Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-09-06
CHE TO SPARE.
The Drudge of the Family Pc
came Hero. but Was Brought
Home Wrapped In the Flag.


listed Il never would have happened.
his mother said. if it had not been f8f
that foolish excursion The excursion in
itself had not seemed foolish, and Mrs.
Hills had been one Of the most cuthl-
siastic Of those preparing to celebrate
the finishing Of the new railroad from
Bradley Junction to the lake
But there was n recruiting Office at
Lake City. In front of the door Of this
Office band was playing patriotic airs.
Above its roof the stars and stripes were
flying. And there Major Seely ha-
rangued the young men.
Jack Hills was Il and month, but
he was tail and large and looked 20 50
he signed his name and was accepted. II
was a possibility that his mother had
never imagined OF Mrs. Hills fou.
sons Jack was her favorite. Simon, the
Oldest of the family. was in business and
married. He was already making great
gains on his merchandise because OF the
state of the country and the fears FOR the
future. He was buying as far US his
money and his credit would reach. He
would most assuredly not enlist.
Evan had recently been graduated
from Il medical college. While he pared
his finger nails in a strictly professional
manner, he talked loftily about going
into the field as a surgeon II Uncle Sam
needed him. But as common soldier
NO, thank you"
Next there WAS Joe. II was the gen
eral opinion In the family and the neigh
borhood that Joe was good because he
lacked strength OF character TO be any
thing else. No one knew his deficiency
better than did his mother. He had al
ways been the stupid end OF the family.
No bright sayings Of Joe's childhood had
ever been recorded. When there was ex
ira work To be done, Joe was kept out II
school To do H. What does it natter
his mother would say. You're always
at the foot of your classes"
So continually had Joe heard himself
deprecated through his childhood aai
youth he grew TO manhood fully under
standing that be was the blockhead 81
the family. Sometimes Joe thought h.
might like something else than the farm.
but If he limited ut the idea ever SO miifi-
ly there was general laugh, and then
Joe turned scarlet and silent.
Jack, the youngest of the quartet OF
sons. WAS the darling OF the house. He
WIS the brightest OF the family, and.
though the other boys We're creditahle,
Jack would surely eclipse them when he
made a choice of business or profession
for life. And now he had enlisted, II
was not to be endured ANY longer than
till such time as the work Of the foolish
boy could be undone.
On the evening OF the day that Major
Seely had released Jack. Joe was com
ing home from the Raynor farmhouse.
The Hills and the Raynor farms joined.
Jennie Raynor met Joe in the shadow OF
a hedge or all the girls in the neigh
borhood Jennie was the only one who
was kind to doe. The rest, taking the
opinion of their elders for their own,
snubbed Joe on every occasion. On this
evening. after talking over Jack for some
time. Joe said;
III l should enlist I don't believe
mother would try to get me off"
"Oh, yes" Jennie hestated. She felt
tina, Joe spoke the truth. After Il pause
she continued, But you won't enlist.
joel"
II don't know. I'd rather volunteer
than be drafted don't like the idea OF
being driven out to he shot at"
DO you think the wars going to last
long?'
doh IL IL uDtc, L III
"Oh, joel" and Jennie's face was very
white.
Joe. watching her. felt his heart give
great leap and then stand still. Could II
be possible? He, the stupid OF the fam
lily, the blockhead of the neighborhool.
and she, the prettiest, the brightest and
the best girl in the world,
There was a silence for a minute then
Iappia ii cha To- 40
tanned her by the very slightest touch on
her sleeve. Would you care, Jennie? II
! go to the war or if l stay at home, do
you care?'
yes. Joe. l care very much" Jennie
answered. with flushing cheeks and
downcast eyes.
"It'n be awful hard to go if you don't
want me to-" Joe said chokingly But.
Jennie, you don't want me to stay at
home If it comes TO be my duty TO COZ
"Oh. no, Joe: couldn't love a coward"
Jennie
She lifted her eyes. Joe's face was
very near her own. The twilight was
deepening. Their lips met. and each felt
that this was their betrothal.
And so il came TO pass that within less
than six months from the time of the
chance meeting in the shadow of the
hedge Joe Hills came home from Brad
ley looking Very thoughtful. After sup
per he said:
Il enlisted today, and I'm going into
camp the first Of next week.
you've enlisted"' Jack exclaimed.
What sort of rot are you givin us?
They wouldn't take YOU
We'll, they have taken me. anyway"
Joe answered. Il belong to Terry cav
airy.
Joe, why have you done this?" his ia
Their asked.
For the same reason that other men
are doing the same thing. Besides. il
looks to me as if "A family of FIVE men
ought TO produce at least one soldier"
yes. il does look that way" his moth
er said in a hard, unnatural tone, "and |
don't see how any Of the rest could he
spared. Your fathers too old and Jacks
too young, and neither Simon nor Ebcn
~, - IL