Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-21
A MARRIED PATRIOT.

The telegraph operator declared that a
special train loaded with United States
regulars was coming from the west.
Most of the men hurried home to carry
the news to their families. But "Hokey''
Crane was not of this number. Instead
he sought the musty seclusion of his
courtroom and there began the prepa-
ration of the impromptu speech which he
felt sure he would be called upon to deliv-
or on behalf of the patriotic citizens of
Gray Willow.
In 40 minutes the depot platform was
packed with girls in white, their checks
flushed with the excitement of anticipa-
1 ton, with sober faced women, awkwardly
e%xpectant men and hilarious youngsters.
The shout which went up from this wait
ing throng as the train loaded with troops
rushed into the station was the first init
nation Of the actual presence of war that
reached the ears of the orators wife, who
Strengthened up from the devotional atti-
tude which she had taken beside her pansy
bed, were she was wedding. The shout-
ing was faint, but it had an ominous, for
bidding sound. She could not clearly
identify it as she pushed back her pink
checked sunbonnet and listened. Then
came the insistent changing of the locomo-
tive bell, followed by the putting of the
engine as it pulled out. Intuitively the
thought of war came to her mind, and she
was not surprised as the train came into
view to see that the platforms and win
dows were crowded with young men in
SLOUGH hats, blue uniforms and leggings.
The four young Cranes occupied positions
of perilous vantage on the top stringer of
the back picket fence, where they were
cheering as only the American boy can
cheer at his first sight of real soldiers. But
their mother did not even call to them.
Her mind was ringing with the one word
war. She went into the house and sat in
the window. The creak of the front gate
aroused her, and a later she was
unlocking 5he screen door to admit Mrs.
Frink, who kissed her with unusual fervor
ant exclaimed:
"Ain't it just dretful, Mis- Crane-this
terrible war? l amt had no realizin sense
of it. before. But it's comm home t. all Of
us now. You'd ought t. nave heard TIL
speech your husband made t. them heroes
at tn train. 1t was just splendid. I'd be
set right up If any of my men folks could
talk like he did. l never heard such pa
triotism-not in all my born days, an he's
goin t. hold q big war meetin in tn Opry
house tonight an raise a comp'ny. ex-
pect my boys'n enlist, but l shan't put a
straw in tn way of their layin their lives
on tn altar of their country"
Mrs Crane was generally referred to by
her neighbors as ''such a timid little
thing" 1t was only under stress of great
est conviction that she was ever able to
muster sufficient courage to speak in re-
vival meetings. She was shy and gentle
and was generally classed in the ''cling-
ing vine' category of wives. Although
she was still a young woman, she had put
on the badge of meek feminine maturity
"a small purple bonnet with broad strings
and purple flowers. 1t was the outward
token that she recognized the shortness of
human life and wa awaiting the Masters
call in a proper spirit Of faith and resigna-
ton. The ~frivolity of hats had been put
behind her, as became the mother of four
children.
The remainder of that afternoon she
spent in her bedroom, the door tightly
locked. When she came out, there were
dark circles under her eyes and her lips
were unnaturally white. Her husband did
not come home to supper, and the chill
dren were allowed to eat bread and milk
from the kitchen table without pausing to
wash their faces. Shortly after dusk they
were marching toward the hall with the
afternoons accumulation Of soil still I'M
disturbed on their plump little faces.
They were clad in their tattered play
clothes, and their mother wore the most
unseemly work dress she possessed. In
this condition they took a seat in the war
meeting just as the husband and father
began his eloquent plea for volunteers.
She heard the young men in front OF her
say: "Of course we're goin to elect Hickey
captain Of the company. That goes with
out sayin."
After the orator had poured forth a
stream of martial eloquence for 80 min
utes he raised his hand impressively and
exclaimed:
"But, my friends, talk is cheap. Deeds
are the things that speak. / have asked
but little at the hands Of my fellow citi-
zens, but tonight I crave one privilege
and that is that / may be the first man in
Gray Willow to put my name on the enlist
ment roll Of the company which shall go
forth from this village to fight for that
glorious banner" BY previous arrange
ment the village band struck into the
measure of the "Star Spangled Banner"
while the audience yelled and stamped.
1t was the proudest moment In Hockey
Cranes life.
He signed the roll during the playing of
the national hymn, and then called upon
all who were willing to lay their lives on
the altar of their country to come forward.
The audience-the largest Gray Willow
had ever seen-gasped as the mild, timid
wife of the patriot orator arose and walked
forward to the enlistment table, her I'M
washed quartet Of children following.
After writing her name she turned to the
audience and, in a voice louder than she
had ever been able to command in prayer
meeting, defiantly exclaimed:
sid rather do it than stay at home and
take in washing. I want to lead a com
pany of Gray Willow women who depend
upon their husbands for support, who
haven't paid for their homes and can leave
behind a family of small children for the
unmarried young men to care for"
What more she would have said had not
her pastor FASTENED to her side and led her
gently away can only be guessed. Not a
family man In Gray Willow has offered
his services to his country since Hockey
Crane began the formation of a company.
In the vernacular Of the little group at the
livery stable that prominent citizen has
ever since been lcokin for an ablebodied
mar to take him tht behind the barn an
kick him good an plenty r"-Chicago Post.
Jaunty Lord Playfair.
Ta>l Dl,r%nlr ro%oinod ~ tho and ~ hia