How a Little Boy Obeyed Orders

(A story illustrating Obedience.)

THE night watchman's boy ran down the stone steps to walk "a piece" with his father as he started out on his rounds. He had something very important to tell him.

"Father," he said; and he drew himself up as high as he could---until he almost reached his tall father's shoulder, "father, I've been thinking about our soldiers and all they are doing for our country, and I've made up my mind that I will do something for our country too. I'll be a man pretty soon and I ought to begin practicing when I am a boy. What would you do?"The night watchman looked down at his motherless boy with a smile of fellowship that was good to see. "I've been thinking of that," he said. "And I've been thinking that no man can make a good soldier unless he obeys his superior's orders. I believe you'd better set yourself to learn that."

"But I do mind you always, father." The boy looked hurt.

"Yes, but you don't mind Hannah. I heard you speak to her yesterday as no soldier could speak to his captain without being court-martialed. Hannah is over you, and I want you to obey her as you would obey a general's orders."

James Henry turned back, then. He didn't feel like going any farther. The truth was — that a whole year before he had begun to feel as if he were too big to mind Hannah. If it were only a mother now! General Washington himself, as old and great as he was, and commander of the whole army, minded his mother in everything she said. All his men knew that. But there wasn't any mother in James Henry's house. Only Hannah the old serving-maid — and Hannah was really unreasonable and cranky. She was calling him nowand the very wag of her finger made him feel rebellious.

"James Henry, you come right here and go to bed!" she shouted. And the other boys were all looking, boys no older than he who were allowed to stay up till nine o'clock! Oh, how he longed to answer Hannah saucily and say he would do as he pleased. You could be saucy to Hannah and she wouldn't punish you---only scold. But he remembered his father's words, and turned away from the other boys, and very slowly and reluctantly entered the door.
"Well, you've minded for once, have you?" grumbled Hannah; and that didn't make him one bit happier. He was so cross that he lay wide awake until his father's call floated up from the street corner: "Ten o'clock and all's well!"

The next thing he knew, Hannah was shaking him to rouse him. Now, much as James Henry hated to have Hannah send him to bed, he hated still worse to have her call him up.

"O Hannah," he groaned, "It can't be morning yet."

"No, 'taint. 'Tain't but the middle of the night. I'm getting you up for something else. Your father went off without his thick coat and it's turned proper cold. I want you to find him and give it to him. He'll catch his death of cold and I'll have him sick on my hands."

"0 Hannah!" If that wasn't just like her unreasonableness ! If his father wanted that coat couldn't he send some one for it? James Henry felt very much like saying "I won't do it," but he dragged himself out of his warm bed and dressed sullenly.

It was very dark and fearsome in the unlighted midnight streets. The boy peered shiveringly about for the tiny light that came through the punctured holes of the tin lantern father carried on his rounds, but he could not see it. Where was he on his beat?

Then his heart fairly stood still, for dashing down the dark street came a darker figure on horseback. A desperado, perhaps. Times were unsafe. Even the cities that had night watchmen had frequent robberies and murders. James Henry shrank back against a house that he might be out of sight. Just then, the horse, wearied by a long, hard journey, stumbled on the uneven paving-stones and fell, pitching his rider off. The boy was sure he heard a groan. He ran to the prostrate man.

' 'Are you hurt ? Can I help you ?"

The man looked up eagerly. "Go! go!" he cried. "Carry the news! Never mind me! I'll get better. Carry thenews! Cornwallis has surrendered!"

He cared more for his message than for himself. But James Henry couldn't understand at first. It was such a great thing.

"Wh---what?" he stammered."Cornwallis has surrendered! You must take the news. Find the night watchman and tell him to proclaim it."

"Oh yes!" At that very moment the light of the many-holed tin lantern was seen to be approaching. The boy ran to his father, shouting at the top of his voice.

"Father, father! Cornwallis has surrendered!"

"What! What!" Windows were thrown open on all sides. Heads were thrust out into the night. One after another caught up the news and carried it. The old State House bell began ringing.People poured into the street, laughing, cheering, shaking hands. There never was a night like it in the staid old city. And there was James Henry in the middle of it all---the important one who had brought the news.The messenger was taken up and carried to the hostlery where he and his horse received every attention. But it was James Henry who had first told the news. It was James Henry who joined with his father in shouting joyously, "Twelve o'clock and Cornwallis is taken!" It was James Henry who touched off the first of the cannons that were fired at dawn to celebrate. The men let him do so because he had carried the first word.

"And I would have been sound asleep if I had not minded Hannah," he said to his father afterward. "I tell you, father, it pays to obey orders, even if you don't like them."

"Yes, it always pays, " said his father.

---Bertha E. Bush.