The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-04-10

AWSM M ma bay startled the
RIH world, great change
ID y G. took place in San
q Francisco, the door
q to the new posses.
sions in the far away Orient. The
Philippines were the lawful conquest
of the United States, but it would he
no easy task to subdue the sullen
people there into recognizing the new
order of things; aud 80 the great
regiments of volunteers that had been
called for in those first excited days
wero sent West as we'll as East to
fight for their nation. At tho West
San Francisco gave glad welcome to
all who came within her gates. With
shrieking of whistles, beating of
drums, waving of flags, and smiles
and flowers from the girls who lined
the sidewalks, the march from the
ferries out to the Preside, tho mill
tary reservation at the extreme end
of the city. was long triumphal pro-
cessiop, no matter which State it was
whose delegation were being received.
Nor did the enthusiasm once flag
during each successive occupancy OF
the tents. The Presidio suddenly
ure seekers. and from morning till
night vast crowds swarmed out there,
to be entertained by the military ex.
ercises that took place daily, and by
the scraps of conversation to be en-
tered into with these strangers, who
had much to tell and to learn in re-
turn from the girls who hocked out to
sec them.
~ During the summer months of 1898
, slere were two visitors who had been
at the camp regularly for week be-
fore they were noticed by any
one. And this was not remarkable.
The girl, thin slip of thing, who
might have been any ago from ten 10
fourteen, was easily lost sight of IN
the crowd of gay, laughing young wom-
anhood that was always greatly in
evidence, aud her companion, small
boy, who could not have been so very
much younger, in point of years, was
by no means attractive in any way,
with his tow head. pale eyes and
freckled face. An unlovely object
Johnny surely was, and his appear
ance was not ct all improved by the
great tears that ran down his face the
day that Private Brown first met him.
He was saying piteously between long
drawn sobs: "Aunt Margery, 1 want
Aunt Margery," greatly to the amuse-
ment of several dashing girls, who
drew their skirts aside as he went
Aunt Margery. dol do"
Brown, breaking loose from a few
companions with whom he had been
idly lettering along, took one dirty
little hand in his and began asking
questions that soon resulted in a
rapturous greeting between the little
fellow and the solemn eyed child,
; whose attitude was almost motherly.
Y'Oh, Johnny, Johnny" her voice had
M odd break in it, "You frightened,
frightened me so. You shouldn't have
run away from mel told you oh.
Johnny and she ended what should
have been lecture with great out
burst of affection as she caught him
in her arms
The yonng soldier was turning
away, but threw hasty word over his
shoulder. "Tbat's hardly the proper
/; discipline for disobedience, he said,
carelessly. 81 know a better way
@ than that of making youngsters
mind"
Her great eyes were raised TO his.
& half in protest, half in appeal. 81
!, know" size said, meekly. "And it
was very wrong Of johnny" che
turned to the boy with great show
OF severity; then as the man took n
step forward, the color came into her
r cheeks, tears into her eyes-and the
catch in her voice that tried hard TO
DO steady was too pathetic 20 be met
G with indifference, aud Brown smiled
/, at her reassuringly ~ no turned back
again TO listen TO the few broken
sentences she seemed 90 wish him to
hear.
% II know it's discipline no wants.
a she said. "Thats what I bring him
q, here for + heard some people say
!. once what discipline thero was here
and kind Of thought johnny might
learn, too he amt got no one 10
ttuel. him lust butme-aud he didn't
mind mo much; 20 / Thought
thought that ~ ! brought him ont
hero-ho might learn, sir, Just little
how 10 mind mud all that. He's
5een real good, but to-day J guess he
Forgot Don't you think, sir, he
night learn iusta lifjlc2"
4 Brown nodded catclcsglv Hc would
have left them then, but his eyes.
fwendering over tho grounds. discov
pred that his companions had drifted
4 rom sight aud seeing nothing olse
ust then that promised any groat
amusement, ho turned back to tho
little creature beside him and tho np.
goal ia tho eyes raised GO his caused
i'm to suggest that They should sit
clown on tho grassy slope mud that she
hould tell him some more. She
boamed delight aud gratitude upon
er 'And may be you can hclp mo q"
he spid, eagerly May be you can
81 him how nice it is TO be soldier