CHAPTER XXBe Patriotic

“Know when to spend and when to spare,And when to buy, and thou shalt ne’er be bare.”

“Know when to spend and when to spare,

And when to buy, and thou shalt ne’er be bare.”

When the air balloon was first invented, someone asked Franklin what was the use of it. He replied by asking another question: “What is the use of a new-born infant?” “It may become a man,” was the significant reply. So little acts may lead to great results, opening the door of opportunities to greater achievements. Baron James de Rothschild once posed as a beggar for Ary Scheffer. While the great financier, attired in the rags of a beggar, was in his place on the estrade, a correspondent of a French paper entered the studio. The Baron was so perfectly disguised that he was not recognized, and, believing that a veritable beggar was before him, the newspaper man slipped a louis into his hand. The pictured model took the coin and put it into his pocket. Ten years later the correspondent received at his residence an order on the office in the Rue Lafitte for ten thousand francs, enclosed in the following letter:

Sir:

One day you gave a louis to Baron Rothschild in the studio of Ary Scheffer. He has employed it, and to-day sends you the little capital with which you entrusted him, together with its interest. A good action always brings good fortune.

Baron James de Rothschild.

My boy, the motto of this rich man is certainly true. One cannot show the smallest kindness, render the smallest assistance, attend to the smallest detail without profit to himself and to others. “I discovered the principle by the merest accident,” said Edison to a friend who asked him how he discovered the phonograph. “I was singing to the mouthpiece of a telephone, when the vibrations of the voice sent the fine steel point into my finger. That set me to thinking. If I could record the actions of the point and send the point over the same surface afterward, I saw no reason why the thing would not talk. I tried the experiment first on a strip of telegraph paper, and found that the point made an alphabet. I shouted the word ‘Halloa!’ and ‘Halloa!’ came in return. I determined to make a machine that would work accurately. That’s the whole story. The phonograph is the result of the pricking of a finger.”

While this may seem very simple, my boy, do not overlook the fact that Mr. Edison discovered it by paying attention to little things. “Is it not the little things,” asks William Matthews, “that, in the aggregate, make up whatever is great? Is it not the countless grains of sand that make the beach, the trees that form the forest, the successive strata of rock that compose the mountains, the myriads of almost imperceptible stars that whiten the heavens with the Milky Way? And of what is human happiness made up, but of little things?” Of General Thomas it was said: “He was careful in all the details of a battle.” So in home duties, school work, business interests, yea, in everything you have to do, do well. Resolve—

“If any little words of mineMay make a life the brighter,If any little song of mineMay make a heart the lighter—God help me speak the little word,And take my bit of singing,And drop it in some lonely vale,To set the echoes ringing!“If any little love of mineMay make a life the sweeter,If any little care of mineMay make a friend’s the fleeter,If any little lift may easeThe burden of another,God give me love, and care, and strength,To help my toiling brother.”

“If any little words of mine

May make a life the brighter,

If any little song of mine

May make a heart the lighter—

God help me speak the little word,

And take my bit of singing,

And drop it in some lonely vale,

To set the echoes ringing!

“If any little love of mineMay make a life the sweeter,If any little care of mineMay make a friend’s the fleeter,If any little lift may easeThe burden of another,God give me love, and care, and strength,To help my toiling brother.”

“If any little love of mine

May make a life the sweeter,

If any little care of mine

May make a friend’s the fleeter,

If any little lift may ease

The burden of another,

God give me love, and care, and strength,

To help my toiling brother.”

CHAPTER XXBe Patriotic

INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER XX

By John Clark Ridpath

Patriotism is the first and best of the civic virtues. It involves more than any of the rest. It involves country, race, nation, kindred, institutions, associations, fellowships, the kindest of all that man creates and the best of all he hopes in this life.

Patriotism is broad, almost universal. It is not a mere local attachment that knows some particular place or section, some country or State, some North or South, some peculiar ancestral stock, but rather our whole country, our native land to its remotest border, our nation, great as native land, our Union over all and our flag as our emblem.

Patriotism claims no mountain slope, no river bank, no range of hills, no village or town or city, but rather lifts the eye to a great continent, reclaimed from barbarism and illumined with the light of a Christian civilization. He who cherishes such a patriotism in his heart and feels its inspiration in the battle of life will have little cause to fear the onset or doubt the certain victory.

John Clark Ridpath.

