Show GENERAL PUTNAM AND THE YOUTHFUL SENTINEL it so happened that while the captains captain were stationing their sentinels on the eve of the battie battle of white while plains plaint gen putnam the commander in passing pass pasi ing observed capt wetherby call to one of the posts in the direction of the enemy a lad named arthur stewart a beardless boy whereat putnam remonstrated with capt W in the hearing of St stewart ewari on the impropriety of placing so young and inexperienced a sentinel in so responsible a situation but capt W who knew stewarts mettle guaranteed his fitness and fidelity stewart took his post and during the night the general had occasion to pass outside of the lines for what purpose is not stated but we suspect for the purpose of trying the young senti sentinel for in returning he encountered him who goes there enquired the sentinel general putnam was the reply we know no general putnam here answered stewart but I 1 am general putnam returned that person give me roe the countersign then thew 1 I have forgotten it was the reply a i pretty story from the lips lips of general putnam I 1 warrant you are a british officer sent over here as a spy returned stewart who was well aware that he was addressing putnam for the moon was shining brightly but he held the staff in his aw owr own x hand and he meant to use it 1 I warrant you I 1 am not said the general and be he attempted to pass on pass that line sir and you are a dead man exclaimed stewart at the same time cocking his gun stop where here you arbor are or ill maike make you stop conti continued n aed the thle sentinel as the general disregarded ills his first noticed notice iras fras hastily eastily tily raising his gun and taking a somewhat deliberate aim hold hold exclaimed putnam 1 I 1 do hold was the sentinels reply but I 1 warn you once more not to pass these lines but I 1 am your general continued putnam rl 1 I deny it unless you give the countersign sim 11 idere here the general wai wah was at fault boy said he do ado you not know me I 1 am general putnam A british Britis li officer officers more like if you are putnam as you say why dont you give mer me the countersign so go sure as I 1 am my mothers son isyou if you attempt to pass the lines ill make cold meat of you im a sentinel I 1 know my duty though there are some people in the world who are marvellously inclined alij ked to question it at this putnam finding that further parley would be useless desisted resisted des isted and the boy deliberately shouldering his bis musket began wl with th a great deal of assumed haughtiness to pace the ground as before the general regained his hla tent by another route but subsequently sent for stewart commended his ibis fidelity rewarded him pecunia nia rily and promoted him to the rank of ensign the wretched are great readers of coun coin tenancies ten teri ances utility is the truest test of excellence |