The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-28
Coming Ec,ents
Cast Their
Shadows Before
By F. A. Mitchell

Morrill, signified his intention to enter
the Italian army his friends shook their
heads, declaring that there was moth
ing Of the soldier in him.
"You had better study for the
church." they said to him, 'or, rather,
secure position as professor In a
university. You will be studying the
clouds some fine day, and while You
are wondering whence they come and
where they are drifting cannon ball
will come along and take off your
head"
One person, however, was confident
that Nicolai would return a hero. This
was Blanca Tarantola, his sweetheart.
The young recruit being Of a fanciful
turn Of mind, must needs select that
arm of the service for which he was
least fitted. Though he had never been
ON a horse, he enlisted in a cavalry
regiment. AS luck would have it, the
company to which he belonged was as
signed to a generals headquarters to
act as couriers and guard for their
commanders person. One day when
the general called upon Nicolai to
carry a message the private, turning
his horse, suddenly lost his balance and
fell to the ground. The general, see
ing that the youngster was untitled to
go dashing about as courier, made
him his bugler, In which position he
would be expected to stick to the gen.
eral. Nicolai didn't know how to sound
a bugle, but that didn't matter.
The general received an order one
day to march his command to re-en-
force the allies who were fighting the
Austrians some miles distant. Losing
Ills way In a wood, he brought his men
to halt in dire distress of mind. II
he failed to bring relief to those sorely
pressed he would be in disgrace.
Nicolai sat ON his horse looking at the
sky as if in dream.
ride out into the open," cried the
general to him impatiently, "and see If
you can get view to help us to find
our way"
II think, general, said Nicolai, point
ing, 1--WE should go in that direction"
why 500"
II see birds lowering"
"What has that to do with it,"
.They are waiting to get at the
dead
The general strained his eyes for the
birds, then gave an order to advance
in an entirely different direction from
which he had been moving. He reach
err the battlefield just in time to save
the allies from defeat.
On another occasion the general was
hard pressed by the Austrians, with a
river at his back, and IL he did not
find means of crossing before his en-
envy could bring up re-enforcements he
would be captured with his whole COM
mand.
Look up at the sky" he said to
Nicolai, "and see if you can tell me
how to get across the river"
This time, general" replied the
young man, Il have been looking at
the ground for means of crossing"
well, It matters not to me whether
you look at the sky or the ground. IL
you show me how to get across the
river you shall be a captain and my
aid-de-camp."
These rocks" said Nicolai. slant
In such direction and over there in
such another direction as to indicate
that somewhat farther down they will
lie fat instead Of upright on the river
bed. IL so we are liable to find a
ford"
Ride on and find out" the general
ordered.
The commander rode after instead Of
before his bugler, who kept his eyes
on exposed rock lodges till he came to
a point where the river widened. Not
ing the angle Of the ledge, Nicolai
rode into the water and across. When
he returned the general. who had been
watching him, had given an order TO
retreat. and I'm few minutes column
was crossing by the ford.
Soon after getting his men over the
river the general was REINFORCED and
desired 10 return and attack the enc
my. The Austrians had meanwhile for
tilted the opposite bank. and the water
had risen TO such height as TO render
the ford much more difficult The
general called for Nicolai and said:
"You have looked into the sky and
into the ground TO a purpose. I wish
20 get my men back across the river.
Is there any other direction you can
look 10 find a wayT"
yes, general: can look straight he
fore me. DO you see that cotton mill
up the stream on the opposite bankf-
Yes"
And the man on II ishingf-
~Yes. What % IT."
DO you notice that bis weight has
no perceptibie effect on its b0uyancyT
"weiiT-
4 see a large number of bales under
o she'd m the rear Of the MIL think
that II you build a raft and send q
fore ~ mechanics across they can
construct a pontoon bridge n those
taies-
The bridge was built. and caralrr.
srfulerF and infantry COMPRISING the
Senernfs army crossed On it.
In another half century. said the
general a. his aid. -such men &c ron
VII - rsusrnls snd sDch 90 I wfu ~
fehfiug m the ranks
Mol returned % Bone colonei
ana reaommen8e1 for q refsernl On
800 Pima war ma 81 al srrrrfzrE