The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-08-14
THE ORDERLY.

smoke already hovers over the guests, bear
ing the imagination on it's voluptuous
wreathsl Then it is that the finger of
memory sadly turns the book of the past,
while hidden secrets burst from all hearts
and the mask falls from every face; then
follow swiftly anecdotes, jokes, stories,
histories, poelns plays.
We spoke of many people-of Byron, of
the Duke of Reichstadt, of Louis XVII, Of
Pope Joan, of Prester John of the
Indies. of Don Sebastian of Portugal and
of others numbered among the illustrious
dead-when, do not know how 1t happen
ed, we began to speak of dogs, of monkeys,
of Hottentots and finally CT orderlies.
The gallant young Captain Felipe Rod
riguez, having gained the attention of the
company, began to relate what follows
81 wish to give you an exact idea of
sublime type of orderly which without my
aid you could never imagine. When /
have finished, you can deduce what infer
ences you wish as to the pros and cons of
Christian civilization and Of civilization in
general; then you can 60 on discussing
man actions, and the social form which
best adapts itself to our fallen nature. 49,
AS for myself, practical man, l shall con-
tent myself with relating to you heroic
deed, or it may be accusing myself of a
crime"
"A story A story" shouted the rest,
settling themselves more comfortably in
their chairs. +'That's the way all good
conversation ends The captain speaksl"
He lighted his third cigar and said with
sadness and solemnity, In the ten years
since left college and joined the ranks
have had but two orderlies the one you
have Just seen and another, Garcia, the
hero of the present history"
The captains voice trembled as he pro-
nounced that name. He took swallow of
coffee and continued
Garcia was re-enlisted soldier, man
of about 2S, born in Totana, of the Arabic
type, with black eyes and brown skin, of
few words, of indomitable valor impas-
stoned in his likes and dislikes.
II must tell you, nevertheless, that
never knew in him other hatreds or affec-
lions than the reflection of my senti-
ments He loved whom l loved and he
abominated whom l detested. He had
no vices, no sweetheart / scarcely knew
when he ate or when he rested. / can
only say that at all hours he was with
in sound of my voice, disposed to serve my
slightest caprces, whether we had money
or not, whether by day or by night, whether
the earth burned under the ardent sum
mer sun or lay covered deep with snow
tt.N1 ftf..f ar,
lily when l was away from home, which
was almost always. For that reason ought
to have appreciated him, and perhaps die
care for him-oh, yes After / realized II
/ adored him, but it never occurred to mC
to tell him So That's very common will
men of my character. was fretful ant
devilish.
"By all this you will understand that
was fabulous being in Garcia's eyes; tha
he idolized me as good son idoliZes bat
father. But no; that is not enough-as
dog idolizes his owner A dog-yes, tina
was the role which Garcia played at IN,
side To keep me contented, to avoid {
scolding, to deserve a glance from my eye
behold the supreme felicity Of that man
"Oh, the human race is essentially good
III
ten years older than /, He exerted himsel
to concoct dainty dishes for Inc; the frag
ments of my meals were his sustenance
l, voluntary soldier, received $50 montl
for amusing myself he, a conscriptcd sol
der, at most could barely scrape togethe
so cents day and was constantly at work
81 never paid him
"Such were our relations and such wer
the moral advantages which my poor o.
derby had over me. But, nevertheless,
know not for what reason-preoccupatio
of race or of class probably which harden
our hearts-I treated Garcia with niue
harshness only spoke to him to orde
him, to scold him for the slightest careless
ness or to forbid him something.
my voice was his living ordinance, hi
lash, his torment Confound iti 1 am til
son and brother of soldiers, and the Gus
tom of obeying scrupulously has give
me the habit of commanding with severity
"In spite of all, what was GarciaY NJ
inferior, a soldier of my company, suboi
dinate, an autOmaton How much h
must have suffered in his lifel He, VIII
loved no one in the world besides me an
, never received any proof OF my affection
who never heard from my lips one affet
tionate word, nor pressed my hand upo
leaving me- He always loved me, was s
lent and suffered in my presence, like
pariah before his God like slave befoI
his owner Oh, yesl am sure that d
not deceive myself Since then l hay
thought of it many times. II Garcia IN
fallen i'll or if he had wished to ahando
me, If he had shown grief before me-
that moment he would have ceased to
my inferior l would have said, 'Garci;
we cannot live apart Then l would hay
shown him that we were two men WI
cared for each other at heart-like brother
Il do not exaggcrate, my friends Coz
slider what an orderly is to his office
When at midnight l returned to my lodi
ing alone, sad and weary, it was he wi
awaited me If l fell sick, no cared for m
He OWNED even my unspoken wishes al
gratincd them atwhatever costto himsel
On the field he was at my side. Howas q
only one who know the condition of N
purse. He alone OWNED the state OF N
heart
"He saw me suffering, sad, he saw II
in love, weak, worn by vice, scarcely r
spectacle under any circumstance of yout
he ,oked at me, he felt for me, was 5
lent and took off his cap with respect
"In short, he was as protecting as "a z
ther, thoughtful as a mother, docile rs
son. Rffectionate as a brother, economic
as wife, faithful ms "A friend-an cnti
fav,il,. TO- mo Nv amhulatinu hOmcl