The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-05

-T was dne spring evening. and,
pending the opening OF the bar
racks. the newly arrived regiment
- scattered all over the town. The
men still had their accoutTenents on
cartridge boxes fastened to their belts
and canteens dangling from their necks,
Worn out and covered with dust, they
stood about in groups or Leaned against
the walls with folded arms. Some OF them
went into public houses &c, refresh them
selves with a drink o. wine: others roanleti
langutdIy about the streets. They were
gravssy silent or talking N a reluctant
undertone. They We're sleepy. tired and
unaccus.omed TO the noises OF big city.
Ringing amid the mute gravity OF
small group Of soldiers who sat On the
step Of ! church near the barracks was
the restless gayety and unceasing chatter
OF a small. nirlo.e fellow with d pleasing,
beardiess face ana large blue eyes. He
was frlsking about among his silent com
radeS, buzztng in their ears, tugging at the
cloak OF one snatching the cockade OF an
other. stealing up from behind and cover
ing the eyes OF d third.
He had been in the service now four
years and through a series OF the merest
accidents he had never had furlough. so
that he had not visited his native village
nor seen any Of his relatives since he was
enlisted. He was a teDder-hearted fellow
strongly attached TO his birthplace and his
people. and the four years seemed age
TO him. He was usually reticent and re-
firing When of duty. while his comrades
strolled about the public garden or fon-
died the bies In the charge OF pretty
nurses in their rough way he would walk
up and down the drill grounds with hts
chin pressed against his chest or sit on a
stone bench al the end or some deserted
road. drawing figures with his boot and
thinking OF his home and. above all, OF
his mother.
She was a poor. sickly country woman
with the heart of an angel The little
soldier was her pet and her doting love
for him gave her no rest. She wrote often
to him and each time she received letter
from her soldier boy she would press 1t 10
her lips and then carry II about in her
bosom. as she would some sacred relic. in
order that II might soothe the cruel pain
of separation. The soldier cherished his
mothers letters as much she did his,
but. paper is not hing but paper, after all.
The four years were passed by mother
and son In the acutest yearninGs The
young man was first sent 20 Sicily (;hink
of what Il meant to the poor woman TO
be separated from her boy by such lot
Of water') where he spent two years
Then the regiment was transferred TO
Calabria for one year, and thence to CEN
trail Italy. AT last, at the end Of the
fourth year. rtlrnor was set on foot that
the men were to go to north Italy. The
little soldiers heart beat as II 1t would
burst. ITO what placer" he asked trem-
blingly. The sergeant named the city
II was the nearest large town 10 his ma
tive village
All" he exclaimed. and all but Rugged
the sergeant-a breach OF discipline which
might have got him into trouble.
And SO he was now within II short dis
lance from his home, and all in a cutter
He was planning 10 ask for brief fur
Tough when the Quarterinaster handed
him letter.
1t comes from some place hereabou,s."
he said.
The little private took the letter. opened
II with trembling hands ana rushed
through its lines. his head following the
direction OF his eyes and his lips mutter-
ing the words. Then he cinched the let
ter in his fist. and letting his arms drop.
he raiseu his big eyes TO heaven. The two
tears which had been trembling -enind his
eyeids broke loose and fell hot upon one
OF his hands. 1t was u letter from his
mother. sure enough.
Tomorrow l Will 60 TO town, on foot,
she wrote. Il cannot bear to walt any
longer. my son. 1t is four years since
you left me. and I must so and fall on
your neck, my darling"
That night he could not get a wink Of
sleep. He tucked himself carefully. turned
this way and that. but all in vain. His
heart was aching and he WAS choking for
breath In his fever OF excitement he kick
I'd of his blanket. but all to purpose
He might we'll have tried 10 fall asleep
in front OF a baker oven. Dreaming and
Ching he sat up his cot and looked
around him. His comrades were all sleep
ing fast, men will in a beautiful spring
night He gazed a. tho bit OF starry sky
which showed through window In the
ether side Of the dormitory. and though,
he's good 1t would be 10 be- out In tha
felds and 20 breathe the fresh air out
there. He eyed the lamp In remote cor
ner Of the room. and It's pickering Hight
Quckened his restiessness and made the
minutes drag on more painfully than ever
He lay down again, ard stretching himself
and shutting his eyes ne attempted TO be-
suiia the time by thinking OF the coming
meeting. but the thought only added u, his
excitement He lay still with his ewes
closed but his heart beat faster as though
saying; rs no use You aren't going 10
set any sleep tonight" And again he
opened bis eyes and again he looked at
tse rows OF Housekeeping men around him
Completely exhausted e. last his heart
Gained down ard he drowSed OF When
back TO him that lie WAS near home and
ihht his mother was coming 10 see him. he
hao thrill az Joy that might be more
easily imagined tAan Described
Presently rey.iIis was sounded ana ,hs
men sprang out 81 their beds our hero
slipped on hts clothes aad went TO the
Inerning prayer With a bright face. At
last ina long Awaited noon hour. whe-, hts
mother vas expected 10 arrive came
around Hs was ever ana again s.arnrtnx
his feet biting his lips, sprucfns hinsaIt
sF asking wha- time Il was The men
weH' o'l, TO drill. but he wa. excused ms
morning, As soon as he found himself
alone lie Garied upstairs TO whcr. hi~ he'd
seed For TnInut. or two 10 ste.ot. lear
Ing against tie wal. then he sat down, MS
e'o~ws p7rpp~d on hts knees. his tace IN
iis hands ard his eyes ou the se,or.
She is coming over here % thta w.-.-
Toom-" he thougat 20 himself. with a hss,-
suppressed chscki@. anG gently ~ratchtrx
MS bead n ID botA hazlSs, and then o,t.1ry
Sie fSair fingers and rrjnx his @va ~, a
%p2i IL tie VAL: "Ls.n't thesA -3syr vsay.
se~7'1l long Fo-r u1othar You az. er,xrfrr
All re Way sroEu ao-ne - ~. IT, Aig
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