The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-07

pretty HlSn 10 our HGdQSs W ell NNtfe WAS
a kid in the company that couldn't nave
been over 49, Never ought 20 have let
him enlist at all. He was always COM
planning and kicking and The first fire
down he went fiat on his face and lay
there. One of the men kicked him, but he
didn't stir. Then along comes Chaffee,
cool and easy. and ssaS9lhe kid.
Hello, therer saTs1 Chaffee. What's
the matter, you fellow down there? Get
up and fight with your company.
No, l can't whines the kid
'Cant?' says Chaffee, jumping down
into the trench and hauling the hoy up.
What's the matter with you that you
can't? Are you hurt?
8 No, sir says he. I'm scairt I'm
afraid of getting hit
We'll, lyou're a fine soldier. says the
general. Then he looked at the boyish
face of the kid and his face kind of soft
ened. 1 suppose you can't help it, he
said. 1T amt so much your fault I'd like
10 get hold of the fellow that took you
Into the army
L suppose another general would have
sent the kid to the rear in disgrace and
that would have been the end of it; but
Chaffee stood there with the bullets XII
yiying around him beside the boy, who
mad crouched down again, and thought
with his chin in his hand. BY and by he
put his hand on the boys shoulder.
There isn't as much danger as YOU
think for" he said. Now, you get up and
take your gun and fight and I'll stand
here by you
The boy got up, shaking like a leaf.
and fired his first shot pretty near straight
into the air
g That's pretty high says the general.
Keep cool and try again
We'll, sir, in three minutes that scairt
Kid was fighting like a veteran and cool
a aN.ap md taTlaa h., A.
general started on.
You're all right now, my boy he said.
You'll make a good soldier
God bless you, sir said the young
ster. You saved me from worse death
ana he was pretty close to crying when
he said it,
After while the order came TO retire
from the trench and we just had to collar
that Kid and haul him away by the neck
to get him to retreat with his company.
And, at that, he'd got a bullet through
the heshy part of his shoulder am hour
before. In the rest of the fight there
wasn't a better soldier in the company.
and not only that, but we never heard a
grumble or kick from him from that
day"
He is one of the unknown dead A plain
wooden cross marks the grave where he
lies by his comrades on the hillside over
looking the lake. There was none beside
him at the last to whom he was anything
more than a dying soldier: yet he died
with the smile of q hope realized when
hope was all but gone From the time
ne was brought in there was no hope for
htm. The deadly poison that oozes from
the Cuban soil had permeated his system
They call 1t pernicious malarial fever. II
doesn't matter much what they call
hopeless disease. The soldier alternated
hot rNsaV,
all efforts to find out who he was were I'M
awaiting. His one gllmmering of reason
was when he called in plantve iteration
for his mother.
Mother! mother Isn't she coming at
all?"
Across from him was another soldier
suffering from malarial fever in lighter
form. His mother had come on from the
West, and had found him already on the
road to recovery. She sat on the edge
of his cot holding his hand and talking in
low, happy tones. When the surgeon came
along on his rounds she rose and half
turned. The unknown soldier turned on his
side and saw her standing there. For
moment there could be Seen In his ewes the
struggle of returning consciousness; then
a great peace shone on the wasted face.
Mother" he said weakly. you've come
at last"
The woman turned and saw stranger
feebly holding out his arms to her. She
stood amazed but it was only a moment
before the mother heart comprehended.
yes, dear boy she said softly i've
come"
Lift me up" he said "I want to go
home. You've come to take me home,
haven't you, mother?"
She stopped over and kissed him. then
sat on the edge of the cot and took the
emaciated form In her arms. He leaned
back, his eyes, closed" and he smiled. But
soon he opened his eyes again.
ct don't believe I can go" he whispered.
Don't you mind, mother, but-I-dont-
believe-I-can-ao."
His breathing grew slower and softer.
His head dropped back, and he half turn
ed in the woman's arms.
i've longed for you so, mother" he said,
and died.
The woman laid the body down and went
back 10 her own son.
-s-p-S--