Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-12-18
By
EDWIN L.
SABIN

chest, ne nau only one eye, MS uuuy
was twisted askew, his gun was bro
ken, his cap was missing, his features
were battered and distorted, and a. for
his uniform Of black and yellow-there
was hardly spot Of paint on him!
I-I'ye 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
hands Of little boy, sure enough, but
he wasn't allowed to hurt me. See, I
haven't a mark on me-" And he ex-
hiblted himself proudly.
True, he was still in dress parade
condition,
Thunder and Mars!" chuckled the
first. "And look at me! Do you mean
to 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 n very orderly little boy"
80 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.
dier.
"And did he shoot ut you with his
rubber gun evcrI"
Never" said the splck and span SOL
dler.
"And he didn't bite you to see how
soft you were3"
"Never,' said the splck and span sol.
dler.
"Or drag you about among the chairs
with a string?'
Never" said the splck and span SOL
dier.
"Or sick the terrier on your"
"Ncver."
"Or take you to bed with him and
roll on you"
"Never. was always placed on the
shelf In the closet"
"Or kick you or whack you or throw
you"
"Never. Watch-I can present arms
as well as ever"
"Or kiss you and hug you with all
bis might and cry for you when he
was sick through eating too much
candy"
"Never. He used to forget me en-.
tirely for days and days. Did your
boy really do all that to you"
"Yes, all that and more" answered
the battered soldier softly.
"And did he kiss you. you say|
asked the spick and span soldier bit
wlstfully.
"Yes; he kicked me and he kissed
me-" laughed the first.
"And did you enjoy itl" pursued the
second curlously.
II had the time Of my llfe," declared
the other How did you find things
up to your expectations"
The spick and span soldier hesitated;
then he replied;
Possibly. can't complain. But
but somehow l grew dreadfully en-.
nuled. | almost longed at times for
more excitement more energy. We
got tired Of one another. After day
or so we exhausted all our programme
Of proper exercises, and he was 80 eau
tious Of wearing me out that was
laid aside, and-and, finally, here !
am. | don't suppose he even knows
that I'm gone"
Dear me"' mused the other. "Im
glad my little boy was not like yours.
OF course there are the knocks; but,
oh, our companlonship was sweet! |
bet he's crying for me at this Instant,
poor chum! Still, 1t Is as well that |
am carted to the dump. | am old and
dlsfgured and q back number, and |
wanted to 60 before he would cease to
miss me-
The splck and span soldier was ST.
lent.
"Hl, yi!' sollloqulzed the veteran,
with sigh and with chuckle, stifily
rolling over on his back. "Pm past re-
pairs, but It was sweet-aye, 1t was
worth 1t! I-have--had-the-time-o l.
-my-llfe."
And with bis one eye he gazed
through q chlnk In the debris up ut the
stars. lsa,.- 6,
afgyaa