The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-27
The Boy
Commander
By r. PEM9ERTON SLADE

uniform wrap to keep off the water
~ that no evidence of his rank wa!
visible. A young lieutenant who came
from converging road rode up along
ride the general and. since they were
Gotxg the same way, began to chat
with him.
"The roads are execrable," said the
lieutenant. Il don't think Bonaparte
will get us out Of this for some time
He can't get guns through the mud"
1.-THE feasibility of roads depends
upon the energy of those who desire
to go over them" replied Napoleon.
Some say that in armies it depends
on the persistence of the general"
perhaps you are right. The inspira
ton of an army is derived from its
general"
do you think this young Bonaparte
will inspire this aEmy?"
THAT remains to be seen"
'They say he's nothing but boy
no older than you or me. Why did
the directory send such a young chap
to command men. wonder? Ive,heard
Barros did it,
Indeed. Barros is sleader in sthe di-
rectory, believe"
MY father, who is in Paris. wrote
Inc that"
did you father say why Barros sent
a young chap to command men"
Yes, but that's secret"
Nothing is a secret that one person
has got hold Of"
Anyway. my father says it's Sc
cret He got it from one who knows"
Come. what is this that you and
your father and the one who knows
are keeping so quiet?"
"All can say is that Barros gave
Bonaparte the command Of this army
on condition that he marry a certain
woman"
That will do / see your secret is
scandal. I.have no use for that What
else do you know about General Bona
parte?"
Nothing else ! understand be has
been doing some good work at Toulon.
though nothing that would entitle him
to the command OF this army. 1t must
be CALLING to the generals who have
been so long commanders to be over
topped by one who has jumped almost
from the ranks. | understood that A.
said to one of the others soon after
Bonaparte's arrival. This fellow is a
mere boy, but he's our MASTER"
did A. say that?"
II heard So"
This put Napoleon, whose brow had
been darkening while he pumped out
the scandal about himself. in better
humor. and. his road. diverging from
that of his companion. he bid him good
morning politely and without any
acerbity in his manner. The lieutenant
while riding beside his general had not
had much. opportunity to inspect his
features. Now that Napoleon faced
him for a moment the latter got
glance at the former.
THAT young fellow" mused'the lieu
tenant .as he logged on, has strong
face. I wonder who he is. ! didn't
think to>ask him even his rank. I've a
mind TO rejoin him and find out"
He turned and galloped after Napo-
leon.
II say, Ilhave been much pleased to
meet you. l. neglected to give you my
name. / am Lieutenant Jardinier of
the Eighty-seventh Of the line. will
be happy to see you In my tent IL you
are any time riding my way"
Thank you, but am very busy just
now. fear shall not have time
"Oh, no subaltern can be busy
man. I'm not busy. Ride over some
day. Ihave just received case Of wine
from home. Wen have bottle"
And /. who have just arrived from
Paris. brought full supply"
you have just come, from ParbT
Eyes"
"Been on leaveT /,
mo; I have come to this army for
the first time"
Just received your commission"
"Yes."
''Who il making the appointments
nowT"
"You must excuse me from further
chat at present; must leave you"
And, turning his horses head, Ma
poleon struck across field.
A few days later the army marched
past its new commander In review. As
Lieutenant Jardinier raised his sword
in salute his face became white as
ashes. He recognized in the general
In chief the boy who had been sent by
Barros on condition that he marry a
certain woman" to command men. Ma
poleon recognized him. but not by the /
slightest change Of countenance did it |
appear that he had done SO. The lieu
tenant gave himself up for lost. When |
after the review he returned to his |
tent he found there an order from his |
chief to report In person at his head |
quarters the next morning.
Napoleon never missed an opportd.
hity to attach any one to him. Some
times he worked through fear. some
times through cupidity and sometimes
by making friend At the beginning
of his career he must needs choose the |
last Of the three He lectured the cul-
prit roundly on repeating a scandal
and dismissed him without any mark !
of displeasure. The lieutenant after
ward became one of his generals and
was faithful to him till after Water
loo.