The Press., 1899-06-22
volley pealed forth from the deadly

CQ0Ck was only uOn6uGdTy, anu on 1QG0;
the jaws of death the column went.
Every man leaned forward as though
breathing a heavy wind. From right,
left and front they felt the pounding Of
the enemy s guns, and shrapnel swept
through the ranks like hail
On the summit Of the hill the block
house swarmed with the foe, dimly seen
through putting lines Of smoke from our
gnns The Spanish were intrenched-
Americans in the open. But never
mindl Forward! And soon the foreign
fee was driven back and the stronghold
captured.
Half way down the slope. as the VIC
tors pursued the flying enemy, a with
ering blast of Mauser bullets swept
across the open ground, and the boy
who now lay dying in the open space
in the tall grass fell forward with ball
in his thigh. A comrade ran to his as
sistance. and he made his way painful
ly to the rear, but as lie passed along
another Spanish bullet struck him in
the right arm, and presently he was
wounded in the left. IN his day Of
battle was done, and the black hours Of
Inconsistencies followed.
When reason returned the sounds Of
battle had ceased, ard he wondered
where his comrades were. We're they
all dead? Would they search for him ?
He was alive, but he knew that death
would come in few short hours How
hot the sun beat down! How still ev-
1ything seemed to him no whizzing
hill sv, %hn .oi1 hrID n
screaming shell, nor the yell of charg-
ing troops nothing but the silence of
an ocean of grass. There was the dead
Cuban lying at his feet-a CHASTITY
bunch of mortality. How big and black
he was His eyes were staring at him
like balls of glass What were. they
staring at him for? The night was ccm
ing on apace-would he have to lie in
the tall grass until the morrow He
could not tell. And then the dark cloud
again settled Ger his senses and it WIS
hours before the light came into his
soul.
Deaths door is mirror and the dy-
ing have good memories When con-
seriousness returned the boys mind
went back to his home He wondered if
all was well on the old farm, where he
and his mother and brother had lived in
peace until the war with Spain called
him to the front. He had letter in his
pocket from home-he would read it
again. But, alas! he could not reach
his pocket-both arms were disabled
and in the inky darkness he could not
see.
How long since had he left home
Three months! only three months And
now he lay dying in his young man.
hood. He remembered the morning that
he left his home. The birds were sing
ing and nature was at her best. The
fields were clothed in green and the
brook softly murmured over the pebbles
at the bottom. He had donned his new
uniform, and be felt little sharp pang
as he left his home. He remembered ii
all very well.
"Goodby. Bill" he had said to his
brother. "Take good care of mother. "
"Look out for Spanish bullets and
bring back machete, said Bill.
"I'm off, MOTHER
"Goodby, my son. Be brave and serve
your country like man" Then she
embraced and kissed him. and the part.
ing was over.
The old house cat rubbed against him
and purred as if to bid him godspeed
His faithful old dog followed him dowr
the lane, but with stern words his mas
ter drove him back. At the edge of the
town blue eyed, fair haired girl stood
at the gate. care you really going t.
fight the Spanish. John?">
eyes, Helen, and have come to say
goodby." There was then hasty kiss
warm pressure of hands, and thus hi
left home.
Everything was so hushed and darl
now. Was the whole world dead? Why
was he lying helpless here2 How had il
happened2 Then he remem bered-tht
furious charge across the open field. NJ
the hill and over the crest in the face Of
a rain of Spanish bullets. The air hum
med and whistled. From the trenches
and blockhouses the Mausers spit al
them. Then the blow came to him. 1
was terrible shock. It seemed to lif
him from his feet and double him W
and pitch him forward; then the pain
full journey to the rear, two more bulle
wounds, and then unconsciousness.
Now he was dying in the darkness
How strange it all was! That dead Gu
ban-how black he looked, and how hi
eyes glared! There was tiny hole il
his forehead where life had leapet
through Some one was crying for wa
ter. Was it himself? He could not tell
The night was getting cold, and tn
heavy dew made the tall grass soggy
There were no stars to watch him
Would nobody help him2 Hark! Tha
was his dog bowling, and how loud i
wasl
How weak and dizzy he felt.
"Goodby, Bill. -
He could not see Everything wa
growing dim.
Farewell. motherI Helen
And the deep, dank grass waved
weeping requiem to another brav
young soul Free Press.