The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-06-12

that she might be with the other two
children in case the house should be
struck and burned. 1t cost her a
struggle to send her son forth on sue h
a perilons errand, and her face was
very pale as she kissed him. Away
sped Charley through the garden
glancing with wonder at the great
burrows the shells had ploughed,
climbed the fence and started to run
with all his might toward Mr.. Pier
sons house. which was half a mile
distant. He had scarcely left the gar
den fence, however, when another
shell came tearing through the shrub.
berry he had Just passed and burst
close to the house. The mothers heart
stood still for an instant-and there
was cause for it. One of the flying
fragments struck poor Charley and he
fell to the ground with a cry of ..Oh,
mammal Down in the cellar the
mother heard the cry of her wounded
boy, and in Il moment she was kneel-
ing by his side. 1t was II sad sight for
a mother to look upon. The cruel
piece of iron with its ragged edges
had stripped a great piece of flesh
NV 'tSN VI II ullhlS up"dlu,
completely sevcring the cord and lay
ing bare the bone. He was lying up
on his face, and the blood was already
staining the green grass where he had
fallen. Speaking words of encourage
ment. she removed his shoe and the
fragment o; stocking, and hastily
bound up the wound with strips torn
from her clothing. In this way she
s%taunched the flow of blood and
quoted his fears, through she could
not alleviate his pain.
Now, Charley, l must 60 up to Mr..
Persons myself, for a shell may
strike the house, and then Mary and
Robby will be burned. I'll put you
behind that tree, and you will not be
in much danger"
But you'll run, mamma, won't
you2n
And the tears trickled down Char
ley's cheeks, though he tried very
hard to keep them back. The tree
was 4 large chestnut, and its generous
trunk afforded a pretty ample protec-
ton against the shells. two of which
had struck near by while Mrs. Cages
was binding up the wound. Arriving
at Mr.. Persons, she dispatched him
in great haste to the fort, while she,
with swift feet, returned to Charley.
Becky ana Berry Pierson, aged seven
teen and eighteen, with true girlish
leroism, returned with her notwith-
standing the bursting shells. On the
way they passed. several negroes shelf
cred behind stumps and stones, and
Mrs, Cages vainly begged them TO fol-
low her and assist in the removal Of
the wounded boy. They found Char
ley behind the tree, ana he said, .'Oh.
mammal! I'm so glad you've come
back He could not walk at all, and
he was weak from pain and loss of
blood. So his mother and the two
girls carried him in their arms as best
they could. Down the hill, half blind
ed by the smoke and stunned by the
awful explosions. slowly moved the
strange procession. They waded the
little stream in the hollow. stopping q
moment to battle Charley's face and
hands, and carried their burden up
the hill to Mr.. Persons house.
BY this time Mr.. Pierson had reached
the fort, and the firing ceased. The
other children we're sent for. and in q
few moments the regimcntal surgeon
and hospital steward came galloping
down toeXpress their sorrow at what
had happened and to render assist
ance. The surgeons protfered services
were most gladly accepted. When he
was ready to examine the wound, the
mother said:
Nov, Charley. it will hurt you to
| have the wound dressed; but it must
be done: and you must try and bear
it. 1t will soon be over."
"I'll try" said Charley, ''if you'll
be sure, mamma, and o let my leg
be cut Off"
She pressed him to her heart, and
assured him with loving words that
there was no occasion for so serious
an operation.
'Slng to me. mamma! Sing to me!,''
''Why. Charley-l-I-don't believe
l can sing now" she faltcred.
You must, mamma. you must!
Please sing to me Just the same as Won
always do and I'll keep awful STILL
And he reached up and put his arms
pleadinglv around her neck. There
was a silence in the room as the little
sufferer persisted in his strange re-
quest. Then the mother closed her
eyes and tried to sing. Her voice was
tremulous at first, but by a mighty
effort she expelled from her minG
every thought save the remembrance
of her love for her wounded child; and
she was soon able to sing to him al
most as sweetlv and softly as if in hel
own quiet home. The boys arms
gradually relaxed and he lay back
again quietly upon the blood-stainec
bed with his head resting half upor
his pillow and half upon his mother:
lap. His eyes were closed, and hi.
pallid face had lost something OF the
r%oundness and f~ullness which marked
it III the morning. The mother was
bending over him with one of hi.
hands IN hers. On the other side @
the bed sat Berry Pierson flaming
Charley's face. At the foot stood The
surgeon and the steward. Clustered
around the room were half a dozel
neighbors looking on with sympathet
ic, awe-strlcken faces.
When the mother began to softl,
sing the song she knew he loved, ther'
was a solemn hush in the room, ant
cverv eye was filed with tears. Ever
the rough, old surgeon, as he cut ava,
the bloody bandages, was seen to turf
away his head and hastily draw hi
sleeve across his eyes q number 0
times: and the steward was hardl,
able to distinguish his instruments
Under the soothing effect of his moth
er's voice the boy allowed the woun'
to be dressed and the cruel stitches t
be taken. Later IN the day he droppe,
asleep and awoke considerably re
freshed. He was uncomplainin;
through it all; and the fortitude wit
which he bore his sutferings excite