Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-01-07
Coming Events
Cast Their
Shadows Before
By F. A. Mitchell

tde Ltdlldn army his Irlenus SuOOk 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 a
university. You will be studying the
clouds some fine day, and while you
are wondering whence they cOme AMI
where they are drifting a cannon ball
will come along and take off your
head"
One person, however, was confident
that Nicoiai would return a hero. This
was Blanca Tarantola, his sweetheart.
The young recruit, being Of n fanciful
u Of mind, must needs select that
arm of the service for which he was
least fitted. Though he mad never been
on u 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 to
act as couriers and Il guard for then
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 y0ungster was untitled t.
go dashing about as a courier. made
him his bugler, in which position he
would be expected to stick to the gen
er0l. Nicolai didn't know how to sound
Il bugle, but that didn't matter.
The general received an order ont
day to march his command to re-en
force the allies who were fighting the
Austrians some miles distant. LSeiug
his way in a wood, he brought his men
to a halt in dire distress of mind. If
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 Il dream.
Ride out into the open," cried the
general to him impatiently, land gee If
you q get a view to help us to find
our way."
Il think, general" said Nicolai. point
ing, I'VE should go in that direetion."
why so?"
Il see birds lowering"
What has that to do with it,
They are waiting to get at the
dead"
The general strained his eyo4 Cor 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 saw
the allies from defeat.
On another occasion the general Was
hard pressed by the AuStrian5, with 3
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" be said to
Nicolai, and see if you cFn tell me
how to get across the river"
This time, general" replied the
young man, Il have been looking at
The ground for a means of crossing"
well, it matters not to me whether
you look at the sky or tho ground. If
JOu SIlON hC INV W 81 d(lOoS lut
river you shall be a car tain and my
a~id-de-camp."
'"These rocks said l~ticolai, slant
in such a direction and over there In
such another direction rs 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 oIt." 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 In a few minutes a column
was crossing by the ford.
Soon after getting his men over the
liver the general was REINFORCED and
desired to return and attack the enc
my. The Austrians had meanwhile for
titled the opposite bank, and the water
had risen to such 4 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. | wish
to get my men hack across the river.
Is there any other direction you can
look to find a way?"
Eyes, general; | can look straight be.
fore ne. Do you see that cotton mill
Up the stream on the opposite bank?"
yes
And the man on it fishing?"
Eyes. What of it,
90 you notice that his weight has
no rerc5ntible effect on its bOuyancy?'
"WnIl?"
81 see a large number Of bales under
q shed in the rear Of the mill. Ithink
that if you build a raft and send .
force of mechanics across they can
bales"
The bridge was built. and cavalry
artillery and Infantry comprising III,
generals army crossed on it.
an another half century" said the
general to his MD, SUI men as you
will be generals and such as | will be
fighting in the ranks"
Nicoli returned to Rome Il cClone'
and recommended for a general Off
Ger. Blanca was not at all surp"i&ed
The only comment was. ~ told you
So"
F~orethought.
Husband-You don't mean to nav yo,