The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-28

from Uncle Dan lately"
mo. sir; amt" said Dan, with soms
thing Of dazed look In his eyes.
"Ah. he's not much OF a writer. II b,
with his one ARM
mo. sir; be amt"
! And, after pause. "ls he's he a
/ right, sir?"
"Ail right las. time I heard from him
Dan. I suppose we may sit DOWN."
Surely, SIR" said the sergeant, VIII
was lowering around. Now. you bye:
skedaddle. Like your imperence, hangin
round with your mouths wide open whel
Rendle has visitors from his Uncle DAN
We'll. and have they made you sergean
yet. Dan, or corporal. or WHAT"
NO. sir; amt noth'n but just full pri
yate. But I've got two good conduc
stripes. an'-an' they say I'm Z have 1
medal"
"Oh, and what's the medal for? Shoot
ing2" at
NO sir: fur-fur swimmfn'." said Dan
modestly.
For savin' bye's life at sea at riss
OF his own" said the sergeant, who wa.
still within earshot.
"oh, how was that? That's a greai
thing to have done. my boy. and a thfnt
to be proud of. It's not everybody gets
the chance, or has the pluck to take ad-
vantage Of it"
1t was the sergeant, however, who TOLD
us the story, and pointed out Jim Foley
still sitting In the door of his tent and
straining eyes and ears our way, as the
'fullish bye which didn't know enough to
keep inside his depth. and spilled me a
pair o. new trousers, he did, too, forbye,
wi his fullishnes5."
We stopped chatting with Dan for close
on half an hour. He told us all that he
knew, and a great deal that he thought,
about a sham fight with the soldiers in
the other camp that was to come of in
the marshes that night. and strongly ad-
vfsed US to be present. It was to be a
slap-up. real banging affair. and
wouldn't they Just make a noise! He
showed US inside his tent, which he
shared with five others. and all his be-
longings, and led US past Jim Foley. with
his nose up and his head in the air, to the
mess tent; and finally, after we had taken
leave OF the sergeant. and begged his ac-
ceptance OF half crown. he conducted us
proudly past the sentries and said good-ty,
and stood looking after US. with his hand
firmly clasped on a five shilling piece and
an expression Of face that was strangely
compounded Of gratitude and mystifica-
tion.
When we strolled up to camp next day
Dan was on sentry duty at the front en-
trance. There were score of the town
boys. regarding him enviously, and he
would not permit himself SO much as the
flicker Of an eyelid from the straight path
OF duty. His eyes shone on us like blue
and 1 got fleetlng impression
of slight tremor of the under part of
tine left eye cup; but the little warrior
sternly nipped the flower of friendship in
the bud and remained as immobile as IL
he had swallowed the barrel of his mus
ket and had been cast in gun metal.
The neyL day we begged leave for him
for the afternoon and carried him off in
a carriage and pair for drive around the
countryside, and home to our lodgings to
tea, and we all delighted in him greatly.
My youngest boy desired forthwith to be
put into soldiers orphanage. that he
might begin to emulate the deeds Of DAN
ny the Great, and his mother had to be at
much pains to explain to him that on sew
aral counts he was not at present eligi-
Die.
Dan chartered away most entertaining
y Of his soldering experiences, asserting
hat they had licked the big fellows all to
its in the marshes the other night, and
Hated at considerable length on the
,reat time they had had at the canteen,
when he had had his uncle Dams health |
Trunk with full honors in forty bottles
If ginger beer. But amt spent all the
money yet" he said, with a deprecatory
lance at me.
But when 1 hintcd that money was
meant to be spent, and was apt to burn !
oles in boys pockets il kept too Tonga !
proposition which made my own young /
tiers prick up their ears-and endeavored 1
O draw him on the use to which the bal
nee was to be put. he rapidly changed
he subject, and I forebore to worry him.
/ was very curious to know IL my own
u.'mises as TO Dams Uncle Dan were any
there near the mark. and when wife was
utting the younger children to bed told
he others to run down to the beach while
IAN aand had a talk.
Now, Danny, my. man. tell me about
our Uncle Dan," 1 began when we were
lone. Where does he Iive?"
He looked at me very straight for the
pace Of minute, as though debating in
is own mind whether to unload himself
r not. and then said briefly:
81 amt got no Uncle Dam"
It was so exactly what expected that.
fter all that had passed, I could not re-
ain from shout Of laughter, at which he
nitted his brovs and bIinked quickly.
I'D saw that had hurt him. stretch
j out my hand.
You must excuse me, old man." said,
put .hai was exactly what I imagined"
which a look Of relief came over his
ice. And yet you fought Jim Foley be-
,use he cast doubts on Uncle Dan. and
ou wen. in after Jim because your Uncle
an sent you?''
"Gosh!" said Danny, and looked upon
e as a wizard.
Tell me all about 1t. Danny. Perhaps !
can help
We'll, sir. it was like this" he said
outiy. "All the other chaps had sisters
nd cousins and aunts and things. and
ever had nobody. and l. felt kind OF out, '
I'd just made up Uncle Dan to be up
des with EN- An. made him Just as {
d ha' liked to ha' had him IL I'd had him
ally. Bin at Waterloo. an lest his arm J
! his legs an all the rest OF 1t. An i
T." and there was the suspicion OF I
shametaced break in the clear little {
,ice-"an' I tried to do things as I t
ought he'd ha' liked re to do EN- An /
done me good. sir, so whats the odds?" c
Danny" I said. you're little trump. {
CIV tell me one other thing. What were 2
III saving the rest Of that money for?" I
II were goin' to write myself some let c
rs from Uncle Dan." he said. with al
-inklc in his eyes. ..4 r
Well, now Danny. I'm going TO make o
proposal to you. You've got no Uncle
IN, and you want one badly. to be up
les with the other fellows. VIII you
me be your Uncle Dan. and look after
u bit"
rhe blue eyes sparkled like diamonds. 4
L filed suddenly. and his head went s.
WI into his arms on the table. and he C
,bed silently for the space of two min
,s-aa emotion that / should imagine s.
s very foreign to hm-and my hear. re- q
ced exceedingly that this happy though, D
/ been given to it. II
Il
have never had one moments cause to W