Graham guardian., 1902-12-26

NphllhuCu luC ulSl. Ou, lOI Il tlluUSCs
But the majority of little boys are
so rough and careless" responded the
second. Il un rstand they scratch
you and bend you and otherwise NAL
treat you without cause, and soon
you're done for. ! prefer duty of
more quiet, instructive nature. where
may teach by means Of my dcport.
ment rather than by violent action"
"Wcll, ! should enjoy hard drill
and a tusslC | believe" asserted tie
first
our organism is too fine for such
active service, my lad indulgcntly
corrected the second. "What-scratc,
and dents? No, no. Give me post Of
more elegance. where my uniform will
be treated as it deserves"
Christmas day had been over ANA
gone a month when after their seUaIa
tiOn the two soldiers again encounter
ed one another. but this time in grc@i
heap Of rubbish ut the city dump
where the dump man had unwittingly
thrown them out.
"Hurrah. Hello. old chap" cXclaim
ed the first soldier delightcGly
Hello" returned the second. with
rather more reserve. Goodness! Seen
through the Seven Years war;"
Well might he rut this query Th2
other soldier was & perfect wreck lie
had lost an arm ana 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 us for
his uniform OF black and yellow there
was hardly 4 spot Of paint on him.
"I-Tye been having my tusslc." an
nounced the first, with Il cracked laugh.
'"But you-why, you evidently found
just what you were looking for"
YES" explained the second. Il fell
into an excellent post 1t was the
hands OF little boy. sure enough, but
he wasn't allowed to hurt me. See.
haven't n mark on me-" And he eX.
hibitcd himself proudly.
Vrue he was still in dress parade
condition.
Thunder and Mars" chuclllcd tn
first And look at me, DO you mean
TO say that you never were stepped
Ont'
"Oh, no" replied the second. 81
didn't lie around on the noor was
put away just as soon us he was done
AL with TIiS laI
made him very orderly little boy"
so you never stayed out all night
in the hall or i'm the middle of the sit
ting roomE"
Never" said the spick and span SOL
dier
""And did he shoot at you with his
rubber gun ever?"
'Never," said the spick and span sol
der
And lie 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
dier.
'Or sick the terrier on youY
Never"
"0r take you to bed with him and
roll on you?"
Never. WIS always placed on the
shelf in the closet"
Or kick you or whacl you or throw
you?"
Never Watch-l can present arms
as well as ever"
"Or kiss you AID hug yDu with oil
his might and cry for yoI whca lee
was sick through eating too much
candy"
Never. He used to forget me en-
tircly 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 spck and span soldier bi;
wistfully.
Yes; lie kicked me and he kissed
me-" laughed the first.
And did you enjoy itT" pursued the
second curiously.
Il had the time of my life" declared
the other, How did you find things
up to your eXpectationsT
The spick and span soldier hesitated;
then he replied
POSSIBLY. | can't complain. But
but somehow | grew dreadfully cn-
nuied. almost lOnged at times for
more excitement. more energy. We
got tired Of one another. After a day
or SO we exhausted all our programme
of proper exercises. and he was so eau
tious OF wearing me out that was
laid aside. and-and, finally. here |
am. DONE suppose he even knows
that I'm gone.
Dear mcr' missed the ether I'm
glad my little boy was not like yours.
OF course there are the knocks; but
H. cur companionship was sweet.
bet he's crying for me at this instant.
pc4r chum! Still, it is as well that
.m cartcd TO the dump am old and
disfigurcd and Il back number, and
wanted to go before be would cease TO
miss me-"
The spick and span soldier was 81
lent
Hi yi!' sOliloquized the veteran
with sigh and with a chucklc. stihiy
'Olling over on his back. I'm past re.
pairs, but ii was swcTt-aye it was
worth it. I-have-had the -time-of
And with his one eye he gazed
through Il chink in tho debris up at the