The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-12-26
The TWO SOLDIERS.
Bf EDWIN L sADIN,
Copyright, 1902, by Edwin Z. s.hi,

| WIS oTiiilant holiday store,
j TN" windows and the shelves and
| b tlc cases ablaZe with fil,grcc
.Ss and throngcd with coils and
! ciShcs and engines and trains and
skates and sleds and hobbyhorses
that EalIoped, and cows that moocd
ana mice that ran, and-and every.
thing. absolutely everything, that ever
enters the most rapturoCs Christmas
| dream.
In the center Of the large show win.
doWs. fronting upon the gay street,
stooa two soldiers. They were by all
ouds the finest soldiers I'm the store
much superior to the personnel com.
posing the different tN,ops and regi.
ments and companies stationed here
ana there along the nisles. The pnir
were MADE or tin. to be sure: but they
were of heroic stature. eight inches
toll. richly uniformed in black and
yellow, and could he wound UP so that
they would present arms several times
In succession.
The other soldiers, poor things. were
compelled to remain the whole time ut
carry" or right shoulder" with.
out relief.
Naturally these two soldiers were
proud ana OF aspirations reaching be.
yoEa tneir present narrow quarters
They p!ned for II wider sphere. As
they stood and stared with stern. fixed
gaze through the plate glass into the
guy street they talked together in toy
language. and none. not even the most
versatile iinguists among the people
RaSSlng and rcpassinG. knew that they
'oh. to get away from this eternal
guard mount over lot Of frippery-'
sighed the one
| with all NY heart" agreed the
other, "rhe monotony is frightful"
I'D give half my solder to receive
orders to report to some little boy"
continued the first. "Oh. for Il changer
"But the majority of little boys are
so rough and Careless" responded the
second. IL understand they scratch
you and bend you and otherwise NAL
treat you without cause. aud soon
you're done for. l prefer duty of a
more quiet. instructive nature. where
l may teach by means Of my dcport-
ment rather than by violent action"
well, should enjoy hard drill
and tussle, I believe" asserted the
J first.
| Our organism Is too fine for such
active service, my lad" indulgently
corrected the second. "What-scratches
and dents? No. no. Give me n post Of
more elegance. where my uniform win
be treated as it deserves"
! Christmas day had been over and
gene month when after their separa-
| ton the two soldiers again encounter
ed one another. but this time in a great
heap Of rubbish at the city dump,
where the dump man had unwittingly
thrown them out.
'"Hurrah! Hello Old chapr exclaim.
ed the first soldier deliShtcdly.
Hello" returned the second, with
rather more reserve. Goodness! Been
through the Seven Years war?"
Well might lie put this query The
other soldier was perfect wreck. He
had lost an arm and foot. his bead
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 fol
his uniform of black and ycllow-thert
was hardly spot of paint OH him!
'I-Tve been having my tusslc," IN
nounced the first, with n cracked laugh
But you-why, you evidently foun(
just what you were looking for"
YES" explained the second. II fol
into an excellent post. 1t was the
hands Of little boy, sure enough, but
he wasn't allowed to hurt me. See, ]
haven't mark on me-" And he ex.
hibited 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. 81
didn't lie around on the floor. I was
put away just as soon as he was done
playing with me. His mother haC
made him very orderly little boy"
$50 you never stayed ont al nigh
in the hall or In the middle of the sit
ting roomg"
"Never." said the spicl and span sol
dier.
] "And did he shoot at you with hi