River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-10-11
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+ THE ARMY CHAPLAIN !
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He made quaint figure as he stood
beside the river steamer, in the cruel,
binding heat. waiting for the Burman
coolies to take his baggage up the
sand bank to the transport cart. The
large white sun-helmet had ludicrous
effect above the thin, freckled face
and the short body; the loosely -ftting
duck suit seemed only TO show up
more clearly the sloping shoulders and
narrow chest. Certainly not man
to impress one favorably a first sight;
and it did not take the station long to
agree that his social qualifications
were in keeping with his appearance.
He was the guest of the regiment on
the night of his arrival, and sat in the
place of honor on the colonies right.
The colonel heaved an obvious sigh of
relief when we rose, and the guest
was handed over to be entertained by
US.
We tried for many nights to make
something of him, for we were a regi-
ment with a reputation for giving
happy home to strangers within our
gates, and we felt for once that we
were turning out failure.
He was not a success in the pulpit,
either; his best friends-if he ever had
any-could not have called him bril-
liant preacher. The sermons he read
certainly must have been his own, they
were so intensely uninteresting.
Tommy Atkins may not have strong
religious inclinations, but he is very
much a human being, and once he is
your friend there are infinite possibili-
ties. On the strength of polite but
forcible hint the padre made a feeble
attempt to enter into barrackroom
life The men bore it more or less pa
tiently for a time. but soon began to
shuu him like the plague, or sham
sleep when he caught them in the
bungalow.
The hot weather had been worse
than usual. and had been a sickly sea-
son; and in the middle of it cholera
had come to strain tense nerves to
breaking point The men. ordinarily
so easy to deal with, were getting out
Of hand, and acts of characterization
were cropping up daily, which neither
kindness nor punishment seemed able
to repress. II eventually eliminated
through the padre.
Private LoXton, of company c, had
been brought before the commanding
officer, and punished for disorderly
conduct in church. The following
Sunday, the padre, with culpable want
of tact, leveled a portion of his ser
mon at the offender, who sat there sui
len from his punishment. Private
nothing for it but further punishment,
and Private Loxton went TO the al
ready well-flled cells. On the day of
his release, the color sergeant went,
with troubled countenance, to his cap
tain
Beg VT pardon, sir, I don't quite
like he looks of things in the company.
There's Loxton, and Smithers, and
Brown. and one or two more. always
whispering together. and shutting up
when l go near. ] treat them as ten
derby as | can, sir. but it's no use; and
] think there's mischief brewing"
Merrall thought for a minute
III tell you what. color sergeant;
send LoNton round to my bungalow
with note this evening, and I'll have
quiet, friendly sort of chat with him,
and see what | can do. He used to be
a decent enough chap, in his rough
way. until lately"
But Private Loxton had made his
own arrangements for that evening,
and had set off. with rifle and ammu-
milton. to practice at the range. And
shortly afterward the padre started
for a lonely evening stroll in the
jungle
Before he had gone far he heard
the sound of some one running fast
behind him, and turned round, mildly
wondering how anyone could find en-
ergy enough to run. Private Dawkins
saluted, gasping and perspiring.
The color sergeant saw you. sir. and
sent me TO say as Private Loxton ave
took is rifle for the range but e 'asn't
gone to the range, sir. 'E's gone some
where in that bit o. jungle, and e said
e was going to do for some O. the or
ficers. and ed do for you. too. I've got
TO &c for the aditant now"
Private Dawkins sa.uted again. and
was gone. Even in that sweltering
heat cold sweat broke out on the
padre. He walked off very quickly
after Private Dawkins; then he
stopped. hesitated, turned and walked
back again very slowly to the spot he
started from; then he stopped again.
and thought.
To most men comes. some time. their
Iportuuity. and he recognized that
his had come. Somewhere in the belt of
jungle, which seemed so much nearer
now, a man was waiting to so to per-
dition. body and soul; and not only
that. but he meant to hurry to judy
ment other souls, no better prepared.
perhaps. than his own. The padre
pulled himself together with a little
SILVER. and. throwing back his narrow
shoulders. stepped out for the Jungle
as firmly as he could. He had always
been a sensitive ugly duckIing, and
that had been sufficient to make his
life miserable. without the girl at home
coming into it. He remembered. with
sense of shame. how she had only
laughed at him, and tried to hide her
laughter. That was why he was out
in Burma, and he wondered what she
would say when she heard he was dead
so soon. aud how he died. He ished,
with the first feeling of pride he had
ever known, that she could see him
now.
Then his thoughts stopped suddenly,
for be had pushed aside the first
branches of the jungle. and-the muz
zle of Private LOTIONS rifle was point
ing at his chest! The padres very
breath stopped, and no stone figure
could have been more motionlesS. Pri-
vate LoSton opened the proceedings
with foul-mouthsd oath. He had
heen drinking TO excess. ard his blood
shot eyes I'D a wild-beast light in
them.
pray away. you beggar." he said.
ave been covering your little body
for ten minutes. ard I'm getting tired
of it
Il was afraid yca'd have shot ME be-
fore 1 got here said the padre, sim
ply.
Private Loxton stared at him.
what the deuce did you come for.
them" he said.
The padre saw his opportunity, and
took it.
IN tell you why came" he said,
"if you'll give me five minutes mere.