Arizona republican., 1899-12-12
A TALE OF
MAJUBA HILL

He was the meanest-looking kid that
ever carried drum and woke the Brit
ish army to duty in n turin land. The
! regiment was ashamed of him, from
. the colonel to the very last Joined as
hadn't got the dust of the old country
he was brought up in a work ouse, and
young Scarum, as he was called, never
denied it. He was about four foot
nothing. and his hair was as red as
cayenne pepper, and grew thick all
over his head and halfway down his
back His nose was only little bit of
lump stuck skewways on his face.
and even in the hottest weather it was
always red, and seemed to say as the
lad was starving. But his body was
the worst of all. He hadn't got a
shoulder as you could hang a water
bottle on; from his neck, he sloped
downward to his waist, and the only
way as the regimental tailor managed
to fit him was by tying a stone in each
epaulet.
The fact is, Drummer Keith hadn't
got friend amongst men or boys. No
even wanted to bully him. The whole
regiment just seemed as if it was too
good to touch the kid. And as for him,
he did his duty, and never grumbled a
word. He drew his rations and his pay
like any other mortal, and, for all we
thought and cared, was as contented
with his lot as the best among US.
1t was only about II months after
Co
to South Africa, to take a hand in
quoting those blessed Beers that were
forever disturbing the peace of the
country. There wasn't a man among
us that didn't welcome the chance of
seeing active service, and even that
miserable kids nose seemed to thaw
out and get more natural expression
when We got our orders for the front.
1 shan't forget in a hurry the scene
before the ship sailed. Nearly every
man in the regiment had got his friends
to see him off. 1t was a stirring sight
and sad one-women were crying in
all directions, and men as hardly
knowed whether to be glad of the
chance for service or sorry to leave
the old home and friends, were trying
to comfort them as we'll as they could.
1 was a bachelor in those days, and
hadn't a soul to trouble about me. And
at that moment 1 was glad of it, for e
I'd had to go through what some of EN-
did it would have un-nerved me for the
whole campaign.
The captain of our company had just
been married, and his wife, as fresh
and pretty as any schoolgirl, was
weeping her eyes out as she stood by
his side and tried to think of all she
had to say. 1t was no business of
mine, and I'd got no heart for such
things in those days; but 1 couldn't
help watching them and seeing how he
tried to cheer her up and keep himself
from breaking down at the same time.
All at once, as 1 watched, her look
seemed to change, and she became in
terested in something in our direction.
She asked a question of the captain,
and the ghost of a sweet, sad smile set
tied over her features.
1 turned round to look, and there was
Scarum His nose was redder than
ever, and his eyes loked as if he was
screwing 'em up to keep the tears back.
But there wasn't a soul within half
dozen yards of him, and nobody had
thoughts at that moment for such as
he. For a moment I'd half a mind to
go and speak to the kid, as we were
fellow and then 1 thought of
the chaps and what they'd say when
they saw me sniveling round such
miserable brat.
There was a rustic of skirts and the
CAPTAINS young wife was coming in
our direction She passed me and step
ped right up to the kid.
Haven't you any friends, little boy?'
she asked, in kind, sweet voice.
No, num-" said the kid, without
opening his eyes.
What, no mother, no sisters, nor
any one to care for you?"
mo, mum; never 'ad nonei IN
Drummer Keith" exclaimed the kid,
conclusively. as if the last sentence
would explain everything.
"Oh, poor little boy! You must not
leave England without a friend" said
eyes. Remember, now, that some one
will think of you and pray for you, Tor
YOU will be near my husband. and fight
with him, and help him do his iuty.
Good-by, little drummer"
And she actually stopped and kissed
him, right on that beastly red rose.
linen lne DuSic anu
troops filed on board the transport. And
two of us-Scarum and had mystic
rious tuggings at the heart as the YES
sci cast off.
II.
They wouldn't come out and fight as
like men, Mean skunks as they were,
, they crouched behind every rock and
stone that would give them cover. and
.Dotted every living creature that went
u.,ar. What wouldn't we have giv,n
for an open fight and hand-to-haHd
tusslei And what a debt we'd got to
settle fol' all the comrades we'd lost
and buried along the line of march,
1t was darn night and the outposts