The Coolidge examiner., 1933-04-07

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1T has set me TO thinking"
"Of what?" the General asked.
Colin, oyerawed in the presence
of these great men, blushed with
embarrassment. IL am young,
sir. My thinking is of small ac-
count"
The General smiled, saying !:
perhaps / shall be a better judge
of it than you"
Reassured but still abashed. the
young man said:
81 have seen the bare feet, the
semi-nakedness, the ragged cloth
ing, the misplaced democracy of
spirit. have sensed a growing dis
content and | think that l know
what is under IT."
Graciously, as he looked into the
eyes of the boy. General Wash
ingtOn said, "You are New Eng
lander and | am told that you are
man OF keen perception. | shall
be glad to hear your opinions"
Colin began with a smile: Il
wonder, sir, II | shall ever be as
brave again as ! am now. These
people know nothing OF real war.
They have had a few skirmishes
with the red men, but that is not
war. Five generations behind them
have lived remote from its exac-
tons and penalties. So they are
unlike any other people in the
world. Their family ties are strong.
There are perhaps no men and
women on the face OF the earth to
whom the words wife. husband, ia
ther. sister, brother, mean quite so
much. They are as sensitive as
children. Their Indignation and ex-
citement have abated. When a
mans crops are going TO waste and
his family Is in need. he forgets
human liberty and thinks OF bread
and butter and wool. He has near
er enemies than the British. They
are the danger Of starvation and
freezing in the long cold months.
He must keep up his supply of am
munition-wood. food and cloth
ing-or die. Our soldiers are most
ly poor and many OF them are un-
paid. with needy families at home" "
"My boy" said the Chief, you
have discovered our great weak
ness. 1t is the need of money. We
are going to part OF the line to-
day where there may be some
slight activity. Perhaps you would
like TO go with u.s."
Colin was expressing his Joy In
the privilege when they were sum-
moned to breakfast. II was a SIM
pie meal OF hoe-cake, tea, pre-
served berries and peaches, beef
steak. and baked potatoes.
Encouraged by these great men
to continue his comment, Colin
gave a sympathetic and amusing
picture OF his company commander.
at which they both laughed.
Greene said: General, think
that this boy can be more useful
with his tongue and his pen than
with a sword and a musket."
THAT may be-" Washington an
swered. Il have plans in mind for
him."
He asked the boy for informa-
tion as to his military training and
was given an account of his work
in the Boston Grenadiers. Much of
it had been field work.
On returning TO the Office, Wash
ington dismissed Colin with these
words:
You will please return to us in
half an hour in riding boots and
with your sword and pistol"
He went out into the hall with the
young man and there said to him in
confident tone: Here are five
pounds. VIII you oblige me by lend
ing it to Farnsworth and do not
let him know that it comes from
me? ! will see that he gets a fur
Tough. | like Farnsworth. He will
make an excellent soldier"
Captain Farnsworth was cleap-
ing arms with squad of his men
when Colin returned. Calling the
\ captain aside he gave him the
money. Amos was overjoyed. His
face glowed when the young man
told him that Washington had
heard of his valor at Bunker hill
and had high opinion of him.
THAT puts my heels in the ali
proper" said Amos. I'm fioored
| could kiss his boots"
when we understand the big
Chief. we shall all love him." Colir
began. Hes trying to build ND ar
army, and an army is impossible
without a respect for officers
Their word must be law. If we
were TO argue about commands
we'd be a congress and not ar
army. Every man must learn tC
obey without question or a brigade
of women armed with rolling-pin.
could drive US out of camp. You're
the big chief in this company an(
you must keep US in mind of 1t
You might have to put me on tn.
I