Chapter 13—Cosey Corner

ledintheCoseyCornerLightInfantryatrulysuperbcompany,composedentirelyofofficers,allwearingcockedhats,carryingflags,wavingswords,orbeatingdrums.Itwasaspectacletostirthedullestsoulwhenthisgallantbandmarchedoutoftheyardinfullregimentals,withCaptainDoveasolemn,big-headedboyofelevenissuinghisorderswiththegravityofageneral,andhisFalstaffianregimentobeyingthemwithmoredocilitythanskill.ThelittleSnowchildrendidverywell,andLieutenantJackDovewasfinetoseesowasDrummerFrank,theerrand-boyofthehouse,asherub-a-dub-dubbedwithallhisheartanddrumsticks.Jamiehad“trained”before,andwasmadeacolonelatoncebutPokeywasthebestofall,andcalledforthaspontaneousburstofapplausefromthespectatorsasshebroughtuptherear,hercockedhatalloveroneeye,herflagtrailingoverhershoulder,andherwoodenswordstraightupintheairherfacebeamingandeverycurlbobbingwithdelightasherfatlegstotteredinthevainattempttokeepstepmanfully. MacandRosewerepickingblackberriesinthebushesbesidetheroadwhenthesoldierspassedwithoutseeingthem,andtheywitnessedasightthatwasbothprettyandcomical.Alittlefartheronwasoneofthefamilyburialspotssocommoninthoseparts,andjustthissideofitCaptainFredDoveorderedhiscompanytohalt,explaininghisreasonforsodoinginthefollowingwords, “That'sagraveyard,andit'spropertomufflethedrumsandlowertheflagsaswegoby,andwe'dbettertakeoffourhats,tooit'smorerespectable,Ithink.” “Isn'tthatcunningofthedears?”whisperedRose,asthelittletroopmarchedslowlybytothemuffledrollofthedrums,everyflagandswordheldlow,allthelittleheadsuncovered,andthechildishfacesverysoberastheleafyshadowsflickeredoverthem. “Let'sfollowandseewhattheyareafter,”proposedMac,whofoundsittingonthewallandbeingfedwithblackberriesluxuriousbuttiresome. Sotheyfollowedandheardthemusicgrowlively,sawthebannerswaveinthebreezeagainwhenthegraveyardwaspassed,andwatchedthecompanyfileintothedilapidatedoldchurchthatstoodatthecornerofthreewoodlandroads.Presentlythesoundofsingingmadetheo