The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-01-27
"THE LITTLE COLONEL"

"THE LITTLE COLONEL"
How He showed His Love for Those Who
Had Loved and Befriendsd Him-H
Faithful Dog.
"Well, my man" asked the Colonel
somewhat anxiously as he slowly
stirred his breakfast coffee, "what
news this morningp"a 5@ H1L
The orderly stood straight as an ar
row before his superior officer, and sa-
luted with military precision when he
was spoken to. slaiar gaI .qoi
very bad, sir" he answered.
''There are four new cases, and some
of the other men are sickening."
The Colonels little son put down the
bread he was eating, and scanned the
orderly's face with distressful scrutiny.
"Dear me! Dear mer' said his kind
hearted father. hastily swallowing a
few more mouthfuls "This is a bad
business. Where is. the doctor now,
Burnsp'' .fp,.abrIT .dl Isya
lin the Second ward, sir.'' -a.t
"Ten himI will be there directly"
And in a few minutes, he hurried away,
leaving his little son and huge New
foundland dog to finish their breakfast
at their leisure. SID yre yiqsJurr
"Nilus," said the little fellow, rest
ing his hand on the dogs shaggy head;
''what will we do about itp" IN il
The dog looked up with deep SYM
patty expressed in his beautiful eyes,
but he could not think of anything to
suggest. ~" ..i ~ .
Four years before when the regiment
was crossing q 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. M % s
For two years they had been in Ber-
muda, and the change from the ex-
hausting climate of Egypt had don
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. n. .r.., lalt h
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. ..p. Ell, -
And now these men, whom he loved
and with whom he had spent all hi
little life, were dying. How many
times had they watched beside him II
his childish illnesses, or made the tedi
Gus days Of camp life bright for hin
with some clever device! m THI
1--WE must do something about 1t
Nilus," he repeated, with little dr..
sob, "but what can We dop"
He stood at the door and looked NJ
wistfully at the barrack hospital.
| Just then Lieutenant Fearing passed
with two or three books under his arm
He watched him as he went by will
slow, grave step, and suddenly an ide,
came into his head. He knew wha
Fearing was going to do-read to thu
men; and why could he not do tn
same thing? HHl1
No sooner did the thought occur t.
him than he started off TO take lool
at his collection of books. They wer
not many, or particularly choice. Their
was 1.-THE Boys Own Book, one o
two '.Annuals'', some volumes Of fair
tales, and beautiful illustrated editioi
Of Jack the Giant Killer. He lin
gered over this. Perhaps they Nigh
like to see the pictures, and twas suol
; large, clear print he could read it easi
! ". So choosing this at length he an
Nilus started of for the hospital.
Before he had reached the door. how
ever, he was stopped by the officer Q
the day. it,,pun IA
"My orders don't ADMIT of your &c
, ing in there, sir" he said decidedly.
"Oh please, FIRTH" pleaded Jerome
II wont stop long" But the soldie
shook his head. go Fi'
IS They're too Knocked up to pa
| much attention, even to you, sir. Bu
there are a lot Of fellows in the conva
escent hospital. Praps you might g
there" So Nilus and Jerome starte
off again, and this time met with no Of
stacle.
3 The men were all seated or lyin
D around in different attitudes in th
I common room, some Of them playin
I cards. But when they looked up an
!! saw the slight, boyish form standing
!; the doorway the cards were pushe
e aside, and q chorus Of welcome to the
? "httle Colonel was heard on all side
pl II thought perhaps you might 4
. kind Of dall, observed Jerem.. af 4
q little, $50 I brought one of my plc