The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-05-10
JOINING THE NAVY.
LOYAL MINNESOTA BOY TRAINS
FUR UNCLE SANS SERVICE.
Leaves His Girl at Rivals Mercy,
But She Remains Faithful
and Freezes the Inter
loper Out.

| l0e small country lONn, uhlH hO S"'
the picture of a man-of-war. In every
American boys heart there Is some
! thing about the picture of one OF our
| floating fighting machines that starts
within him all the torrents of latent
patriotism and love of a good fight,
and this boy was no exception to the
rule, relates the Minneapolis Tribune.
But to want to enlist was but the
mere beginning of the boys actual
enlistment. There were obstacles to
overcome. His father was a business
man and had made other plans for
his son. The village jokesmith told a
! few jolly ones about people getting
seasick to the bunch of time brokers
behind the harness shop and the cur
ly.haired wonder with the bright eye
on the main chance, who pushed dry
goods across the counter for the in
spection of the town bellies, made a
mental calculation that with the boy
out of the way a certain girl would
which he might help to fill. AS for
the girl she seemed to take things
very quietly-in fact so quietly that a
shrewd observer might suspect her Of
harboring some inside information
which gave her mind this unseemly
peace.
The curly-haired dry goods juggler
was little more disconcerting
Three nights week was big open
Ing to leave and four years long
while to be gone, but still he resolved
to trust to an original scheme which
had flashed across his mind when the
question of leaving the girl had first
presented itself. He went to talk it
over with the girl. There were some
more calculations, a half interest in
certain prosperous little hardware
store was discussed, a little house,
too, just across from where the girl
lived, was mentioned and the girl
thought it was awful for anyone to
marry at IS anyhow
Then there must have been prom
ise-perhaps sealed promise, some
thing, anyway. The boy left the
house with happy look and the curly
haired dry goods artist, whose net
weekly income had about as much
show of rising above eight dollars a
week as New York insurance direc-
tor has of reaching for more" was
effectually erased from his thoughts.
Three days later the boy went to
Minneapolis. He passed a good ex.
animation and was sent away to 'Fris-
co the same night with four other
boys, with the same ambition and
destination.
The boy was sent shortly after to
tie training ship Pensacola, where the
young boys are taught all sorts of
things necessary to make them efn-
cient seamen, For instance, he wrote
that he was taught to sew canvas.
splice rope, maxi knots, elc.
The boy kept his eyes upcn and soon
saw that he would 10 able to pass the
examination for seaman, which would
give him more pay and open the way
to promotion. His division officer en-
couraged him in this effort, as well as
some others of the bright boys and it
won't be long before he obtains his
new rate. About the time of his ex
animation the new cruiser Californi,
Will be commissioned. This shin is
fine example of the new armoured
cruiser of $4,000 tons displacement.
The boy has hopes for place
aboard this latest product of the
Union Iron works, where also was
built the famous Oregon, especially as
she will be in the Asiatic fleet. If the
clouds of war gather above China and
break into storm, the boy will he
there TO take part in it and acouit
hlmself as Minnesota boys always do
In the meanwhile. the curly.haired
beginning OF a Marshall Field finish
had been as astute as the fox. Not
Tor month did he drop around to
make his consolation call, not he. For
that he was too smart-better bv far
to let the "out-of-sight-out.o t.of-mind"
theory prove itself and allow the
pangs of the boys departure TO
ameliorate in The fair ones heart
Ihen one night he lost himself in one
OF those broad-shoudered effects that
make }. Jeffries look like a bad case
OF ingrowing development, changed
the ends of his cuffs, and dropped
around Just casually as it were.
When he sat down in the parlor he
noticed several pictures of the Yub,
Buena Island Training station on tb,.
piano and the belt around the eirl,,
waist bore in gold letters u. s. 8,
Pensacola"
When she turned to show him soms
picture postals from Frisco he aIso
observed her collar was fastened nv
pin shaped u. S. ~" and above
the mantel piece, which place he bao
thus far failed to see. was the framed
photo OF a young sailor around which
somebody had draped the America
flag.
The curly-haired one saw be bao
made false start aud realizing sadly
that IT. and Z made "23" took the Grst
opening for quiet exit.
AS he mournfully Travelled nm tho
lane he gave one farewell GLANCE -.