The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-10
HsIGNED BY ALGER A MAINE BORGIA.
How a Devoted Brother
Was Made Happy.

=, A visitor to the general hospital at Fort
Myer, the great ward converted from the
Old riding school, will be attracted by a
scene at cot in the long rows extending
the full length of the large building-that
of a young soldier watching at the cot Of
"a 1eyer patient patiently tanning the fe-
Vered brow of the sick man and in every
way deyoting to the patient mothers
care. The sick man is Private Charles G.
Brown Of Company G, Sd Missouri, and his
devoted nurse is his younger brother, Pri-
Vate Elmer N. Brown of the same com
pany and Regiment.
Inc brothers lived in Bears Creek, a
small settlement in Missouri and caught
me war fever early. They enlisted in the
"a missouri a. the same time. They were
anxious to see service at the front, but
like many other brave young soldiers
We're doomed to disappointment in this re-
Spect Their regiment was ordered to
camp Alger, and will soon be mustered
ouL or the service.
At the camp the brothers were bunk
Ies, and were often referred to by the
9lIecers and men as Damon and Pythias
++1iroWn They Were, prompt in their atten-
,tp1h TO duty, as honest as the day is
gong, and won the respect of all their fell
lows as country lads turned soldier.
lamp life did not agree with the elder,
CHARLES, and when he was feeling ill his
prother gladly volunteered to serve for
nm Finally the symptoms of typhoid
ieVer developed so strongly in the elder
prother that it was necessary to send him
70 the general hospital, and for the first
time IN their lives the two boys were sep
arated for any great length of time. After
ms brother had been away at the hospital
Tor several days, Elmer applied to his
company commander for a pass that he
might visit him at the hospital. He was
way to Fort Myer.
On arriving at the hospital he was sent
10 Mai Davis, the commanding officer,
and the bright face and honest simplicity
OF the country lad attracted the kind Of
ncer, and he personally conducted him to
the bedside of, his brother. Elmer want
n he 4f..r ttv..a IL.
at the bedside of his brother, but Mai
Davis had a cot fixed up for him. and
only during the few hours he slept was he
of duty.
His entire devotion to his brother. and
ehe careful attention he gave the patient,
attendants. When the boys leave was
about to expire Maj. Davis noticed the
grief of the young soldier at the prospect
tive parting, and telegraphed to his com
pany commander asking that he be grant
ed twenty days leave of absence, that he
might nurse his brother. The answer
two days, but that further extension
would have to come through the war de-
partment. Elmer was informed Of the
decision, and thanked Mai Davis for the
orief extension he had been able to OBJ ain
for him.
On the second day after the answer had
come back, and just as Elmer was pre-
pairing to take leave of his brother, Mai
Davis appeared in the great ward, escort
ing tall, thin gentleman. with a gray
mustache and imperial. The visitor seem
ed to take great interest in the sick Mai
Davis was talking to him as he ap-
preached the cot where Elmer was watch
Ing over his sick brother. and presently
the stranger left Mai. Davis and ap-
preached the cot
Let me see your pass" he said to Ell
mer,
Wondering what it could mean. the
young soldier produced the document from
the pocket of his blouse and handed 1t to
the stranger, who scanned it closely He
took pencil from his pocket, and placing
the paper upon the window sill, wrote
across its face: Extended for thirty
days. II. A. Alger secretary of war;
and handed it back to the young soldier.
When Maj. Davis returned on his regu-
lar rounds some time later. he was APP
preached by the young Missourian. who
handed him the document. with the in
quiry:
do you suppose this will keep me out
Of al trouble if | stay here with my
II am inclined to think it will" re-
sponded the kind-hearted major, with a
smile. He then explained to the soldier
/ the great honor that had been done him.
adding
~ would not mind having a document
signed by the same person washington
Star.