Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-11-15

come m.
Cameron entered, saluted, aud
stood silent, looking i'll at ease.
well, Cameron, what is it," | in
quired.
"Please, sir, | wish to speak about
something private"
Swell, what is it?" | asked again.
Cameron h~esitated, and looking
at the eolor-sergeant, who looked
straight to his front.
/ knew it was not regular for an
officer to confer with private soldiers
without n non-eommissioned officer
being present, hut / knew Cameron
might be trusted thoroughly. di-
reeted the eolorlsergeant TO wait in
the passage, and closing the door, l
asked Cameron to tell me his story.
The lad seemed in grent distress and
hesitated a great deal before he
spoke.
Its my brother. sir. He's just
come in with the batch of recruits"
With some difficulty, he told Inc
his tale, which was to the following
effect:
Private Cameron and a young
brother were the only children of an
old widow living in the north of Scot
land. The old woman could do little
to support herself, and was mainly
dependent upon the labor OF one son
and such little help ms Private Cam
eron could send her from savings of
his pay. Itseemed that some family
quarrel had taken place between the
widow and her youngest son, and
that thelatter, in a moment of pique,
had enlisted, but had, when too late.
repented. He had been drafted to
thesame regiment as his elder broth
er, whom he had acquainted with
these facts on his arrival in the bar
racks that day. Private Cameron
told me, with deep emotion, that
nothing could save his mother from
the workhouse tan idea which seem.
ed ofll him with shame and horror)
unless his brother could be bought
out ofthe service and sent back home.
As his brother had not been three
months enlisted, this could be effect
ed by a payment of ten pounds; but
such a sum was far beyond the
means of either brother. Cameron
in despair had come to me for help,
hardly daring, as he told me, to hope
that | could give it. He said he had
been encouraged to seek my assist
ance by my constant kindness to
him.
II would pay it back to you, sir, l
swear it to you" said the poor lad
earnestly. you can stop my pay
every week, sir. I.want next to moth
ing. | don't drink any, and / can
| easy get all | want to smoke and the
like OF that. | will pay you back,
sir, indeed | willI'
/ Well, to cut my story short, after
some reflection and not a little mis-
giving as to whether in respect ofdis-
t cipline | was doing right, | agreedto
t let him have the money. / could
well afford it; liked the man and
! had been touched by his story not a
! little.
you should begin to save up
: your pay in the savings bank, Cam
! eron,' said /, as ne thanked me
r earnestly.
8 | had not the least intention of re-
paying myself from his hard-earned
savings, and quite looked upon the
loan as a gift, but / judged it better
not to say so expressly, lest theeasy
8 manner of obtaining the money
' might do harm, while thought it
a good opportunity of encouraging
frugal habits.
Cameron's gratitude was deep, and
| could not help feeling that his ex-
, preston Oft al sincere and heart
felt.
As he was leaving the room he
J turned, looked me full in the face,
!, and said. 'God bless you, sir, for
your kindness to mel | shall not
! forget it! | will repay you, sir, so
help me Godl"
+ / was struck by the singular ear
+ nestness of the man, and when he had
> left the room | said to myself, II
i may have done right or wrong, but
that is 81 real good fellow, and |
: have got a firm friend | verify be-
! lieye."
J | arranged matters next day.
. Cameron's brother was permitted to
tdNe LOT HIS nome UTMOST lmmeul-
8 ately. My part in the transaction
g was not suspected, and in a few
n weeks the matter passed out OF my
3 mind. Cameron continued in his
) steady conduct, and each month |
/ observed that he was putting y little
: sum to his credit in the Iegimental
savings bank. ] never. however. al
y ludsd to the occurrence npatn
About three months afterwards /
went away on short leave. | had
i accepted a yachting invitation from
) an acquaintance and spent a very
2 pleasant three weeks cruising among
the channel islands.
!, i returned to D late one night.
: and, leaving my heavier baggage at
!. a hotel in the town, I started up to
g the barracks with a small handbag.
: l went slowly up the zigzag path,
: through the postern gate, crossed
i f1n frat IN ftttfor dffuh apd ,,na