Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1875 — A TRUSTWORTHY BOY. [ARTICLE]

A TRUSTWORTHY BOY.

It was on the eve of the battle of Whiteplains. The British army was encamped within two miles of the Americans. The Captains ot the several companies had selected the men who were to act as sentinels during the night. Only one was wanting, and the Captain after diligent search had just selected a very youthful soldier to till the position when Gen. Putnam appeared. He expressed great surprise, and even reproved the Captain for choosing a mere boy to act in so important a service. “We are in great danger of British spies. I beg you to reconsider this matter,” said he. “I would trusKmyself under the very guns of the Britisft fort with Stewart to protect me,” was the reply, and the General was satisfied. It chanced that during the night Gen. Putnam had occasion to enter the lines. As he approached, Stewart, the guard, asked: “ Who goes there?” “ Gen. Putnam,” was the reply. “ We know no Gen. Putnam here. Give the countersign.” “ 1 have forgotten it.” “A pretty story from Gen. Putnam’s lips,” said the sentinel. “ Boy, do you not know.me? I am Gen. Putnam,” replied that officer. •The “boy,” howeyer, was inflexible, and the stout old veteran was not allowed to pass without the watchword. The General felt considerably displeased at first; blit he well knew that the youth had acted strictly according to the rules of war, and the next daj r commended him highly, saying: “We have nothing to fear from the British or any other enemy with such soldiers as you.” Roger heard a friend relate this story. It made an impression upon him, and he talked about it with his teacher. He said: “ I would like to be a soldier and do something brave like that. It would be grand to hear your superior officers speak of you as the Captain and General did of Stewart.” “You can do things as manly and as brave in daily life, and which—if done from right motives—will make your heart swell with pleasure greater and purer than that which would be called forth by the praise of superior officers,’” replied Roger’s friend. “ How so, Mr. Smith?” “ First, let me say, the merit of an act consists not in its greatness in the eye of the world but in the sacrifice which is required or in a rigid adherence to duty under trying circumstances. Would it not cause you the highest satisfaction to hear your father or mother or any friend say.; ‘ I can place the fullest confidence in Roger. He is a boy to be trusted ?’ ” Roger’s eye and cheek glowed with pleasure as he replied: “ Yes; it would, indeed.”

“ Strive, then, always to act so as to deserve such commendation whether you receive it or not, remembering ‘ He that is faithful in the least is faithful also in much.”’ An opportunity soon offered to put Roger’s principles on these matters to the test. Late in the day his mother was called to pass the night with a sick neighbor. In the absence of her husband she had no one with whom to intrust the lit tie ones but Roger and she knew he was fondly expecting to join a skating expedition that evening. It was a recreation which he prized above all other, and for two winter months that had passed there had been no good skating. Now it was excellent and Roger was in full expectation of enjoying it. It pained his mother to oblige him to give it up, and she expressed this to him. It did require considerable self-denial in Roger to make the sacrifice; but, after a brief struggle, he did it cheerfully, saying: “Never mind, mother, I’ll have a good time at home with my books.” , So his mother left him, saying: “Be paHicularly careful of little Clarence, who has been so delicate since the bad fall he had. He is apt to waken with a start, seemingly in great fright. The only way is to take him up and soothe him, singing some of your pretty songs, perhaps. He is so font! of you I do not fear to leave him, but would on no account leave him with a stranger. I am proud that I can trust my boy with such a precious charge, together with dear little Eddie and May.” Roger’s motberjhad been gone but a few moments when a sleigh drove up, and his cousin Sophie, from the city, appeared before him. “Oh, Roger,” exclaimed she, assoonas she saw him, “we have such a treat for you up at Uncle Perry’s. I have come down on purpose for you. Pa Ims brought his big microscope and lots of things to examine. All the cousins are there and we are going to have an oyster supper to finish oil' with, and we want you so much.” “ I cannot go to-night,said Roger, rather sadly. “ Cannot go! That is too bad. And you have been wishing to see the great microscope, and pa is going away to-morrow. He only came up for one night.” i Roger then told his cousin the reason why he could not leave home, after thankWg'her warmly for her kindness incoming for him. “ But, Roger, rather than you should lose this treat I would stay with the children ; for I can see it at any time.” “ Oh, thank you, coz, Roger;

but that would never do. You are not used to children, and little Clarence is delicate and wakes often. Sometimes he is restless most of the night, and would .probably be much more so if he could not see either mamma Or me.” And besides this, Roger thought to himself, although he did not say it: “Mamma gave the trust to me, and nothing would tempt me to yield it to another.” His cousin replied: “ I suppose I am too much of a stranger to little Clarence. It might frighten him to find himself atone with me, and then he would fret himself sick; but lam sorry fob your disappointment, Roger.” Sophie then left with Dick, the manservant, who...had brought her in her uncle’s sleigh. After she had gone a few tears fell from Roger’s eye; but he soon brushed them away, and felt very happy in the consciousness of having acted right. “ I would rather prove myself worthy of trust than see a hundred exhibitions,” said he to himself.

Little Clarence needed his care a good deal during the night, but was quite contented and happy wftlnJiis kind, loving brother, and so were the other little ones. Roger did not expect any reward for simply doing his duty. The approbation of his own conscience, he found, as he had often been told, was better than any re-ward-better even than human praise; although his mother’s commendation of his fidelity and loving care of the children was very sweet to him; especially the words, “ I shall think of this, dear Roger, very often. It has made me very happy." These words recurred to him often, and helped him to be faithful in other duties, at school or elsewhere. Roger did not tell his mother of the little treat which his cousin told hiir. about, and which he lost in consequence of being left in care of the children. He feared it might give her pain to think of the deprivation, so he merely told her of his cousin's visit; but she learned all about it from, others. She fully understood and appreciated the motives of his silence, and was highly pleased with her boy’s thoughtfulness. Meanwhile a pleasant surprise was in store for him. His uncle would not let his favorite Roger lose anything by his fidelity and kindness. He invited him to, his house for a week, and he had not one evening, only, but a good many, with the microscope and other recreations. — Mary A. Hale, in Christian at Work.