The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-14
That can't tell lies;
TbpU'1 ha cfarc on

That can't tell lies;
They'd be stars, only stars amt
brown
'Just so, john" said the doctor. It's
a pity your tongue is not equally vera
cious."
He sat down at table to fill out a
big blank official declaration. but he
sighed again obviously before his pen
touched paper
But the regulations, john" he muir
INJURED, being young in the service, and,
therefore, scrupulously particular.
Doctor, said the privileged veteran,
solemnly, IF they was never to be
| broken, what would be the use of
making them?"
And he left triumphantly, with HUI
bert in tow, to see the colonel and the
adjutant.
'WeH," said the old colonel, with
twinkling eyes, what did the doctor
say about the physical condition of
this-a-man?"
With the colonel old John was less
free, as he handed over the official med
zeal certificate.
L think, SIR he said, respectfully,
tits all right"
The old officer turned to the boy, a
little sadly.
well, Bert" said he, Il think it is
all right, for if the regiment is not
your home L don't know where that is,
and it would be hard to turn you out,
and just as hard for you to stay on
charity. Anyhow, you're the equal in
music of almost any man in the band.
so the governments not defrauded. You
want it this way, don't aou?"
Yes, sir. please"
And you'll promise to attend the
night school and be a good boy?"
Yes. SIR
And if any of the men, not the old
men, for you know them, but the re-
cruits, try to get you in trouble, come
to me. or the adjutant, or John.
mo need to trouble you, sir" said
the cook of the band, grimly. IN at
tend to them.
VERY good, Mr.. Adjutant," said the
colonel, will you make out the papers
for this new recruit. who, 1 can assure
you, is of good moral character and
don't drink. John, by the by, how are
you going to draw clothes for him? The
government does not issue clothes for
infants, only infantry"
''Now, he's duly enrolled, sir,' said
John graVely, he can afford a tailor
out of his pay"
The veterans and the boy went back
to the band quarters, together, the
quarters which had been Hubert's home
for years A little group of musicians
were ISlES around on the DunkS,. OF
cleaning great brass instruments, and
they all jumped to receive the two.
Is it all right, Hubert? Is it all
right. old John?'
All right" said John. Here he is,
as big a soldier and as good a musician
as any of you, and for five years, any
way, he'll draw his pay from good old
Uncle Sam
At once the boy was caught up,
laughing, and sent flying from the arms
Of one of the arms of another. in bois-
ferrous cOngratulatiOn, until old John
grabbed him and carried him off to the
solemn sanctitude of the kitchen, where
the OLD cooks bunk reposed in one cor
ner. ard Hubert's in another. John
took the lad by both hands and held
him gravely before him.
See, sonny" said the gray-haired
man. you've took the oath, and you'll
draw the pay, but that amt all. Let's
talk a bit. Your dad, the band lead
er, he did well by the regiment, an he
did well by you, even if he spent all
his pay sooner than it came to him, for
he taught you enough music to let You
earn good pay for all your life. Don't
forget your poor old dad did his best.
II was just because the colonel liked
your dad as he likes you that he al
lowed me to act that way up at the
doctors. But it amt no joke, Bert.
You've took a solemn oath to Uncle
Sam; now make promise to old John.
The regiment is father TO you, and
mother. an twill do well by you. But