Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-11-18
WHY HE ENLISTED
By BARTON PlTTMAN.
A THE recruits commenced 10 scat

Cetutu tOWdIu 'uc Hedlu quarters OF the
colonel of the regiment. After the sal
utations had been exchanged before the
tent of the commanding officer the vol.
unteer addressed the colonel, saying:
''Cap'n If you need any more of Han
cock county boys, I'll get'm for you. -
'Ifthey're all as fne-looking physical
specimens as yourself" said the colonel
joviaily, I'D like 10 have a whole army
of them; our regiment will be filled up
in day or so. but I'll let you know In
time"
After they had left the quarters of
the colonel and were stretched upon
the grass in the shade the newspa
man took occasion 10 put his favorite
question: why did you enlist?''
Sometimes this question ELECTS an out
burst of patriotic ardor which fills the
air with stars and stripes and eagles;
sometimes (most frequently it calls
forth a hard-luck story, which paints in
glowing colors the virtues of the victim,
but on this occasion the answer was
merely: We'll, | have nothing TO lose"
But" protested the newspaper man,
there's no telling how long you'u have
TO be from home, and there's no man
that will take the same interest in run
ming your plantation that you do, for
presume you are a farmer?"
That's true, sir; that's true" was
his deliberate response; "but you see
things amt just as they was. Before
Mary left took interest in everything,
! hnt 10 H. 90
couple of fellows and though nights
wells 10 come 10 the front and fight for
my country. I'm "a years old, and |
amt never done nothin' but farm, and
/ thought I'd take little fghtin' in
mine jes' at this stage"
Here a forced smile played over his
rugged, care-worn features. The cor
respondent wished TO follow the clew
Just thrown out about the desertion of
Mary, but didn't know just how to pro-
coed. well, l don't want to discoug-
age your patriotism" he said, "but
you're giving up the peaceful leisure OF
rural life for the dangers and excite
ment of a campaign in which disease is
as much to be feared as Spanish bull
let's"
stranger" said the volunteer, that's
jes' il. From the way you talk bout
peaceful leisure ! see you amt never
lived in the country. Farmin's good
thing il a mans got money or don't
mind workin', and don't, but that was
jes' the whole trouble. | bleve now
when | think Of il that if ! had had
more time to make her Happy she'd a
been contented TO stay, but it seemed
10 me we was married at the busiest
time of the year, and then afterwards
it looked like | had jes' as much TO do
al all times. | always had TO look after
the milkin' a; duybreak, and then be-
sides the regular work there's enough
chores and the like to keep a fellow
hustlin' all the time. Even on rainy
days there's harness 10 mend and such
But, friend" and here his face bright
ened up until it was radiant with the
reco.lections, "if you could have seen
that little wife of mine in the dairy,
you'd seen the prettiest sight you
ever saw. In little specked calico,
skimmin' the milk and washin' the
crooks, singin' the whole time, jes' as
happy as a lark. Sometimes it seemed
10 me she was more like an angel than
a woman. But l beg your pardon, sir"
he concluded, reflIing his pipe, you
said you wanted to meet all the Han
cock boys here, an | guess Ia better
go make you 'quainied with 'em steal .
of iellin' you all my personal affairs,
which isn't the right things TO tell to
strangers"
This sudden halt in the narrative an
noyed the journalist, who had inter
viewed woman suiiragists, heard the
confessions of criminals, synopsized
the prayers OF ministers and even in
yaded the sanctity of the home for the
purpose of publishing TO the world the
secrets of private life. The story had
somehow placed him in that super
sy mpathetic condition from which tact
takes flight, but, summoniug the little
skill which remained, he determined TO
make the man lay bare his heart.
NO" he said, don't apologize for
anything you say TO me. I'm interested
in it all. When man is manly and pat
riotic his life is always interesting 10
me. We all have our sorrows, and it's
a relief to tell them occasionally. Did
you say your wife is no longer with
you?"
laundering as this speech may seem
10 mind which seeks and finds hidden
motives, il was sufficient TO satisfy the
simple son of Hancock county, so he
"Yes, sir; it's over three months
since ! saw her. Understan', now, |
lint blamin' her at ALL She was young
md pretty and full of life, an so I'd ies'
'ather TO think of it all as a big mistake
For little time after we was married
he seemed TO be happy, but then i
noticed that she didn't pear TO take the
anne interes' in things. 1t was ies
Ifter she had spent the day at Sulphur
springs with a lot of young folks. l ,
irove her over there TO picnic one !.
nornin' and then come for her in the d,
Nenin'. There were dozen or more