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

IRE books to read to you,"' and he set
tied himself on one of the high wooden
chairs, and opened the book. :,
u cali right, little Colonel, fire away,
the man said cheerily, and as soon as
the clear childish voice commenced nor
a sound was heard in the room' inc
great burly fellows following with al
most childish interest and respect the
varied fortunes of 'Jack the Giant
Killer. "li -, -,
At the conclusion the child said, a
little timidly: Lieutenant Fearing al
ways reads little prayer when ne gets
through. I 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. 3i -, w ~
:. One by one they joined in, and when
the little fellow rose from ms Knees
with radiant countenance and trotteu
off with Nilus, then were many re,
quests for him to !eome again" and
ssgive us another reading.
The fever waxed and waned' put
through it all the convalescent ward
kept pretty full. '@'
bay after day, no matter how hot OF
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 ne
| could think of. The. rough men knew
and appreciated the feeling, and wei
coined their sslittle Colonel with ready
love and sympathy.
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 and
drooping. 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
20 at all. Il. ..ss,os.. ,,a ,H
When the doctor saw him he shook
his head ti3i'iA " st',3 ),
"He has got slight attack of fever, ="
he said, .'but am afraid there IS not
: much strength to carry it off. y
A week passed, but he did not seem
to get much better, until one night
, when the stars were shining glorlousiJ
and the sea was very still, the angels
| came down from the Throne OF Coo
: and carried jerome back with them
:, leaving only his little tired body sleep
:. ing on his white bed.
It But his father had not seen the angels
/ neither had the soldiers. So, vine,
+ they came to lay him to rest in the sol
|; diers' cemetery, and fire ~ parting sa
4 lutte, over the tiny mound, there was no
l. a dry eye in all chat regiment, zala.
:, Poor Nilus!, He could not tell wha
o it all meant. And when they wen
away and left his little master wit
1t only the sea to talk to him all the lon
IN day and night, he lay down beside th
II grave and no one could get him ava,
Of But the next morning at the same hou
1e that Jerome always went to the no!
1T pital, Nilus was seen gravely wendm
le his way up there, and walking in'
Up the common room took his usual plac'
er The men gathered around him wit
p many expressions of endearlnent. b.
ne he seemed to take all their advance
I'd quietly. In about. an hours time
= got up and went away, but each az
r. the same thing was repeated. 1t
X most seemed that, unseen to them. Il
ne spirit of the boy still fingered amor
i'll them And odd sNilusa did much I
ia y. ward keeping warm and bright, in tht
Oh hearts the recollection Of IBIS little mi
or, ter's gentle, loving ways; AS often
it they saw the faithful dog approachin
lit their usual avocations were put aslt
a5 and that hour for many long mont
nd was kept sacred to the memory OF tn
ar little Colonel Never. an oath or
ng unkind word did Nilus ever hear
r his presence, and the men were b
er- ter and purer for the memory OF
cry child.life that had gone out from til
'es, midst. Sra'H tiaa+ ~
one .sTen us the story about the iii
city Colonel and Nilus,' the soldiers c
-, dren would say in after years as t
'ed, climbed on their fathers knees,
his So the oft-told tale was repeated "
any faltering lips, to be treasured up in
II IN hearts Of many who had never knt
edl- him.--N. T. Observer. 'assia"iH
him n -. .-.. ri. i.
L