The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-15

j sAssss oAA sAO IL "a II ASOA1-
life ever since. Sickness had broken
his constitution, and reduced him to a
shadow. He was weak and feverish.
His one great desire was to get home to
his mother, whom he seemed to idolize.
Taking my hand. he said,
1T was pretty hard, sometimes, when
there wasn't anything to eat and 1 was
sick, and it was wet and cold. Some
times | was so lonesome and homesick
couldn't help CRYING. and it seemed as
if never should get home. But IT'S all
over now. I'm going home to mother
! wish you knew her, lieutenant. She's
the dearest, lovelist mother in the
world, and oh, do love her SO! Do
you suppose she'll know mop"
why, Of course she'll know you.
and she'll he very proud OF you, too" l
replied.
do you really think she will? You
don't think these will make any differ
ence, do you?" he asked, chokingly, os
he pointed to his crippled feet.
| no. no, no, my dear boy. She will
only love you Thousand times the
more"
"Tm glad you think so. lieutenant"
and he went on TO picture his coming
home-hOw his mother would fold him
IN her arms and kiss him again and
again, and how his little brother and SIS
ter would listen to his stories with wide
open eyes, aud how he would run ont to
zee his old school as the
thought of his poor, useless feet flashed
through his mind. his voice faltered,
tear stole out from under the long LASH
1a.1 l.: IL
But il was only for a moment. The
brave little soul was up again.
You see amt used to it yet," no
said, with a pathetic smile. as he brushed
away the tears. As he talked of his
far-awny home his eyes grew so bright
and he seemed so fresh and strong that
l began to think perhaps he would live
to reach home. But he soon wenried
and fell into restless sleep, his head
still on my shoulder, his hands clasped |
about nv arm, rs il he feared that some |
way in his sleep he might DO taken
away.
As passed out, asked surgeon if
il would not be we'll to send for his |
mother. He said il would be useless,
rs the boy could not possibly live the
week out. That night obtained leave |
to remain at the hospital day or two.
When went down next morning my
little friend was expecting me, and
when he saw me ming his face lighted. |
Good morning." said 1; show did
you rest last night?"
I'm glad you've come early, ieuten.
ant. I've had the strangest dream, and
is was splendid, too. want TO tell you
about it,"
His eyes were unnaturally bright,
his cheeks flushed, and his whole face
aglow with pleasure at my coming and
exitement about his dream. bathed
his face and hands. brushed the cluster
ing hair, and told him meanwhile that I
was going to take care Of him for day
or two, and was amply paid for it by
his delight and grateful happiness.
And now" said I, ss'let's hear that won
derful dream"
"You see." he began, "after you left
me last night ! went right to sleep, and
thought I was somewhere else, only I
didn't know where il was, but I could
look mp and sec the stars in the sky.
It seemed to me there were never no
many before. And they kept twinkling
SO that thought that something must
be the matter, and / found out some
way that they we're all very angry be-
cause the moon had been coming up 30
early the last few nights.
"Then, all Of o sudden, while was
about the stars. there was my
sid drum lying by my side. Where It
came from didn't know, and I didn't
care, either. Oh, but was glad to see
Il once morel
II picked it mp. slung the strap over
my neck, and began to play to see il it
was all night. It sounded Just "a il
used to, and there wasn't single thing
broken or wrong about it. You can't
guess how good it seemed to be ut it
again!
"Then I thought I'd see il could re-
all the different calls. I be.
gan with the Assembly, and I could
play it just ss well as ever could, and
beat and beat and forgot everything
else, till I looked up q minute, and
then. what d, You think?
"The sky was just as full as could be
Of shooting stars. / couldn't imagine
what it all meant; but I watched the
stars, and l saw, pretty quick. that
they had heard the drum-call and were
hurrying up from every direction, and
falling into line Just like soldiers.
"The biggest stars were the generals,
The next biggest were the colonies, and
then came the lieutenant colonies and
The majors, the captains and lieutenants
and the sergeants and the corporals;
and the littlest stars of oil were the priv
ates.
well, when I saw what they were
doing, I kept right on at the Assembly.
until there vas n treat army of akara