The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-05-24
LETTER FROM WISSNER.
MI JOHNSTON, OF THIS PLACE, RE-
4 CEIYES A VERY INTERESTING
LETTER FROM THE
PHILIPPINES,
SAN NICOLAS, PROVINCE OF
,yur. ISLAND OF CEBU, p. l.
Nv DEAR PAUL.

| was indeed
,oased to hear from you. | en-
hse the diary of Alexandra Fri
o., a corporal in the Rebel
lrmv. From papers that were
-ron me to translate | learned
l,t he was a man of great bra
,r and had been appointed
Orporal because of his conduct
battle. He was killed in a
Idrmish on Christmas day.
his little books was found on
i person. The first entry
Ipaks of his taking part in the
|attle of the 10Th, 2lst, and up to
he 22nd of September, at eight
clock in the evening. The last
b1try speaks of his going out to
Erout on Christmas morning 1t
has his last scout. Peace to his
shes.
As sat by the window of our
Barracks, looking across tn e
Street, | noticed a man with a
hand on his arm and "that re-
minds me" as Kipling says, that
Pedro Luga" is a married man.
bis wife is about 10 years of age
little chit of a brown woman
With black eyes and hair, and the
finest little feet. They have
|hree babies-or, rather, did have
Or one is dead. Last week, |
couldn't sleep for several nights
because of the crying of the
youngest child. One morning the
crying ceased, and the mother
ran into the street yelling like one
TOssessed, picking up handfuls
d dust and throwing them on her
head, crying "acong anoc patay
na" -"My child is dead" Soon
the women of the neighborhood
began to gather, and as each new
arrival reached the scene, she
! pined the lament--the babies took
p the cry-the dogs began to
bowl The whole scene was com
Eal as well as pathetic. Pedro
ind | had been quite chummy,
% | sent over to offer my service
before inquiring. | learned that
The dead child would be buried
the next day if Pedro could raise
enough money for the funeral,
A funeral costs a good sum in
heir eyes, for they make great
Of death. Pedro was penniless
but the boys made a little purse
0r him and the company tailor
made a white shroud for the
nd out of an old undershirt
The child was washed and laid
Out on a board. Pedro, with a
handful OF money, went down to
'he market and returned with
Two sucking pigs, some fresh
Ounalo meat, vegetables, and a
great bundle of dry fish. The
leghbors gathered their crock
uy and prepared for a great
eaSt At sunset | went over and
ound about fifty natives feast
as' laughing, drinking palm
VINE and singing. The father
WAS In a condition of maudlin
%unkenness. SO much so that
e wanted to embrace me. |
Ound the mother squatting on
"e ground, groaning and moan
as over her dead child. The
casting and drinking continued
uu"'ght' About daybreak Pedro
''ule over and extended me an
uH'atlon to be present at the fu-
leFal exercises which were to
"Ae place at ten o'clock. About
"'past nine, four little boys
'eSsed in white, carrying a bier
VI winch rested a little wooden
Vulu' painted white, arrived at
1'' nouse. The baby was placed
s''e coffin (Which had no cover
4u The bier was carried out un-
~ d cocoanut tree. The boys
'D'eu themselves at each end of
n'o V oler The neighbors again
SsSS'''efed, sS each carrying a hand
N %oi White flowers, which they
ob" rIa'eo In the coffin on top of the
0a 'uu' AT ten o'clock the band
,0, ue and then a carriage con
u'ug the priest and two altar
o." ss' : After the ceremony of the
ss 'uollc church which is the
"'pie The world oxo, +Lo ,1,,;ost