Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20

| others Brad, with this sentence in his
heart. grew to be a manly boy, thoughtful
| for his mister, who was frail little thing
and SO he grew up before most boys of his
| age. When the war fever attacked him he
knew he would not be accepted volun-
! teer from his own village. where his age
was known, so, slipping away from the
farm. where his sister was safely provided
| for, and leaving a note of explanation for
| his uncle he volunteered in a town where
| he was not known, and although young
| looking, was accepted, drilled and sent
south to Join the army in the field.
oh what a delight his uniform was!
He felt himself a general when, with his
| musket at his shoulder he marched bravely
along with his regiment. the youngest lad
| there, and the youngest, doubtless, in both
armies, north or south. He never told
any one his age and he talked very little.
| But he kept his eyes and his ears open.
| and he saw and heard many things that
| he remembered, and more than oEce his
| quiet observation gained him valuable in
| formation.
Serving under Gen Thomas he learned
! that man may be modest, though great;
and on one occasion, when some of his regi-
ment an undiscplined lot of young men.
| looted deserted southern home. he de-
| livered such lecture to them that, boy as
| he was, the older men stopped to listen to
| him, and many of the stolen goods were
replaced. Once, and once only, did Brad
touch what was not his. They had been or
dered to search through house for some
deserters; the house had already been dis
mantled by some other regiment. and.
standing on a shelf in the large, old-fash-
Toned dining room were two plates of Curl
Gus shape and pattern. Brad knew his sis
ter's fondness for china, and, selecting the
poorer one, that was Clipped, he slipped 1t
in his blouse.
| had to be carried through the lines of the
| enemy, and Brad and his chum, Tom Law
| Ter, were the only ones to volunteer There
| was just chance that they would get
hrn ryh rryith hnsp H.
moon rose. They were both mounted for
| their errand on sturdy army horses, and
| silently they stole across the country and
into the wood through which they had to
pass. At the other side of the wood they
knew camp of confederates was sta
| toned. In fact. there We're numerous con-
federate camps so close together that it
| was an almost impossible feat to pass by
| them; but there was the message to be
| carried to the Union lines far beyond, and
| do 1t they would by some hook or crook.
The message was written in cipher and
| Tom LAYER. who was also from Vermont.
a map six or eight years older than Brad,
sSd 1t safely fastened in his shirt.
| " If l am caught he said to Brad. as
| they reached the edge of the woods, take
| this paper from me and do not fail to
deliver 1t. II you are caught with 1t de-
stroy 1t; IL the message Is found 1t may
| mean the betraying of some important po-
sition, and severe punishment without any
glory
"'AII right said Brad cheerfully as
| they emerged into the open. A faint
white glow in the sky showed that the
| moon would be up in few minutes. The
| comrades spurred their horses and forged
| ahead. The moon was this night an enemy.
| The first tinge of light discovered the two
| horsemen to watching sentries of the camp
| they hoped to avoid.
| "A ringing shout, a shot, another shot,
| two flying figures carried by the horses
| spurred to their utmost! Still another shot,
and with cry Tom and his horse both
| went down. Brad refined in his flying steed,
| turned in the face of the pursuers and
| threw himself to the ground beside Tom.
| 90 The message! gasped Tom, feeling in
| his shirt. Take it and leave me quickr
Brad knew that his duty was to take the
message and fly, but he knew, too, that
| his best friend was wounded, perhaps NOR
| tally, and needed help. Only second he
/ wavered. For our country, Tom.' he whis-
pered, snatching the paper anu thrusting
| it In his shirt. Then he was of, closely
pursued by mounted men from the nearby
| camp.
"'Good Major! go 1t, old man. he whis-
pered to the horse, as succession of shots
| whizzed by them. Leaning far down in the
| saddle he tried to make as little target as
| possible. urging the tired horse to its ut
| most. Still the shots rang out from behind
| a half dozen expert cavarymen chasing a
! fourteen-year-old boy!
Majors pace was tagging. He STUN
| bled little, and Brad's stout heart quailed