The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-08-27
YOUNG AND AMI OLD
1 IN The ARNY

out of the TnQkefy HI n0grn as ths
bachelors gdssters8 and started
iauntily down. Che o6acs,R line bear.
ing in his hama a kite.
BE was Immediately surrounded
BY the abundant supply Of small
boys from the officers quaxters, ali
Of whom were anxious for the Kite
He picked out young Arthur b.
cause the boy was sosfond Of sport
and never cried when thrown from
his pony, but young Smart of the
cavalry, lounging ON the bachelors
piazza, stirred up 'tMr." Dawdle Of
the infantry BY remarking, "You
will get left, plebe, for there goes
Toney boot licking that boy again,
and he is sure Of an invitation to
tea, and you know what that means. p
"That boy" was the captains son,
and the captains wife had young
lady sister visiting her, whom Toney
had already escorted for ride on a
troop horse.
But this is all byplay to the h.s
story. Toney took out Of his pocket
ball Of cord, borrowed from the
commissary sergeant for the occa-
sion, and Strengthened tae kite tail.
made of old yellow stripes cut from
scouting trousers. Everything be-
ing ready, he called out, 'Hold her,
my son, and I will run her UP for
you, and then she is yours"
Toney started in quarter race
time, encouraged by frantic wells
from the boys; but, alas, just as
Artliir's young aunt was merrily
applauding from the piazza the kite
commenced to duck in the most
cowardly fashion, and the faster
Toney ran the more it ducked.
"Sumpen's the matter" said Ar
thur.
"'Tain't got the right sort O. tall"
said another; "tie.a rock to her, and
many similar pieces of advice came
from all the boys at once.
BY this time the piazzas were.
filed with spectators, and the men
waiting for mess call sailed out on
the barrack porches to see the fun,
when old Major Stuffy started to-
ward the boys with that important
air which he thought becoming to
one SO old, 'sbe gad, dragoons,, be-
fore the wax, sirw >s
'T say, Toney, you want 10 short
,en up the center bride and make
her stand on the wind like this"
said $, the old major, taking hold Of
the kite. ''
Toney, who was puzzling his mind
as to where he could get more kite
tail without tearing up his only ex-
ira pair Of sheets, looked up and
remarked, -'Well old man, what do
You know about kites anyway?"
Now, Major Stuffy. had always
been very partial to Toney and
showed'it by always joking with him
while swelling with Ill fitting Dig
nifty in his intercourse with all the
subalterns. The old gentlemaHss
nerves had been a little, shaken icr
a few days because the infantry
colonel and brevet major genesal ]
commanding the sapast- one sSof
those demned volunteers, you know"
had added insult to injury by
sending him an order not to drive
any more government isorses in his
private conveyance. Toney's light
and airy remark upset the major
completely, and he was on the point
OF venting his rage on him when
who of all5others should come stroll
lng out but the commanding officer
himself. BE who had won his Sstars
Tor bravery and conspicuous fsery-
ces from Perryville to Resaca Ger
'alniy ought to know all about kites. |
The excitement on the parade was
90 much for the old gentleman, andrl
1lssmlssing his orderly to dinner he
'alsed his sun umbrella and remark
ID to his excellent spouse, .T viii 90 !
lnd show then, how to put ,up al
1te." The very idea seemed to make
l!m young again, and he threw out |
us chest and squared his shoulders |
IS II he were going to take q new |
ease OF ife.s . He Joined the group !
lround the kite, and Major Stufy |
'raced himself pompously and SAL
ute, uted with an air which plainly said,
~ u stand me ground, be CAD, sirP
How do you. do, Mr.. Ruckerw
aid the general blandly. II see that
our kite doesn't work right, and'-
1T will be all right in a moment,
If. l have sent to the troop tailor
or more tail"
"But, Mr.. Rucker, when 1 Was asI
oy-he retires fors old age next
ear-we si1ever made long tails. |
ou Just split the r;ssa5es You have |
nd tie some knots !. ..hem. Then
aorten up the bride and make her
tand so"--
Just what I told the general,a