The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-10-27

came. ne used TO get MS paper ana read
out to me how the lads were getting on,
and quite flush mp like. as he seemed 10
grow excited over what was taking place,
my heart used to sink, and I've laid in I
bed at night trembling an in agony lest |
he should be wanted again; but the good |
news came at last of there being peace |
once more, and it was then that found |
out how he had been thinking and read
ing about it himself.
"Hooray, old girl he cried, s'it's all
settled. They won't call ont the re-
serves this time. I'm not afraid to go,
nor should shrink from my duty as an
old soldier, but somehow it would come
hard, just now"
Then the time passed on once more,
and breathed more freely till the news
came of the trouble in Egypt, and once
looking forward to the day, and yet
fondly hoping that what Jack said was
right. and that it would only be in the
case of some great war, or in an emer-
gency. that the reserves would be called
| out.
Nonsense. my girl" he cried. merri.
ly:. mot for Egypt. They would not
call us out for that. They'll only want
1 q Low buOuSbuQ Aux tuht JOOs OOA y0O
make yourself uneasy about that.
| It was the very next week that 1 saw
him reading his paper on Sunday morn
ing, as usual. just as he always did over
his pipe when the weeks work was done,
while he read little bits to me of what he
thought would be interesting, and, that
day, war and fighting were as far from
my mind as ever they could be, till all at
once it struck me that Jacks voice was
| little altered, and as an idea flashed into
my brain, looked up sharply and found
that he had shifted himself little so
that he had got the newspaper between
us, and that seemed to make my fancy
something certain.
Jack" said, in quick, sharp way,
''you haven't read anything about the
war in Egypt"
Didn't r." he said. "Oh, they're
getting off right enough. I think the
ships'll do all the work. Oh, they'll pol
isb off the Egyptians and bring the pyra-
mids back for loot
| I got up and pressed the paper down
with my two hands to see that he was
looking at me in curious, frightened
way.
"Jack,' I said, "you're keeping it
back from me. They're going to call
out the reserves"
| EYES," he said, letting the paper go
and standing up firm and strong IN his
soldierly way; They've settled to have
them out, my girl"
''Apd you'll have to go, Jack?' I
walled.
eyes, dear, shall have to go Ikea
man. Like better men than I am who
will have to co.
There amt no better men, Jack, no
where" I cried, as I flung my arms
around his neck, and clung to him.
mo. dear, you Can't go-you shan't go"
/ painted. How can you leave me and
the children?"
never felt so proud of my husband as
] did that day when he strained me
tightly to his breast and said quietly. as
if he was giving orders:
my little woman is going to be strong
and brave, and to help me in my trouble.
l shall have to go, my darling, and will
go like man."
eyes. jack" I sobbed, piteously,
"you shall go like my brave, true hus-
band; but oh, Jack, it is $3.50 very
hard"
Don't make it harder for me, my
darling" he whispered. ''Don't for
Gods sake, dont!'
Itseemed to come to me then that it
was my duty to try and help and COM
!. fort him, and dashed away the tears
and held his hand in mine, as I laid my
head against his breast.
"Tm going to be strong, Jack" whis
pered. 81 won't make it harder for you
to 60 and-and-oh, Jack-Jack!'
And then got over it again, and tried
l 30 4 nhM0 f,r1 hoI ho6
out, and chatted and laughed about how
we would get on till he came back. And
he laughed and chatted, too, and said,
that the government would take care Of
me and the little ones, and that they
would soon polish off the Egyptians.
"We'll spoil 'em. my girl he cried,
/ ssand I'll soon be back again"
''But you won't have to go yet, Jack. D
said, with my voice shaking, in spite
of all could do.
Eyes, DEAR" he said, "directly. I
shall be warned to morrow, you'll see. ;"
a He was, and the next day he had left
, his work, the good byes were said. and
he had gone, looking as bright and
eager as could be, while laughed, and
: held mp the children for him to kiss, and
he told them father would soon be back,
and treated it just as If he was going for
) holiday. Then we saw him into the
train-saw him leaning out. waving
: his capy to me till the went around
the curve, the little ones waving their
handkerchiefs, and looking as happy as
! could be. till he was out of sight, and /
looked happy, too. till our eldest girl
, turned her little face up to me, and ]
saw her pretty lips tremble, and her face
l work, as she cried out all at once:
ST don't want poor father to CO."
, How could I keep calm then? You,
who think of those who are dear. and
who have husbands, sons and brothers
forced to fight for their country, tell me
!. that? know that it is their duty, and
that it must be done. That is the same
with the highest as with the lowest in
the land. No, not quite. It is terrible
. . hard that the men of the reserve should,
in so little quarrel, be obliged to leave
the homes they have made, their steady,
, regular work, and wives and children at
home in penury and misery. One week
the father is earning his good wages and
bringing them home; the next week he
is gone, and the unhappy woman who
shares his lot is no longer the prosperous
workman's wife, bnt the poor wife of the
soldier. struggling to live upon the
. scanty pay that she receives. The
situation the reserve man held is for
feited at once, and besides the black
orkIoot, 1,f ,,,vo,.f1 IN tho x;r.kor ~ cAp,o