The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-01-29
NO. s.

a little, $50 brought one of my pct
ure books to read to you" and he set
tied himself on one of the high wooden
chairs, and opened the book.
cali right little Colonel, fire away"
the man said cheerily, and as soon as
the clear childish voice commenced not
a sound was heard in the room, the
great burly fellows following with al
most childish interest and respect the
varied fortunes of "Jack the Giant
| Killer.
| At the conclusion the child said,
| little timidly: Lieutenant Fearing al
| ways reads little prayer when he gets
through. / 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.
One by one they joined in, and when
the little fellow rose from his knees
with a radiant countenance and 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.
Day after day, no matter how hot or
windy, jerome would 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
| oo,,,aI ~, o,, ssl;tt1a Ho1ona1,S with roadv
love and sympathy.
/, But, dear me! How warm the days
= were beginning to grow. A hot 81
y rocco blew constantly from the south
It ern seas, making all the foliage but the
Pride of India trees look dead and
: 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 tho last
for jerome to climb up that sunny in
l. cline towards the hospital, and at
le length one morning he was too tired to
go.at all.
When the doctor saw him he shook
10 his head.
le "He has got slight attack of fever, y
y. he said, "but am afraid there is moi
u much strength to carry it off.
a A week passed, but he did not seem
VI to get much better, until one nigh
" when the stars were shining gloriousl,,
and the sea was very still, the angel
:, came down from the Throne of Got
:. and carried jerome back with them
~ leaving only his little tired body sleep
W. ing on his white bed.
'st But his father had not seen the angels
neither had the soldiers. So, whel
81 they came to lay him to rest in the sol
"a; diers' cemetery, and fire a parting So
lutte over the tiny mound, there was nc
M dry eye in all that regiment.
es, Poor Nilus! He could not tell whs
to it all meant And when they wer
away and left his little master wit
mt only the sea to talk to him all the Ion
IN day and night, he lay down beside th
Ter grave and no one could get him ava,
OF But the next morning at the same hor
'ne that Jerome always went to the ho
ell pital, Nilus was seen gravely wendin
me his way up there, and walking int
up the common room took his usual plac
yer The men gathered around him wit
ap- many expressions of endearment. b,
me he seemed to take all their advanc
'nd quietly. In about an hours time
got up and went away, but each d'
'er- the same thing was repeated. 1t
eA- most seemed that, unseen to them, q
,ae spirit of the boy still fingered amol
It'll them. And old Nilus did much
uid ward keeping warm and bright in the
SOL hearts the recollection of his little ms
'or. ter's gentle, loving ways. As often
:. II they saw the faithful dog approachin
ait their usual avocations were put asit
and that hour for many long mont
ana was kept sacred to the memory of tn
car little Colonel. Never an oath or
ong unkind word did NilUs ever hear
his presence, and the laan were b
ter ter and purer for the memory of
cry child-life that had gone out from tn
ses' midst.
one "Tell us the story about the III
'clfy Colonel and Nilus,' the soldiers cl
dren would say in after years as tt
Vea' climbed on their fathers knees.
MS So the oft-told tale was repeated W
lany faltering lips, to be treasured up in
IN hearts Of many who had never kno
teul-, him-N Y Observer