The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-01-27
The Drumm mer-BOy.


haunts of men after the war.
The Drummer-Boy.
In book entitled Our Army Nurs-
es" the following story is told by one
of the noble women who cared for the
suffering soldiers in the great Civil
War:
On entering her hospital ward, one
morning, she was attracted by one OF
the new faces she saw there. 1t was a
child's face, and it wore smile.
His name is Henry =, not yet 12-
but he has been in the army over three
years. the attendant said.
The nurse went to the cot where he
lay.
Good morning. mother he said,
cheerfully, holding out thin hand.
You dear little fellow, how came
you here? You are so young"
My father was drafted and L got
them to take me with him for a drum
mer-boy. I've got no mother, nor broth
ers nor sisters"
'Ah, SO you called me mother. Yoy
do need some one to take mother4,
place, Pm sure"
''Yes'm. The boys told me you would
take care of me-"
"And where is your fatherY'
HE was killed three months ago at
Antietam. / was wounded then-in my
hip-same ball that killed my father
The surgeon says / shall be a cripple
always"
The eyes of the nurse were growing
moist. My little boy looks very hap
py, after all What makes you 500"
she asked
The child pulled a little Bible from
under his pillow. and replied, I'm the
Bible it says, When my father and
my mother forsake me, then the Lord
will take me up If get well, and try
to be good, guess L shall have home
somewhere. If 1 don't get well, ann
sure | shall"
There was more than one deeply in
terested listener now; and each had
some new question to ask the lad
Childlike faith like his was rare, even
in the hospital, where it was common
for men to feel that they could not die
unless they were listening to a hymn or
prayer.
MY little lad" some one asked, "who
taught you to trust in God?'
"My mamma, until she died: then my
papa"
When he got better, ne was heard one
Sunday morning plaintiyely to say: Il
wish L could go to Sunday school,
Then there followed a pleasant sight
Two of the ward attendants said: "Get
the child ready. Well look after hip."
They crossed their hands, and carrfNsf
the cripple to Sunday school every Sun
day while he was in camp. But they
did not go alone. By ones and twos-
and threes the big soldiers followed the
little fellow, and stole into church.
They all loved him, and some one, look
ing on. said: "a little child shall lead
them"
One day surgeon came to the nurse
and said "Here is a man looking for a
soldier o-9han boy to adopt. Tell him
all you know of Henry"
The nurse told him of the lads brief
life, his beautiful spirit, and his long
ing for an education and a home.
You have interested me greatly"
said the man, with moistened eyes. My
wife and / had planned to go to Camp
Denison, but we both dreamed on the
same night that we should come to-
Camp Chase. l think God has led US
l am sure she will wish to take the
boy"
In a few minutes the lads feeble
arms were twined about the mans
neck. He was crying for joy. To those
who clustered around to bid the little
fellow good-by, the child said:
L was sure God had home for me-
The human brain is composed of at
least 300,O00,0 600 Of nerve cells, each an
independent organism. The lifetime Of
a nerve cell is estimated to be about
sixty days, so that 100000 die every
day, about 100000 every hour. and
nearly $500 every minute, to be sue
ceeded by an equal number of their
progeny. Thus once in every sixty days
a man has a new brain.
If some men would conceal what Aaey