CHAPTER XXBe Patriotic

For centuries nations have employed patriotic songs to inspire courage and love of country. France has long sung her “Marseillaise,” Norway the “Song of the Battle Axe,” England, “God Save the King,” but the best of all is our national hymn:

“My country, ’tis of thee,Sweet land of liberty,Of thee I sing.Land where my fathers died,Land of the pilgrim’s pride;From every mountain sideLet freedom ring.”

“My country, ’tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrim’s pride;

From every mountain side

Let freedom ring.”

The United States is a name, a synonym for greatness, richness and beauty. Precious memories are clustered about it. Great names are associated with it. Its praise is eulogized in lyric song, applauded in legislative halls, inscribed on gorgeous banners, lisped by juvenile tongues and honored by all nations.

In the year 1820 Sydney Smith, of England, asked the famous questions, “In the four quarters of the globe who reads an American book? or looks at an American picture, or statue? What new constellations have been discovered by the telescopes of Americans? What have they done in mathematics? Who drinks out of Americanglasses? or eats from American plates? or wears American coats or gowns? or sleeps in American blankets?” If Sydney Smith had lived a half-century longer he would have found the food-stuffs, clothing, literature, inventions, gold and influence of “this self-adulating race,” controlling the markets of the world more than any other. America has invaded the business centres of every nation, has set a pace in civilization and evangelization that few can maintain, has become a peace factor among the warlike people of all continents and in most everything, as Herbert Spencer said of our mechanical appliances, is “ahead of all nations.”

The United States is more than three times the size of Great Britain and Ireland, France and Germany, Italy and Austria, Spain and Portugal, Switzerland, Denmark and Greece. Though among the youngest of the family of nations, its territorial area exceeds that of Rome when its empire was mightiest. Although its population is less than that of some smaller countries, it has an area of land more than a dozen times as large, and in the coming future the “Bad Lands” of the Dakotas, and the great “Columbian Plains” of Washington will be adorned with towns and cities, and what are now barren places will be changed into veritable Edens.

The United States is not only the largest, but it is the most beautiful and richest country of the world. Its mountain peaks crowned with ice-jewels are as beautiful as those of Switzerland. Its valleys are not exceeded by the valley of the Nile. Its shores equal India’s coral strand. Its towering hills are stored with an abundance of iron and copper, enough to supply the nations of the globe. Its prairies are the granaries of the world. Its bowels are full of oil that seems inexhaustible, and its coal, silver and gold mines are of inestimablevalue. The inscription once drilled in the rock on the shore of Monument Bay is now becoming a fact because of these many things:

“The Eastern nations sink, their glory ends,An empire rises where the sun descends.”

“The Eastern nations sink, their glory ends,

An empire rises where the sun descends.”

The United States stands unique in the history of civil governments and has illustrated more than any other constitutional freedom in all its beneficence, power and grandeur. “Nowhere else has government so ennobled man, so elevated woman, so inspired its young men with heroism and ambition, so helped them in their aims in life, so made citizenship glorious by the expansion of Christian morality and intelligence, so fostered letters, the arts and sciences, so protected every creed, so smoothed the road of life and given to all an equal chance for happiness and homes.” For the first time in human annals it has by right-doing and patriotic endeavor demonstrated that freedom, intelligence and Christianity, are of God, and forever blest by God.

Many men as well as boys imagine that patriotism means fighting.This is not so.“A patriot is a person who loves his land, honors its history, applauds its achievements, does not minimize its motives, but says, my heart and hand for its prosperity and perpetuity, upholding and upbuilding.” To cultivate this spirit every boy needs to read and study the history of this nation, follow the Pilgrims across the briny Atlantic, associate with them and their descendants in their hardships, fight with them in their battles, share with them in their victories, and then will he be thoroughly imbued with this spirit.

BOY HEROES OF THE REVOLUTION AND REBELLION.

In an old-fashioned farmhouse near the village of Shoreham, which was opposite Fort Ticonderoga, lived a farmer and his son by the name of Beman. It was in the days when the fathers of their country rebelled against English tyranny. Paul Revere had ridden with all speed to Lexington. Sixteen patriots had been killed or wounded by the first volley of the soldiers under Pitcairn. The news aroused the country. Notable men leaped to the front to do battle wherever they could, and amongst these were Farmer Beman and his boy. It was in the month of May, 1775, that Ethan Allen at the head of the famous Green Mountaineers came up through the forests to surprise and capture the fort and its garrison known as Ticonderoga. The expedition with which Benedict Arnold was connected was composed of three divisions, one of which was to capture some boats at Skenesborough and send them down the lake to Allen and his men, who were to get them at Shoreham. When the renowned Green Mountain leader reached the little village during the night not a single boat had arrived. This was a bitter disappointment, for Allen had but eighty-three men with him and his position was one of great hazard. It looked like madness to assail with his small force so armed a place as Ticonderoga, yet it was still more dangerous to remain idle. “We can’t wait for the boats, my boys!” exclaimed the intrepid Allen, “we must assault the fortress.” In looking for a guide the Vermonter found Farmer Beman, who said as soon as he understood their mission: “Why not take my boy? Nathan knows all about the fort. He’s been all over it with the boys whose fathers compose the garrison. He knows the location of every rat-hole, inside and out.” The suggestion delighted Allen, and Nathan was called and questioned. “I’ll go, sir,” he said at once. “I knowthe way to Delaplace’s quarters, too, if you should want to find him.”

