Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-03-26
WHEN HE WENT TO WAR
Written for This Paper.l

cloud above our national horizon. Private
Karle, or Johnny as he was known to his
family, was but 20 years Of age. and so had
10 secure the consent of his father before the
state OF Iowa would accept his services rs q
soldier. That was easily accomplished, and
for three months or more afterwards his
mother and sisters were visitors ut the hall,
which served NJ drillroom for Johnny
company. at every weekly drill. They
watched with much pleasure his advance
ment in the duties Of soldier; they ex.
pressed their feelings in aiTectionate EN-.
braces when he graduated from the awk.
ward squad into the ranks Of the company.
aud after he had been in the service for six
months and more they felt that the com.
pany captain was negligent to the best in.
terests OF his command when he had not seen
ft to decorate Johnny's arm with pair of
chevrons.
but there was to come a day when their
pride was TO give way before crushing sor.
row. when they were TO regret the day they
had given permission that Johnny should
enlist as n soldier. That day was when the
first tiny war cloud appeared. Johnny, sen.
sible boy that lie was, said nothing Of it.
The ruinors Of possible war did not disturb
him in the least. lie had been a soldier long
enough 10 learn that il was his duty to obey
when the order TO march came, and not TO
speculate on the chances OF the order com.
ing.
1t was his father who first discovered signs
OF war US he read the morning paper ut the
breakfast table. His sisters were still asleep,
and his mother was in the kitchen giving the
eroceryman her orders for the day.
''Here is chance for trouble, John" said
the father; better scour up that musket Of
yours q little
johnny WIS not enough interested to in
auire where the trouble was coming from
and the subject was dropped.
After father and son had left for the Office
the mother found time to read the morning
paper. and the first thing she saw was the
scare heading announcing q possible war.
Goodness me, what il Johnny should
have TO CO." she exclaimed. II must speak
to his father and have him get him out OF the
company right away
Johnny's sisters did not read the paper
that day. and il was two or three days later
before the rumors OF coming war warranted
another scare head sufficiently large 10 At
tract their attention. Even then they did
not realize that it was anything serious and
attempted lC have fun with their soldier
biother over the possibility Of war and his
connection with IL. The sisters comments
did not worry Johnny much. aud they soon
stopped. 1t was not until a week later that
the first little war cloud had grown to such
proportion that 1t reached from horizon
10 horizon, and Johnny Was still u member
Of the company.
''Pa. have you asked for Johnny's release
from the company" asked the anxious
mother at the breakfast table.
Don't think have, mother" he replied;
guess johnny is old enough TO ask for him
self now If he wants out.
But, pa, you know he won't do It, and |
here is this dreadful war coming on"
Cant help il. mother. am not making
the war"
II don't believe you care bit II our boy |
does have TO 20 and get shot down. am |
going down to see the captain myself this
very day. III just tell him he has 10 let my
boy out Of his wretched company"
His mother saw the captain, but did not
came away with feeling that war was yet
long way of. The captain had not yet been
swept away by the wild rumos he had
heard. When he got orders to move he
would believe that there was trouble in
right. until then he preferred to wait.
Shortly after Johnny had joined the com
pany his grandmother had visited at his home
md was az proud of him in his uniform a.
his mother and sisters were. Now abe
wrote to ask II he was still member Of the