to my feet, and, sa-
luting with my sound hand, stood at at
tention. For some little time he stood gaz-
Ing at me with his keen, piercing eyes, and
then asked me in a rather stern voice:
Your name, sir
81 told him.
And your state?
The dominion of Virginia, sir
"a pleased look came into his eyes, and
then he asked. this time in a very gentle
tone of voice:
And your aee?'
Fourteen, sir
early, my lad he said. laying his hand on
my shoulder; and, calling one of his aids,
standing Immediately behind in his rear,
bade him to make note OF my replies
Then he turned and moved rapidly to-
ward a great oak whose spreading
branches formed his only shelter that
night.
For some time / stood .dazed with this
great honor that had befallen me- when,
looking down toward the ground, noticed
a cockade of larger and better make than
those usually worn.
1t must have fallen from the generals
hat, was the first thought that came
bounding Into my head and then, like a
streak, l was running to overtake him.
Again / stood before him, this time painting
with my exertion.
Your cockade, sir I managed to gasp.
You must have dropped It, SIR
He looked at his hat, then at me, and
stretched forth his hand as If to take 1t.
whether it was my manner or the wish
ha h1A
for, taking the cockade from me, he turned
toward one Of his aids for few hurried
words.
And then again he turned toward me,
and, with smile of great gentieness, said,
as he fastened the cockade to the breast Of
my coat:
Keep it, my lad, keep tit shall be
your decoration for today's BEHAVIOR and.
niously, he strode off into the gathering
darkness. 1t was his own" said the boy,
after an expressive silence, as his hand
caressngly touched the torn and faded
cockade upon his breast-"his very, very
own"
That's the best Of ALL" cried Jack to
Dorothy, after the drummer boy had fin
lshed, but she, sweet lass, was softly weep
ing.
by the way asked the king, what
strikes the hour?
'Sir?'
What strikes the hour" beloved the
denly remembering the ancient way of ask
ing the time of day, answered:
Retreat has just sounded, your majesty"
Retreat. be blowed. ,thlndered the king,
not realizing that he had, at last perpe-
trated a real joke, for as you know, re-
treat is always blown on tho trumpets.
Suddenly drawing his, sword. he made
three swift passes from fright to left,
chanting at the same tiEae:
Guardian OF the 'naystyc shrine
Call the passing hour Of time
No sooner had these strange words passed
the kings lips than a small brown bird ap-
peared in view and, circ1tng around the
kings head. perched itself upon the spike
of his glittering helmet. II
Call commanded tfe king.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo. cuckoo,
cuckoor' Iig ~
by the dangling forelpckp pf the whirltgtg
OF time" cried the merry little monarch,
'Tll be late for dinner. I and, straddling his
sword as If it were horse, he few up the
chimney, while the drummer boy, kissing
his hand gracefully toward Dorothy, slowly
faded from view
When the children, somewhat later, crept
into the play room to take one last look
before going to bed they found. to their
surprise, on the buffalo robe in front Of the