Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-10-15
Coming Events
Cast Their
Shadows Before
By F. A. Mitchell

was a young citizen of Rome. When
Morrill, signihed 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 a position as professor in Il
university. You will be studying the
clouds some fine day, and while YOU
are wondering whence they come anl
where they are drifting a cannon ball
will come along and take off your
head"
one person, however, was confident
that Nicolai would return hero. This
was Blanca Tarantola, his sweetheart.
The young recruit, being of fanciful
turn of mind, must needs select that
arm of the service for which he was
least fitted. Though he had never been
Oh a horse, he enlisted in a cavalry
regiment. AS luck would have it, the
company to which he belonged was as.
signed to IL generals headquarters tC
act as couriers and guard for theh
commanders person. One day when
the general called upon Nicolai to
carry Il message the private, turning
his horse suddenly lost his balance and
fell to the ground. The general see
ing that the youngSter was untitled tC
go dashing about as Il courier. made
him his bugler. i'll which position he
would be expected to stick to the gen
eral. Nicolai didn't know how to SOUND
bugle, but that didn't matter
The general received an order onr
day to march his command to re-en
force the allies who were fighting the
Austrians some miles distant. I4sSine
his way i'll 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 a dream.
Ride out into the open," cried the
general to him impatiently, land see if
you can get view to help us to find
our wayr'
Il think, general said Nicolai, point.
ing, I'VE should go in that direction"
Why so?"
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
er the battlefield just in time to save
the allies from defeat.
On another occasion the general was
hard pressed by the Austrians, with ID
river at his back, and if 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. If
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 a direction and over there in
such another direction as to indicate
that somewhat farther down they will
lie fiat instead of upright on the river
bed. If 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
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 in few minutes a column
was crossing by the ford.
Soon after getting his men over the
river lhe general was REINFORCED ana
ueSlreu 10 return ana attack the enc
my me AuStrlahs hau meanwhile Tor
.ineu the opposite pahk' ana the water
lau risen TO such height as to render
the Iord much more dltncult. The
general called for Nlcolai and said:
"YOu have looked into the sky and
lilto the ground TO purpose. | wish
TO get my men back across the river
IS mere any other direction you can
look TO ma way
Yes general; | can look straight he