The morning call., 1893-03-19
CdralI.y Practice,

troop. and very friendly lot of men they
proved to be. 1t was at this time that the
man whom / had spoken to while at retreat
explained his reason for not answering me-
lie SAID that 1t was not allowable to even
turn ones head while in the ranks.
l was very glad when the corporal In
whGse squad had been placed told me that
l might go to bed, and | lost no time in
seeking out my bunk and preparing for
rest. | told my nearest neighbor that the
servant had not made my bed and he
seemed amused; however, he told me that
the Chnaman had been discharged that
Afternoon, and that another one had not
been hired in his place. | had not been
accustomed to homework while at home,
and did not know Just how to make nm nv
bed; but he kindly volunteered his assist
anee and | crawled in between the sheets.
completely tired out
asked my neighbOr what time [ was
supposed to get up the next morning, and
was informed that the bugle would sound
revelile at $50 o'clock and that at this call
must GO through the same ceremony as at
retreat. lie said something else. but / did
not near II, as could not have kept awake
to save my life. l was so tired.
1T seemed but few seconds to me when
the bugle began doleful piece which
think must have been the original tune
that the old COW died on. That settled il !:
must get light up, and / did. II was very
dark but was too busy dressing las | knew
that only had five minutes to get into line)
to notice the absence of light or even tn
look around to see If the Others were mn.
L never knew suit of clothes to behave
as obstinatey as that uniform did. The
trousers acted as if they had the collie and
were all cramped mp. Ny coat sleeves felt
as though they had been sewed together
ana my shoes positively refused to behave
as any well-reguated shoe should do.
About six minutes elapsed before I was
ready and even then | had 10 resort to my
big boots for footwear. but with these under
my arms | started for the door. Then 1t
was that for the first time noticed how
dark 1t was, and even then did not appre-
ciate the fact until | attempted TO kick n
hole In an iron DedsteGd with my right toe
The attempt was disastrous, to say the
least, and sat down hard upon the bare
floor, and let the boots down heavily too
Several OF the sleepers were awakened by
the noise ana the rest awoke before | got
back to my bed and then all hands told me
with language more forcible than polite
that the call which / had mistaken for
reveille was taps" and meant lights out.
My chagrln can be better imagined than
described as l again sought the sleep which
at last came, and | slept until awakened by
a stir in the room.
Before was thoroughly awake. the man
who slept at my right called out to me that
there was only three minutes more before
assembly," and that first call' and "rey
ellie" had blown while | was asleep. I
dressed as speedily as possible and lust
succeeded in getting into line when nv
name was called by the sergeant in COM
mand
Breakfast followed Immediately after the
rollcall, and though l was not as hungry as
at supper he night before could appre-
clate the efforts of the cook. | was begin
ming to feel ike a soldier, and [ thought
my troubles were about over, but my
thoughts were rudely interrupted by the