The Monte Vista journal., 1907-03-09

ness. in building masked batteries IN
which the said guns and mortars were
mounted, all this in the course Of be-
sieging fort occupied by confeder-
ate soldiers on another island.
1T was plenty Of hard work and
not much play, and most OF the freight
that came to us. besides the usual
commissary supplies. was guns and
mortars and powder and shot and
shell and the various material OF war;
but one day there came ashore
lighter from transport anchored of,
along with barrels OF pork and kegs of
powder. that Christmas box from
home for us soldiers.
We hauled 1t up from the beach
and set 1t down carefully. right side
up. at the end Of the company's street
and doubt II any fireplace on a
Christmas morning was ever a greater
magnet OF attraction to children than
that box was to the men of Company
X. To man they gathered around
1t to see what Santa had brought them
from home.
1T was n big box. big dry goods
packing box: big enough to hold
something for everybody; and care
fully We opened It: and. with the lid
on, 1t seemed full OF innumera5le
treasures. SO full to the last inch OF
space was in packed.
THE orderly sergeant of the com.
pany made the distribution. lie raised
his hand and reached over and picked
up package that lay at the center
of the box. lifted 1t and read the name
on 1t, and passed 1t into the outstrei CHI
ed hand OF the man to whom 1t be-
longed.
Then he went on more RAPIDLY
picking up the things and reading on
the names and passing them over
packages Of all sorts and shapes and
sizes. all eagerly received. Some men
stayed TO see everything given out.
and some OF them went to their tents
to see what the folks had sent them.
or to read the letters that had come
with the gifts. And so the things in
the box got lower and lower. while
still there were some men who had as
yet got nothing and who now were
more and more anNious-and how Joy.
fully relieved when at last something
came up for them
But there were few, a very few.
who fingered In vain: who among all
these gifts got nothing; and plainly
disappointed were some Of these.
uyht la oil h.r IL tIv- lao,
they had no one to send them, these
but still all bore 1t bravely: and be
/ sure that those who got shared what
they could share with those who had
nothing In the box.
What came In the Christmas box
Well. not much brie.a.brac. not many
fancy candlesticks. nor card cases.
nor fancy purses. nor that sort OF
thing. but mostly useful articles
though among these were watches and
pocketknives. and so on. but there
were home knit stockings. and sewing
kits, and suspenders. and shoes, and
books, not forgetting Bibles and Tes
taments: and tobacco and pipes and
cigars: all sorts OF useful things.
and many letters and pictures.
And from whom did all these
things Gomez From wives. and from
children: and from SISTERS. and sweet
hearts. and mothers; and II was that
that made them all so dear. And.
bless their dear hearts. they did not
forget, they did not NJ all forget. the
things to eat
The box seemed full OF roasted
chicken and cookies and jellies and
sausages. and sealed up cans OF but.
ter and grand cakes. and all manners
of good things to eat. True. we had
pork enough. and We had plenty OF
hardtack. but here was something
that sayored OF Christmas"