The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-02-25
At His Post.

The older boys in Oakley were
building a snow fort, and Philip Mer-
riIl watched the boisterous fun with
envious eyes.
MAY I help?" he asked.
mo. you'd only bother" replied
Tim Drake. as he and George Lewis
placed an enormous SNOWFALL on
the tower of the fort.
But I won't get in the way"
urged six-year-old Philip 81 could
help a lot"
"Only boys that are big and brave
enough to stand real hard fight
can belong to this garrison" said
George. You'd cry at the first
SNOWFALL that hit you"
mo, I wouldn't. can be brave"
insisted Philip.
"Well, then, you come here to-
morrow. We want a brave man for
sentinel" said Tim, winking at
George.
'T'l1 come. I'm awful glad I can
be a soldier" and Philips face was
wreathed in smiles.
Then we'll depend on you for
sentry duty. It's getting dark now.
You'd better skip"
The boys laughed as the child ran
home. He'll stand guard about
three minutes when he gets here and
finds no one at the fort" remarked
Tim, "for tomorrow is Saturday,
and Wen be skating"
Papa, what does sentinel do?'
asked Philip that evening.
why, usually he just walks tc
and fro in front of the place he II
guarding, and carries a gum" replied
his father.
"How long does he do that?"
Until he is relieved; that is, un
til the soldier whose turn it Is mex
to stand guard, comes"
what IL he gets tired?"
"He goes right on just the same
IL he is a faithful soldier he will no
desert his post" exclaimed Mr.. Mer
rill.
at s'pose 1t wouldn't be brave t
stop before the other sentinel Gamer
asked Philip, after pause.
mo" returned the father, who b.
that time was thinking of somethin.
else.
The next day at noon Mrs. Merrill
said: 'T wonder where Philip is
I thought he was playing in tn
yard, but when I went out to cal
him he wasn't there It is snowin,
hard and I wish he'd come home"
HE'LL turn up soon hungry as
little bear" answered Mr.. Merrill
But an hour passed and Philip di'
not come, and his father, who began
to share Mrs. Merrilps anxiety, start
ed out in search. The storm had de
veloped into blizzard, and b
fought his way through it to tn
houses of Philips various playmates
but none of them knew anything
about the child. AS he was return
ing in the hope that the child ha
come home during his absence, b
met George Lewis.
Cant you find Philip" sal
George, sympathetically, and the
with a sudden thought, he added
"Have you been to the snow-fort a
the school-house?"
"Snow fort?" repeated Mr.. Mel
rill, reminded of Philips question!
l"Let's go there at once"
Yearly trudging back and fortf
painfully struggling against win
and snow, they found the small ser
tinel.
"I didn't stop till you came" b
murmured. "I was a brave soldier.
The toy gun dropped from his mum
fingers and he sank unconscious
the snow at his fathers feet.
His father gathered him into h
arms and carried him home, wher
: all night long George and Tim, VIII
humbly came to be of any assistane
possible, heard his baby voice CT!
ing between croupy gasps for breath
'I was a brave soldier, papa
didn't desert the post
} In the early morning when the Ii
tie fellow was pronounced by til
doctor out of danger, Tim an
George. with hearts too full IL
words, looked at each other wit
swimming eyes.
As they left the house. Geore
said: cit seems to me I couldn
have stood it If that brave little cha
hadn't gotten better. I guess It's
lesson for US, Tim"
4 eft surely is" answered Tim in
y choking voice.-ChildIe ems Mag.
zine