Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-19
1903
NUMBER 81

|
with all my heart" agreed the
other. THE monotony is frightful."
I'D give half my solder to receive
orders to report to some little boy -
continued the first. oh for changer
But the majority of little boys are
SO rough and carcless.'' responded the
second Il understand they scratch
you and bend you and otherwise mall
treat you without cause, and soon
you're done for. l prefer duty of a
more quiet. instructive nature, wnere
may teach by means Of my deport-
ment rather than by violent action"
"Well, | should enjoy hard drill
and a tussle, | believe" asserted the
first.
"Our organism is too fine for such
active service my lad" indulgently
corrected the second. "What-scratches
and dents? No, no. Give me post of
more elegance, where my uniform will
be treated as it deserves"
| Christmas day had been over and
gone a month when after their separa-
ton the two soldiers again encounter
ed one another, but this time III a great
heap of rubbish at the city dump,
where the dump man had unwittingly
thrown them out
"Hurrah, Hello, old chap exclaim-
ed the first soldier delightedly.
"Hello." returned the second, with
rather more reserve. Goodness. Been
through the Seven Years war;"
Well might he put this query. The
other soldier was perfect wreck. He
had lost an arm and a foot, his head
was sharply inclined forward upon his
chest, he had only one eye. his body
was twisted askew, his gun was bro
ken, his cap was missing, his features
were battered and distorted, and as for
his uniform of black and yellow-there
was hardly spot of paint on him.
Give been having my tussle," an
nounced the first, with cracked laugh.
But you-why, you evidently found
just what you were looking for"
Yes" explained the second, II fell
into an excellent post. 1t was the
lands of little boy, sure enough, but
ae wasn't allowed to hurt me. See, l
haven't Il uldFk on me. Anu lie eA-
aibited himself proudly.
True, he was still in dress parade
condition.
Thunder and Mars" chuckled the
irst. And look at me. Do you mean
20 say that you never were stepped
on?"
"Oh, no, replied the second. II
didn't lie around on the floor. l was
put away just as soon as he was done
playing with me. His mother had
made him very orderly little boy"
so you never stayed out all night
In the hall or in the middle of the sit
ting room?"
Never" said the spick and span sol
der
And did he shoot at you with his
rubber gun ever"
Never" said the spick and span SOL
der.
and he didn't bite you to see how
soft you were?''
Never" said the spick and span sol
der
"Or drag you about among the chairs
with string:"
Never" said the spick and span sol
der.
or sick the terrier on you?"
Mover
"Or take you to bed with him and
'oll on you?"
Never | was always placed on the
shelf in the closet"
"Or kick you or whack you or throw
7ou?"
Never Watch-I can present arms
is well as ever
"Or kiss you and hug you with all
lis might and cry for you when he
vas sick through eating too much
andy"
Never. He used to forget me en-
.irely for days and days. Did your
JOY really do all that to you?"
Yes, all that and more" answered
he battered soldier softly.
And did he kiss you. you say?"
sked the spick and span soldier a bit
vistfully.
Yes: he kicked me and he kissed
ne" laughed the first.
And did you enjoy it?" pursued the
econd curiously.
Il had the time of my life declared
he other. How did you find things
p to your expectations"
The spick and span soldier hesitated;
hen he replied:
Possibly. | can't complain. But
ut somehow l grew dreadfully en-
uied. | almost longed at times for
lore excitement, more energy. We
OF tired of one another. After a day
r SO we exhausted all our programme
proper exercises. and he was so eau
GUS of wearing me out that l was
lid aside, and-and, finally, here l
N. | don't suppose he even knows
lat I'm gone"
Dear me- unused the other I'm
lad my little boy was not like yours
f course there are the knocks; but,
|, our compaLionship was sweet! l
It he's crying for me at this instant,
'or chum! Still, it is as well that l
n carted to the dump. l am old and
sfigured and a back number, and l
anted to go before he would cease to
ISIS me-
The spick and span soldier was ST.
ut.
Hi, VII" soliloquized the veteran,
th a sigh and with Il chuckle, stiffly
ling over on his back. I'm past re-