Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-06-24

muSlcldu me- SlE D0IOT0 We Seeu
any service sir
The colonel made no answer for Q
long time. Then ht said quietly: "If
you re passed by the doctor, dare say
you can go shouldn't smoke If | were
you.
The boys saluted and disappeared
The colonel walked home and told the
story to his wife, who nearly cried over
it. The colonel was well pleased. II
that was the temper of the children.
what would not the men do2
Jakin and Lew entered the boys bar
rack room with great stateliness and
refused to hold any conversation with
their comrades for at least ten minutes.
Then, bursting with pride, Jakin drawl-
ed: Eve bin intervooin the colonel.
Good old beggar is the colonel. Says !
to i'm, Colonel, says I, 'let me go to
the front along O. the regiment. TO
the front you shall go, says e, an l
only wish there was more like you
among the dirty little devils that bang
the bloomin drums. Kidd if you throw
your couterments at me for tellin you
the truth to your own advantage your
legs II swell .
None the less, there was a battle
royal in the barrack room, for the boys
were consumed with envy and hate
and neither Jakin nor Lew behaved in
conciliatery wise.
"I'm goin out to say adoo to my
girl, said Lew to cap the climax
''Dont none O. you touch my kit, be-
cause it's wanted for active service, me
bein specially invited to go by the colo
mel
He strolled forth and whistled in the
clump of trees at the back Of the mar
ried quarters till Girls came to him,
and. the preliminary kisses being given
and taken, Lew began to explain the
situation.
''Tm goin to the front with the regi-
ment, he said valiantly.
Piggy, you're a little liar, " said
Girls, but her heart misgave her, for
Lew was not in the habit of lying.
Liar yourself, Girls said Lew
slipping an arm round her. I'm goin,
When the reg ment marches out, you Il
see me with EN- all gallant an gay
Give us another kiss. Girls, on the
strength Of it.
IF you d on y a-staid at the depot,
where you ought to ha bin, you
could get as many of 'em as--as you
dam please whimpered Girls, putting
up her mouth.
'It's ard, Girls grant you it's ard.
But what man TO do? If I'd a-staid
at the depot you wouldn't think any
thing o me.
Like as not, but I'd ave you with
me. Piggy, An all the thinkin in the
world ism t like kissin.
IAN ali the kissin in the world ISM
like 'avin a medal to wear on the front
@ your coat.
"You won't get no medal
"Oh, yus, l shall, though. Me an
Jakin are the only acting drummers
that II be took along. All the rest is full
men, an we'l get our medals with
them.
They might ha taken anybody but
you, Piggy. You'll get killed-you re
so venturesome. Stay with me, Piggy,
darlin, down at the depot, an I'll love
you true forever.
"*Ain t yon goin to do that now, Girls
You said you was.
so course am, but the others more
comfortable Wait till you've growed a
bit. Piggy You aren't no taller than
ME now.
1--we bin in the army for two years,
an / IN not goin to get out of chanst
O. seein service, an don't you try to
make me do SO. I'll come back, Girls, an
when take ON as man L II marry you
marry you when I'm lance. -
Promise, Piggy
Lew reelected on the future as arrang-
ed by ,Jakin short time previously.
but Girls n2oa1h was very near to his
OWE
II premise, s 'elp me Gawdl" said
he.
C11is slid an arm round his neck
Il won't old yoa back no more, Pig
.gy. Go awayan get your medal, an I'll
make you Il new button bag as nice as
I know how, " she whispered
Put some o your air into it, Girls,
an III keep. it in my pocket so longs
I'm alive.
Then Girls wept anew, and the inter
view ended Public feeling among the
drummer boys rose to fever pitch. and
the lives of Jakin and Lew became I'M
enviable Not only had they been per-
mitted to enlist two years before the
regulation boys age-14-but, by
virtue, it seemed, of their extreme
youth, they were allowed to go to the
front-which thing had not happened
to acting drummers within the knowl-
edge of boy. The band which was to
accompany the regiment had been cut
down to the regulation 90 men, the
surplus returning to the ranks Jakin
and Lew were attached to the band as
though they would
much have preferred being company
buglers
TO RE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
Bad management keeps more PEG