The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-01-29
1.-THE LITTLE COLONEL"

How He Showed His Love for Those Who
Had Loved and Befriended Him-His |
Faithful Dog.
"Well, my man." asked the Colonel
somewhat anxiously as he slowly
stirred his breakfast coffee, "what
news this morningp''
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 are sickening."
The Colonel's little son put down the
bread he was eating, and scanned the
orderly's face with distressful scru tiny.
"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"
.'In the Second ward, SIR"
'.Tell him I will be there directly"
And in 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 itP"
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 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 ur
into the little white face bending ovel
him, licked the child's hand with rap
turous gratitude, and from that time
to this had followed him night ant
! day.
For two years they had been in Ber
muda, and the change from the ex
hausting climate of Egypt had dta
much for the boys health. But still
the pale face and tiny form would
i never be ruddy and strong, as the sol
diers would fain like to see em. Fol
, even more than to his busy father,
, was to them that little Jerome Matt
!. land owed his bringing up.
. His mother had died at his birth, an
l during his babyhood he had been cal
l ried about first in one pair Of stron
d arms, then in another.
4 When the officers wives would intel
!. fere and carry him off he would CT
= most piteously for his rough nurse
y until they were obliged to call in on
IL favorite young subaltern to paci1
10 him.
d And now these men, whom he lovet
!. and with whom he had spent all h
r little life, were dying. How mar
: times had they watched beside him
his childish illnesses, or made the ted
1 Gus days of camp life bright for hi
10 with some clever device!
If "We must do something about !
1T Nilus," he repeated, with a little d
Id sob, "but what can we doP"
IN He stood at the door and looked +,
it wistfully at the barrack hospital
re Just then Lieutenant Fearing pass
~ with two or three books under his ar
k. He watched him as he went by wi
h slow, grave step, and suddenly an id
w came into his head. He knew VIII
to Fearing was going to do-read to t
rd men; and why could he not do
to same thingP
ry No sooner did the thought occur
him than he started off to take a 10
= at his collection of books. They W,
not many, or particularly choice. Th'
re was "The Boys Own Book, one
on two "Annuals" some volumes of ia
tales, and beautiful illustrated edit
of "Jack the Giant Killer. He ]
/ gered over this. Perhaps they mis
n, like to see the pictures, and twas 81
ht, large. clear print he could read it e'
OF ly. So choosing this at length he Q
Nilus started off for the hospital
nat Before he had reached the door, hi
ars ever, he was stopped by the Officer
! a the day.
ess "My orders don't admit of your
wv, Ing in there, sir,'' he said decidedly
my "Oh please, FIRTH" pleaded Jerol
II won't stop long" But the sole
ms shook his head.
an !" They're too knocked up to
700 much attention, even to you, sir.
there are lot of fellows in the con
be escent hospital. P'raps you nigh
liar there" So Nilus and Jerome sta,
nth off again, and this time met with no
sce. stacle.
The men were all seated or y
ess, around in different attitudes in
out common room, some of them play
the cards. But when they looked up
fifty saw the slight, boyish form standin
and the doorway the cards were pu.
d it aside. and a chorus of welcome to /
ths little Colonel was heard ON all 81
me, ssI thought perhaps you might
,1Q1if I,,,l of 1t111 ~ f,hoarxrad 1ar1r1a q