The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-01-27

-G All through life that rrlfes often n
Make or mar a destiny.
st - &c. q. Thdrin, IN Golden Days.
iaA --A$-i
1.-THE L,TTLE. COLONEL
How He Showed His Love for Those Who !
Had Loved and Befriended Him-His
Faithful Dog. aH
s:Well, my man." asked the Colonel
somewhat anxiously as ne 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. J
every bad, sir" he answered.
"There are four new cases, and some
| of the other men are sickening.
The Colonel's 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,
Burns?"
in the Second ward, sir.'' a!3.as
..Teu him 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. ;.,. -r.!,.. ,s, =,
;..Nilus," said the little fellow, rest
ing his hand on the dogs shaggy head;
nwhat will we do about it?" ,od,s esat
fl The dog looked up with, deep SYM
pathy expressed in his beautiful eyes,
! but he could not think OF anything to
suggest, =. =; .s...e, II; ,,s.l,s ..jc..,
~ was crossing d stretch of desert In
Egypt, the, good dog following after
8 had tainted and fallen for want Of
water Then the boy had come to tn
o rescue, and with, Ipitying heart knel
down on the hot sand, and gave tn
animal his Share. Nilus, looking VI
Il into the little white face bending owe
10 him, licked the child's hand with rap
turous gratitude, and from that tim
, to this. had followed him night AM
u day. 8.9a: 10 og *. la.ra,,9.
For two years they had been in Bel
muda, and the change from the eS
i Nausting climate of Egypt had don
" much for the boys health. But sti
the pale face and tiny form woul
TX never be ruddy and strong, as the 50
- diers would fain like to see them. 70
IN even more than to his busy father,
was to them that little jerome Mai
- land owed his bringing up. 10,
a !, His mother had died at his birth, al
I during his babyhood he had been ca
Il ried about first in one pair OF stron
nd arms, then in another. ..zG.
~ When the officers wives would int
=. fere and carry him off he would G
II most piteously for his rough nurse nurse
re until they were obliged to call in o
tut favorite young subaltern to pac
he him. I'D a4fs. II III
.od And now these men, whom he love
" and with whom he had spent all
~ little life, were dying. How ma
III times had they watched beside him
DIV his childish illnesses, or made the tie
, | Gus days of camp life bright for b
to with some clever device! 4a5s ~ =
our "We must do something about
art Nilus," he repeated, with a little
md sob, s'but what can we doP'eda!
on He stood at the door and looked
I it wistfully at the barrack hospital.
IRE % Just then Lieutenant Fearing pass
Law with two or three books under his al
ok. He watched him as he went by v
sh- slow, grave step, and suddenly an i
Low came into his head. He knew Nv
to Fearing was going to do-read to
ard men; and why could he mot do
to same thing? .i4a{. eng
tryl Il No sooner did the thought occp
81. him than he started off to take. a j
I'll at his collection of books. They v
: I not many, or particularly choice. III
lerc was 'The Boys Own Book, on
on two "Annuals'', some volumes OF +
IL I tales, and beautiful illustrated edi
: f. Of "Jack the Giant Killer. He
\ 1 gered over this. Perhaps they m
an like to see the pictures, and twas
ght, large, clear print he could read it
cot ". So choosing this at length he
Nilus started off for the hospital.
What Before he had reached the door,
ears ever, he was stopped by the offic
Id a the day. ..sd tla3} n :,
uess my orders don't admit Of you
low, ing in there, SIR he said decided
nany g Oh please, FIRTH pleaded Jer
ri won't stop long, But the so
ANS shook his ,head.ll.S 1879 tfs ,AiAf
an :. They're too knocked up to
5000 much attention, even to you, sir.
I'D there are lot of fellows in the co
to be escent hospital aPraps you mig
ollar there So Nilus and Jerome st
yorth off again, and this time met with 7
,iece. .stacle. A'', ~,
i3aais The men were all seated or
ness around in different, attitudes II
out common room, some of them pl
i the cards. But when they looked II
fifty saw the slight, boyish form stand
Land the doorway the cards were. P
ed il aside, and chorus of welcome to
y the little Colonel" was heard on all
me, 81 thought perhaps you mig
,icago kind Of dull observed jerome