The National tribune., 1897-09-23
THE COMMANDERS ORDER
A SKETCH.
BY MARY RICE.

Hello! is this the Blank Floral Company"
look ed up from the book of pension checks
that | had been busily signing. and saw the
new Janitor of the Government Building
standing at our office telephone. He was
short stout aud so round shonldered that his
back gave the I'm preston of we'll filled sofa
cushion The long, gray beard, the black and
whIte-striped flannel shirt crossed by a single
susprnder, and the queer little black sSui'-cap
gave him a grotesque look that was only saved
from being comical by piercing. deep-set,
slightly crossed gray eyes that chained the at
tention and made one forget everything else
about him. s.,
The room presented the usual appearance IF
the private office of the head OF large Govern
ment force-the Agents desk filled with rec
Ords vouchers, and other documents, table
piled high with check books "a case filled with
hooks Of pension legislation and decisions, Il
ty ne. writer, my own desk covered with pen
sion papers of every description, and-of great
est Importance to this little tale--the teie-
phone. fsFE
But, entirely unconscious Of his surround
inrs. the Janitor continued to drawl IN the
somewhat harsh but not altogether unpeasing
nasal tone which |, after wards discovered was
habitual with him: is Mir. Trap there? ?
Well, never mind. guess en- tell you iist as
well. This is Sherman talking FL? No,
Sherman, I'm tn Cmander OF tn -
IDSt, u. a. Il. M an ora uTtD u uieh yiotC Hds ,
md my wife, Missaz Sherman with a
pcc,il:ar emphasis on. the Msspz shes
tn Chairman OF tn Relief Committee of
the Womans Relief Corps. md she wanted
me to call up Mr.. Trapp md order some
flowers fer tn old man. Missuz Sherman
alwas gifts her flowers fer fuaerals nd decora-
tons nd SIGH from Mr. Tramp, md he aiwas lets
| her hev 'em as reas' nable as possible sppose
| Won en- do th' same? Eth? Well. all right. /
! would Mare amin hurry him
| tomorry afternoon, md my wife. Missuz Sher-
| man she wants them flowers sent round btore
| noon, He lives on tn northeast corner OF
| Third street aud Chestnut avenue" AT this
/ could not repress a smile in spite OF the real
sadness in the old mans voice. But the Com
| maiider did not see me, and went on giving his
! instructions.
Now, You know this old curm'd was 76
| year old nd over, so my WIFE, Missuz Sherman,
sho seq she wants somethin' suitable like, some
thin that's not gay, but nntilcr does she want il
! too dull She thought that p rhaps some lilies nd
rozez md smalx would do. No-smaPx, small x.
| that green vine-like thing you twine round
pillars fer decorations. Eth? Yes smal'x. You
| understand? Now my wife wants you to send
such bunch as pve been tellin' You of round
| to where he lives tomorry before noon, nd she
wants you to send card with it, nd she wants
yon to write somethin' on tn card. Let me
| see! You en- write, Sympathy of tn ladi
| that helps TIL boys OF -- POST No, that
won't do! Write, Sympathy md respects oil
W.R.C number S. Yes, nd send 'em round
sometime tomorry forenoon. ND send tn bill
to James Sherman, Gove'ment Building. You
understand ?-All right. goodbye"
| The old janitor rang off and turned to my
desk with the remark Well, you'll hev one
| less check to sign now"
why, was your friend pensloner?" / re.
Piled
Eyes, he was" said the Commander" md
| Uncle Sans money was never give to more
deservin' man. Why, never seen such suf
FERN in all my born days, md I've saw deal
| of j: durin' tn war md sence." The old face
twtched and | felt sure that the lips were
trembling under that forbidding- looking beard
81 seen that old man purity near ever day
last Winter, md l never seen such patience
| nuther He had cancer in his throat, nd you
en- list think what he must hev underwent
md | never hnred him complain But once he
| said to me, 'C'mander' sez he If it's tn Lord's
| will hope I'll be took soop but if it's His viii
| fer me TO suffer awhile longer Pm willn' Il
stay.'" The hard. to.worn hand brushed
tear from his eye ut the memory of these visits
"'Nd then" Sherman continued. he wouiC
say to me, 'Cmander, seq he won't ye reaG
me a chapter md pray with me spell? NC
/ would alwas do it. / spect you think that'
funny way fer old soldiers to do, but that's
what we done. I'm OIL the right track now
Left tn other years ago"
He was thoughtful for a time, and then look
ing at me intently said. You're th' CunneP:
daughter, hain't you?" ! replied that was
81 thought you was, cause you favor him
Excuse me bein' so bold, hut | alwas like tt
know folks when Pm goin' to be with 'cm fe
time, nd" with little air of triumph, "yor
know I've been appointed here, nd I've come
to stay. Well must go now 'ud scrub then
stairs. Good by"
After a pause he shook his head and said
81 do hope they'll all my order all right 'nf
git them flowers 10 his house in time fer tn
| funeral. Tn old cumr'd alwas loved flowers. l.