The San Francisco call., 1898-05-29


 II humble home by Spanish soldiers. - Three. four, five days passed and he did not return. Little Josefa saw the pitying eyes and noticed the soften ed manners the nelghporS' Who at once adopted her as their oWn-
 Where is papa 2" she asked one day of Senorita Morales.
 How should T know" answered the Senorita, turning her face away.
 T know" said the child after a pause, "he is dead. and has gone to heaven. He often told me that mamma was there waiting for him."
 But you, Josefa 2" asked the Senor- T will be a good girl, and brave girl, and Cuban patriot. and, by and oy' l will go to meet them.
 Senorfta Morales did not contradict Josefa Nor did she weep. The dread of a worse tomorrow always oVershad- owed the sorrow of the day among the Cubans. For it was known that Genera! Wevler was about to burn the homes of the Cubans. and to drive them men, women and children. into the recon centrado' camps, to die of starVation-
 4 few days later the spanish troopers came, fierce, grimy, with cruel sWoTuS' cruel hearts cruel spurs. The villagers were sUeedily huddled tOgether, and dreary march toward the reconcentrado camp began. Their homes were burn ed; their crops destroyed, even thelr churches were fired by the torch. De- fore them was only suffering; pehlno' as they turned to look back. only rum But their eyes rested lovingly upon the hills that shut in their native valley as they passed ont of it never to return.
 And at the very head of the line or captives walked little Josefa JimlneZ. Tn her arms she carried a little doll, which her mother had g!Ven her, ..vhen." as she naively said ii. Il was a little girl, only six years old. It was two years since her mother went to heaven.
 Josefa's head was bare. Upon it was a wealth of shining black curls, Whlch crept down and seemed to caress her plump little olive cheeks. Around her neck was her mothers gold chain, from which hung the symbol of the cruel ffxfon Her little brown feet were bare, but she trod the dusty and f1inty road without complaint; and her chief Sor- row was over a sickly little girl who walked beside her. and who was suf- fering from the heat of the burning sun. When her little comrade in dis tress faltered Josefa, to cheer her up, let her carry her dolly, dressed in it's best white dress and having bright rib bons of blue aroun1 It's neck ana
 When Josefa reached the reconcen- trado camp and viewed the starving men and women and little childEen there. and noticed the D!IuS OI prey ereedilv lowering overhead, her heart 0verfowed with pity; but when she saw a Spanish officer strike one of the suffering women with sword her nat ural courage rose.
 She walked without sign Of fear di- rectiy toward the officer and told him that he was a bad. wicked man.
 Several women tried to stop her flow of words. but she would not stop.
 You win never be happy if you are not good" she said. My mamma told me that; and she is an angel now"
 An said the cruel officer, brutally, "I suppose that your mother was a Cuban and rebel!
 ''She was so good that she would have prayed for even you; and so will I.'
 The officer rode away and left her l1neeling on the ground. The sunlight caused tears that sprung from her eyes to glitter like stars of the purest radiance She knelt until she had fin fshed her prayer that the dear Lord would make the cruel soldier good Then she arose and kissed the dolly, which she held tightly in her arms.
 ''I hope, dolly dear" the sweet little maiden said, that he will be good, and so be happy"
 A Spanish colonel passed near and saw little Josefa and heard her loving words.
 "Bring the child to my tent" he or dered. Somewhere in far off Spain the colonel had left a little daughter who