Delaplace was the commandant, and of course the very person whom Allen wanted. The little party crossed the lake in such boats as they had at hand. Morning was near and every moment had to be put to use. When the patriots reached the opposite shore the commander turned to the young lad and, laying his hand upon his shoulder, said quickly: “We are ready now. Show us the way to the sally port.” Guided by him, the mountaineers moved toward the fort, and, coming suddenly upon a sentry, heard the snapping of the fuse-lock and saw him run through a covered way within the walls. “Quick,” cried the boy, looking up at Allen, and the soldiers sprang after the guard and made their way to the parade ground unopposed. The enthusiasm of the patriots now broke forth into shouts of victory, which, reaching the ears of the British soldiers, caused them to spring from their pallets and rush from the barracks, only to be made prisoners as they appeared. Never was a surprise more complete; thanks to Nathan Beman. When Allen had secured most of the garrison he asked the boy to show the way to the commander’s room, and the two were soon running up the steps leading to it.

Bang! bang! went Allen’s sword against the colonel’s door, and the British officer hurried out of bed to answer the command, “Surrender this fort instantly.” “By what authority?” inquired the astonished officer. “In the name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!” said Allen, flourishing his sword. It so happened that Allen and Delaplace were old acquaintances, and the reader can imagine the latter’s astonishment when he saw who was hammering at the door. Of course there was nothing to do but surrender. The garrison, numbering forty-eight, were made prisonersand sent to Connecticut. A fortress which had cost Great Britain a vast amount was captured in ten minutes by a company of undisciplined provincials. By this daring exploit a hundred cannons and great quantities of military stores fell into the hands of the Americans. Amid the general rejoicings that followed this exploit the part played by Nathan Beman was not forgotten. His name was on every tongue, and his services were rewarded liberally. “He lived,” said Lossing the historian, “to see our confederacy increase from thirteen to thirty stars,” and died at the good age of eighty-nine years.

When the call for volunteers was made during the Civil War, two boys, twelve and fourteen years respectively, presented themselves and desired positions as drummer boys. “Our infant drummers,” as General Sherman called them, attracted much attention on dress parade in the great camps of instruction. The little Howes drummed well, proved hardy, never seemed homesick, and passed through battle after battle, and march after march, untouched by disease, unscathed by bullet or shell. In the charge of May 19th the younger of the two, like other musicians, with a white handkerchief tied about the left arm to designate him as a non-combatant, followed in the rear of the line to assist the wounded. At the advanced position finally held by the regiment, it was essential not to allow any cessation in the firing, and the cartridge boxes became rapidly depleted. Ammunition, from the difficulties of the ground, could only be brought to the Union men by special messengers and in such quantity as they were able to carry about their person. Sergeant-Major Hartsook was instructed to go back to the regimental ordnance wagon, take command of the musicians andsuch other men as he might find detailed near the camp, and send them to the front one by one with cartridges. This dangerous duty was promptly and well performed.

The little drummer, by his own statement, was not at this time with the other musicians, but in the ravine just in the rear of the regiment, having been ordered back from the front to be out of danger, by the colonel. About him were several dead and wounded men. Collecting the ammunition from their cartridge boxes, and using his blouse for a sack, he carried this up to the command. Flattered with much praise then received, he started for the ordnance wagon and returned in safety, with his small but valuable contribution. Again he sped down and across the ravine and up the steep opposite slope, while a hail-storm of canister and musket balls fell around him. Suddenly he dropped, and hearts sank, thinking his brief career ended; but he had only tripped over some obstacle. Often he stumbled, sometimes he fell prostrate, but was quickly up again, and finally disappeared limping, over the summit, and the Fifty-fifth saw him no more for several months. As the boy sped away the last time, the colonel shouted to him: “Bring calibre fifty-four.” General Sherman’s letter to the War Department will tell the rest of the story.

Headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps,Camp on Big Black, Aug. 8th, 1863.

Headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps,

Camp on Big Black, Aug. 8th, 1863.

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War,Sir:

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War,

Sir:

I take the liberty of asking through you that something be done for a young lad named Orion P. Howe, of Waukegan, Illinois, who belongs to the 55th Illinois, but is at present from home, wounded. I think he is too young for West Point, but would be the very thing for a midshipman.

When the assault at Vicksburg was at its height, on the 19th of May, and I was in front near the road which formed my line of attack, this young man came up to me wounded and bleeding, with a good, healthy boy’s cry: “General Sherman, send some cartridges to Colonel Malmborg, the men are all out.” “What is the matter, my boy?” “They shot me in the leg, sir, but I can go to the hospital. Send the cartridges right away.” Even where we stood the shot fell thick, and I told him to go to the rear at once, I would attend to the cartridges, and off he limped. Just before he disappeared on the hill, he turned and called to me as loud as he could: “Calibre 54.”

I have not seen the boy since, and his colonel gave me his address as above, and says he is a bright, intelligent boy, with a fair preliminary education. What arrested my attention there, was, and what renews my memory now, is, that one so young, carrying a musket-ball wound through his leg, should have found his way to me on that fatal spot, and delivered his message, not forgetting the very important part even of the calibre of the musket, 54, which you know is an unusual one. I’ll warrant the boy has in him the elements of a man, and I commend him to the government as one worthy the fostering care of some of its national institutions.

I am, with respect, your obedient servant,

W. T. Sherman,Major-General Commanding.

W. T. Sherman,

Major-General Commanding.

It may be, my boy, that you will never be able to guide a regiment of soldiers as did Nathan Beman, or carry cartridges as did young Howe, but that is no reason why you should not be just as patriotic. That boy who is law abiding, who opposes everything that tends to undermine the national fabric, who decries Sabbathdesecration, vile language, bad literature, and all vices, is a patriot in the true sense of the word, and can be relied upon in times of peace as well as war to do his best for the country.

Be patriotic. Cultivate the spirit of admiration toward the national flag. Dowered with priceless traditions its stars and stripes speak of the sufferings of the past, the prosperity of the present, and the glories of the future which shall attend the onward march of this great Republic. It is the hallowed emblem of the world’s greatest nation, and of its most resplendent civilization. Of Sherman it was said that he never failed to salute the flag by taking off his hat in its presence. That flag is the emblem of all we are and all we expect to be.

“It floats that all the rights of men may every people blessAnd God’s own kingdom walk the world in peace and righteousness.”

“It floats that all the rights of men may every people bless

And God’s own kingdom walk the world in peace and righteousness.”

Be patriotic. Study the questions that have a bearing upon the well-being of the people. In the past hundred years, more than twenty-three million foreigners have settled in this land. Many are God-fearing men, but many more are entirely out of harmony with our principles and institutions. Truly America is

“The mother with the ever open door,The feet of many nations on her floor,And room for all the world about her knees.”

“The mother with the ever open door,

The feet of many nations on her floor,

And room for all the world about her knees.”

Of the seventy million inhabitants twenty-five per cent. are yet in gross ignorance, thirteen per cent. cannot read the ballots they cast, and thousands of such are annually coming to our shores, imbued with the notions, failings and vices of their native lands. True patriotism desires and labors not only for a free people, but an educated one.

To be patriotic requires candor. We must be fair in our judgment of others who may differ from us concerning methods of dealing with some vital questions which are always before the nation. We do not always see and understand alike, but we must strive to promote and preserve the integrity of the nation. In the opening hours of the French Revolution Mirabeau roused the rabble of Paris, which whirled the social order into chaos, provoking Madame Roland’s dying words, “Oh, liberty, what crimes are done in thy name!” We have Mirabeaus here, but as educated lovers of our country, we must antagonize wrong, uphold right, and defend the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

To be patriotic in the true sense is to permeate every question with Christianity. It was religious liberty that became the mother of political liberty in England. De Toqueville said, “America’s liberty considers Christianity the guardian angel of her struggle and victory, the cradle of her life, the Divine source of her right.” “God and my country” is the true patriot’s cry. In the words of the almost forgotten Oliver Ellsworth to the Grand Jury of Savannah in 1779, “Let us rear an empire sacred to the rights of men; and commend a government of reason to the nations of the earth.”

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