Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-01-11
When The Captain Retreated.

Captain Burt had dropped in at Miss
Carleton's schooIroom to hear the history
lesson. Wearing Grand Army button
and with fund of memories TO draw
from, he was always welcome visitor.
Miss Carleton asked him to speak TO
the pupils, and he consented good-na-
turedIy.
81 have told a good many OF my ex-
periences to you. girls and boys" he
began, "and perhaps I've given the i'm
preston that always stood my ground.
But once, as you might say, beat an
inglorious retreat; believe I'll tell you
aboutthat. Itisn'tan army story, though.
1t happened when was boy and going
to school. When the Fourth of July
came some of US older boys thought we
would have little celebration, and we
raised about five dollars among ourselves.
They gave me the money to take care of.
"When the day came to spend it went
cross lots from my home to the school,
house; and just as was skirting pond
a playful Newfoundland dog that be-
Ionged TO neighbor joined me and want
ed TO have some fun. was carrying the
money, all in silver and coppers, tied up
in a pocket handkerchief; and Towser
suddenly jumped and grabbed it, and ran
off with it in his mouth. In spite OF all |
could do, he kept lodging out OF my
way; and finally he swan out into the
pond. Then, twenty feet from the shore,
the knot in the handkerchief united, and
all that celebration money went TO the
bottom.
81 felt pretty sober when had TO meet
the bows. was afraid they would blame
me for carelessness; but | never dreamed
OF what did happen Tom Morrill, was
the first TO speak after ! told my story.
Cant you make up more likely
story than that?' says he, with sort OF
sneer.
"For an instant | was thunderStruck,
and then was boiling with wrath. Tom
was The biggest boy in school, but | meant
to make him eat his words, or know the
reason why. You take that back 7 |
says. walking right up TO him. Don't
you dare TO tell me llep
"But Tom didn't eat his words. %
pshawp he says. Just as ifyou couldn't
lie! You've lied time and again. You
lied TO the teacher yesterday and what's
to hinder your lying today?'
well, al that, every mite OF strength
seemed to 90 out OF my arms looked
at the other boys, but no one took my
part; and just backed away, and finally
marched off home. II wasn't the sight
of Toms fists that drove me. II was
what he had said The trouble was,
twas true had only done as good
many others did in school, and hadn't
really meant much harm. When ! told a
fib, il was as often TO shield others as
myself. In regard TO anything important
that happened out OF school, intended 10
tell the truth and expected 10 be believed.
But you see, when the pinch came, the
very boys that had helped out in a
wrong way wouldn't stand up for me;
and, what was worse, couldn't stand up
for myself.
LAS it happened, Mr.. Smith, Towser's
owner, was up in his pasture that alter
noon and had seen what happened so
he afterwards bore me out in my story.
"But insisted on making up that mon
ey out OF my own pocket, and TO do it |
had TO sell my gun. had learned les
son; and determined that IN the future
I'd try to make my word good enough
10 stand alone.
"BoYs, the old captain concluded, "to
be called a liar is considered, the world
over, about the worst OF insults Old as
| am, wouldn't stand it from anyone to-
day. But-how is fellow going TO have
the face TO resent it if he knows down in
his heart that il is true ?"