The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-01-27

ufe DOCKS 10 rcaO 70 you, onU nc 00V
tied himself on one Of the high wooden
chairs, and opened the book.
'.All right, little Colonel, fire away
the man said cheerily, and as soon N
the clear childish voice commenced no.
a sound was heard in the room, the
great burly fellows following with ai.
most childish interest and respect the
varied fortunes of ..Jack the Giant
Killer. 4 al..lu-
At the conclusion the child said.
little timidly: Lieutenant Fearing al.
ways reads little prayer when he gets
through. l haven't any book to read
it out of, but we can say one,"
Then kneeling down on the stone
floor, to the utter astonishment of the
men, he reverently repeated the Lords
Prayer. " Ptt 9a'''''
One by one they joined in, and when
the little fellow rose from / IS knees
with radiant countenance ans trotted
off with Nilus, there were many re-
quests for him. to ''come again and
''give us another reading.
The fever waxed and waned, but
through it all the cOnvalescent ward
kept pretty full. da.a r3gia.
Day after day, no matter how hot OF
windy Jerome woulds climb up the
steep hill leading to the hospital and
there read his little simple stories and
repeat his daily prayer. He wanted SO
much to do something for them, these
rough nurses and playfellows Of his,
whom he loved, and this was all he
could think Of, The rough men knew
and appreciated the feeling, and well
coined their ''little Colonel" with ready
love and sympathy. f' rt'
But, dear me! How warm the days
were beginning to grow. A hot 81
rocco blew constantly from the south
ern seas, making all the foliage but the
Pride of India trees look dead md
dropping. Even the ocean beat on the
cliffs below the barracks at Prospect
with dull, sullen sound. Each morn
| ing it seemed to be harder than the last
for Jerome to climb up that sunny in
cline towards the hospital, and at
length one morning he was too tired to
60 at all - ~ s'''
When the doctor saw him he shook
his head. t-1la,a h a4A4g
HE has got slight attack Of fever
he said, ''but am afraid there Is no,
much strength to carry it off," i'8
l. A week passed, but he did not seem
to get much better, until one night
when the stars were shining gloriously
and the sea was very still, the angels
came down from the Throne Of God
and carried Jerome back with them,
leaving only his little tired body sleep
ing on his white bed. y go N
iIi1oBut his father had not seen the angels,
neither had the soldiers. So, wheE
they came to lay him to rest in the sol
diers' cemetery, and fire parting So
lutte over the tiny mound, there was nos
dry eye in all that regiment. inq y
Poor Nilus! He could not tell what
it all meant. And when they wen'
away and left his little master with
only the sea to talk to him sll the lone
day and night, he lay down beside tn!
/; grave and no one could get him away
But the next morning at the same hou'
that Jerome always went to the hos
pital, Nilus was seen grave!y wendins
his way up there, and walking int
the common room took his usual place
The men gathered AROUND him with
many expressions of endowment. but
he seemed to take all thei- advances
quietly. In about an hours time hi
got up and went away, but each day
the same thing was repeassd. It al
most seemed that, unseen to AeAa. the
spirit of the boy still ;ingerI among
them. And old Nilus did mich to-
ward keeping warm and bright In theil
hearts the recollection Of his little mas
ter's gentle, loving ways. As often al
they saw the faithful dog approaching 3,
their usual avocations were put aside
and that hour for many long month
was kept sacred TO the memory Of theil
little Colonel. Never an oath or NJ
, unkind word did Nilus ever hear Ii
his presence, and the men were bit
, ter and purer for the memory Of tn,
child-life that had gone out from thei
midst.
' "Tell us the story about the it'll
Colonel and Nlus," the soldiers chill
; dren would say in after years as the,
' climbed on their fathers knees.
So the oft-told tale was repeated viii
faltering lips, to be treasured up in tn
4 hearts Of many who had never know
y him.--N Y. Observer. f.I t..-