The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-27

SlOSe ftlllSDOrOuEn,
Bill answered.
4 reckon you know the Trips and
the Littles?''
Mighty WELL" said little Billy.
What name?"
Cochran"
How old?"
Twenty, last April gone"
You don't look like you're fifteen to
do much soldierin'," suggested Private
Chadwick.
"Oh. I'm tough" said little Billy
laughing, though he had a big lump in
his throat.
Come with me, Buddy" remarked
the old soldier, smiling. IF I'm ever
to keep tavern, I reckon l might as
well begin with you as a boarder'
And so. for the first time at least. little
Billy was installed in Private Chad
wick's tent, much to the surprise of
those who knew the peculiarities Of the
man. The camp was in charge of
Captain Mosely, who was recovering
from wound and he had selected his
old comrade, Private Chadwick. as his
drillmaster-a curious selection 1t
seemed to be to those who didn't know
the man. but the truth was that Pri-
vate Chadwick knew as much about
tactics as any West Pointer. and had
the knack. too. of imparting what he
knew, even If he had to use his belt
strap to emphasize his remarks.
The uoshot of the matter was that
little Billy went to Private Chadwick's
tent and remained there. He and the
private became inseperable compan-
ions when neither was on duty. and in
these hours of leisure little Billy
learned as much about tactics as he did
from the actual practice of drilling.
He seemed to take to the business
naturally, and far outstripped the men
who had been drilling twice a day for
three months. Naturally. therefore.
Private Chadwick was very proud of
his pupil, and frequently called Captain
Mosely's attention to little Billy's pro-
ficiency.
over and often during the pleasant
days of November. Private Chadwick
could he seen sitting in front of their
tent engaged in earnest conversation,
little Billy leaning his face on his hands.
and Private Chadwick making fantas-
tic figures in the sand with the point of
his bayonet. On such occasions little
Billy would be talking about his dear
old mamma, and about Miss Mary, and
although Private Chadwick was some
thing of joker, in his way, he never
could see anything to laugh at In little
Billy's devotion to his mother or in his
innocent regard for Miss Mary GoOlsby.
Somehow ii carried the private back to
his own bOyhood days, and he listened
to the lad with a sympathy that was
as quick and as delicate as wOman's.
About the middle of December little
Billy's box came. He carried it to Pri-
vate Chadwick's tent in great glee. and
opened 1t at once.
l,aI a 1t
along that he was sure there was some
thing nice in the box. and he hoped to
find Mr.. Chadwick either in the tent or
close by; but the drillmaster was en-
gagged just then in making u refractory
conscript mark time in the guard tent
by jabbing a bayOnet at his toes.
So. for the moment, little Billy had his
precious box all to himself. He opened
1t and found the letter that Miss Mary
had pinned to the clothes. 1t ran thus:
Mr.. Cochrane:-AuntS Sally is very i'll
now, and has been i'll for some time. We
are afraid that you are the only person in
the world that can cure her She Is call
ing your name and talking about you all
the time. 1t would do her so much good
to see you that ] hope you can make it
convenient to come home very soon, II
only for a day. We should all be so glad
to see you. Your true friend
Mary Goolsby.
Holding this letter in his hand. lit
tie Billy sank down on camps stool
and sat there. He forgot all about the
box. He sat as still as a statue, and he
was sitting thus when Private Chad
wick came into the tent half hour
later. Little Billy neither turned his
head nor moved when the drillmaster
came in, snorting with rage and con-
signing all awkward recruits to places