Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-29
1.-THE LITTLE

1.-THE LITTLE COLONEL"
How He Showed His Love for Those Who
Had Loved and Befriended Him-iIis
Faithful Dog.
well, my man." asked the Colonel
somewhat anxiously as he slowly
stirred his breakfast coffee, "what
news this morning?"
The orderly stood straight as an ar
row before his superior officer, and sa-
luted with military precision when he
was spoken to.
Every bad, sir" he answered.
"There are four new cases, and some
of the other men arc sickening."
The Colonel little son put Down the
bread he was eating, and scanned the
orderly's face with distressful scrutiny.
"Dear me! Dear mel" said his kind
hearted father, hastily swallowing a
few more mouthfuls. ''This is q bad
business. Where is the doctor now,
Burns?"
"In the Second ward, sir"
"Tell him I will be there directly"
And in a few minutes he hurried away,
leaving his little son and a huge New
foundland dog to finish their breakfast
at their leisure.
"Nilus," said the little fellow, rest
ing his hand on the dogs shaggy head;
"what will we do about it?''
The dog looked up with deep SYM
pathy expressed in his beautiful eyes,
but he could not think of anything to
suggest.
Four years before when the regiment
was crossing a stretch of desert in
Egypt, the good dog following after
had tainted and fallen for want of
water. Then the boy had come to the
rescue, and with plying heart knelt
down on the hot sand, and gave the
animal his share. Nilus, looking up
into the little white face bending over
him, licked the child's, hand with rap
turous gratitude, and from that time
to this had followed him night and
day.
For two years they had been in Ber-
muda, and the change from the OK
hausting climate of Egypt had done
much for the boys health. But still
the pale face and tiny form would
never be ruddy and strong, as the sol
diers would fain like to see them. For,
even more than to his busy father, il
was to them that little Jerome Matt
land owed his bringing up.
His mother had died at his birth, and
during his babyhood he had been car
ried about first in one pair of strong
arms, then in another.
When the officers wives would inter-
fere and carry him off he would cry
most piteously for his rough nurses,
until they were obliged to call in one
%favorite young subaltern to pacify
him.
And now these men, whom he loved,
and with whom he had spent all his
little life, were dying. How many
times had they watched beside him in
his childish illnesses, or made the tedi.
Gus days of camp life bright for him
with some clever device!
eve must do something about 1t,
Nilus," he repeated, with a little dry
sob, "but what can we dop"
He stood at the door and looked up
wistfu!ly at the barrack hospital.
just then Lieutenant Fearing passed
with two OF three books under his arm.
He watched him as he went by with
slow, grave step, and suddenly an idea
came into his head. He knew what
Fearing was going to do-read to the
men; and why could he not do the
same thing?
No sooner did the thought occur to
him than he started off to take a look
at his collection of books. They were
not many. or particularly choice. There
was "The Boys Own Book, one or
two 'Annuals', some volumes of fairy
tales, and a beautiful illustrated edition
OF "Jack the Giant Killer. He lin
gered over this. Perhaps they might
like to see the pictures, and twas such
large, clear print he could read it east
y: So choosing this at length he and
Nilus started off for the hospital.
Before he had reached the door, how
ever; he was stopped by the officer OF
the day.
My orders don't ADMIT of your 90.
ing in there, sir" he said decidedly.
"Oh please, FIRTH" pleaded Jerome,
81 won't stop long" But the soldier
shook his head.
They're too knocked up to pay
much attention, even to you, sir. But
there are a lot of fellows in the conyal.
escent hospital. P'raps you might 90
there" So Nilus and Jerome started
OFT again, and this time met with no OBJ.
staclc.
The men were all seated or living
around in different attitudes in the
common room, some of them PLAYING
cards. But when they looked up and
saw the slight, boyish form standing in
the doorway the cards were pushed
aside, and u chorus of welcome to their
"littlc Colonel was heard on all sides.
II thought perhaps you might be
kind of dull" observed Jerome af te,
a little, $50 l brought one of nv pct
ure books to read In Won ;, and Lo.o.