Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-09-07

/ nave lnc lEluR Stnpptu. F2Au y va ~
main at MIR, Persons until send for
YOU. Don't come back. You are not
afraid to go, are you"
"No, mamma. I'm not afraid,
answered the brave little fellow as he
clasped his mothers hand little
tighter.
Il knew you would not be; and
now as soon as the next she'll comes |
want you to 60. When it came she
kissed HIM and said, Now my brave
boy, rum"
She would gladly have gone herself,
but she thought it better to remain
that she might be with the other two
children in case the house should be
struck and burned. 1t cost her
struggle to send her SON forth on sue Il
perllous errand, and her face was
very pale as she kissed him. Away
sped Charley through the garden
CHANGING with wonder Mt the great
burrows the shells had ploughed,
climbed the fence and started to run
with all his might toward Mr.. Pier
sons house, which was half mile
distant He had scarcely left the gar
den fence, however, when another
she'll came tearing through the shrub
berry he had just passed and burst
close to the house. The mothers heart
stood still for an instant-and there
was cause for il. One of the flying
fragments struck poor Charley and he
fell to the ground with q cry of "Oh,
mammal Down in the cellar the
mother heard the cry of her wounded
boy, and in a moment she was kneel-
ing by his side. 1t was sad sight for
mother to look upon. The cruel
piece of iron with its ragged edges
had stripped great piece of flesh
from the back of his ankle upward,
completely seyering the cord and lay
ing bare the bone. He was lying up
on his face, and the blood was already
staining the green grass where he had
fallen. Speaking words of encourage
ment, she removed his shoe and the
fragment of stocking, and hastily
bound mp the wound with strips torn
from her clothing. In this way she
staunched the flow of blood and
quieted his fears, through she could
not alleviate his pain.
Nov, Charley, must go up to Mr.
Persons myself, for shell nlay
strike the house, and then Mary and
Robby will be burned. I'll put YOU
behind that tree, and You will not be
in much danger"
''But you'll run, mamma, won't
your
And the tears trickled down Char
ley's cheeks, though he tried very
hard to keep them back. The tree
was large chestnut, and its generous
trunk afforded pretty ample protec-
ton against the shells, two of which
had struck near by while Mrs. Caves
was binding up the wound. Arriving
at Mr.. Persons, she dispatched him
in great haste to the fort, while she,
with swift feet, returned to Charley.
Becky ana Berry Pierson, aged seven
teen and eighteen, with true girlish
heroism, returned with her notwith-
standing the bursting shells. On the
way they passed. several negroes shelf
cred behind stumps and stones, and
Mrs. Cages vainly begged them TO fol-
low her and assist in the removal of
the wounded boy. They found Char
ley behind the tree, ana he said, ''Oh,
mamma! I'm so glad you've come
back. He could not walk at Ill, and
he was weak from pain and loss of
blood. So his mother and the two
girls carried him in their arms as best
they could. Down the hill, half blind
ed by the smoke and stunned by the
awful explosions, slowly moved the
strange procession. They waded the
little stream in the hollow, stopping a
moment to battle Charley's face and
hands, and carried their burden up
the hill to Mr.. Persons house.
By this time Mr.. Pierson had reached
the fort, and the firing ceased. The
other children were sent for, and in a
few moments the regimental surgeon
and hospital steward came galloping
down to express their sorrow at what
had happened and to render assist
aDce. The surgeons proffered services
were most gladly accepted. When he
was ready to examine the wound, the
mother said:
Now, Charley, it will hurt You to
have the wound dressed; but it must
be done; aud you must try and bear
1t. 1t will soon be over"
"Ill try said Charley, elf You'll
be sure, mamma, and not let my leg
be cut off. "
She pressed him to her heart, and
assured him with loving words that
there was no occasion for so serious
an operation.
.'Slng to me, mamma! Sing to mel"
''Why, Charley -I-I-don't believe
| can sing now" she faltered.
'.You must, mamma, YOU must!
Please sing to me Just the same as Won
always do and I'll keep awful still. 2
And he reached up and put his arms
pleadingly around her neck. There
was silence in the room as the little
sufferer persisted in his strange re-
quest. Then the mother closed her
eyes and tried to sing. Her voice was
tremulous at first, but by mighty
effort she expelled from her mind !
every thought save the remembrance
OF her love for her wounded child: and
she was soon able to sing to him al /
most as sweetly and softly as if in her
own quiet home. The boys arms
gradually relaxed and he lay back
again quietly upon the blood-stained I
bed with his head resting half upon
his pillow and half upon his mothers |
lap. His eyes were closed, and his |