The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-06-04

valley. could soothe with their gran
deur the chahng restlessness Ia HIS
soul They brought TO him no hope
for how could there possibly be hope?
Rama vas sure that for many. many
years he must help his mother and
take care OF bis little sister. lie loved
his mother and SISTER With all his
heart. but then the longing 90 b. a
soldier was growing day by day II
he could only have had time 60 play
soldier" with the other brown.skin.
ned lads OF the village perhaps he
would not have felt this discontent:
but his many duties about the house
and the numerous chores be was com
PEELED 20 do In order 90 gain mors.
pittance robbed him OF all leisure
And then Putal came. Rama and his
mother discovered him one morning
lying outside their hut. On and fam
ished lie bad been wounded IN the
army. Was discharged from service.
and had been wandering from place
TO place Poor as the little family
was. none was more charitable he
was Hospitality given sheHer 10 the.
rude little cottage. and Rama's moth
o. nursed him back 20 health
Although Rama's duties were now
greatly increased. he minded them not
NJ all For the old soldier. who vas
now well enough TO be out Of bed.
spun many a tale OF the camp and
march. Rama hung upon every word
/ that came from the battered war.
riors lips as he told OF exciting Skin.
mishes and long. hard campaigns Al
OF these descriptions the boy treas.
ured. and be longed for the time
when the soldier would be recoyere
/ sufficiently TO leave the house Thea
he meant 20 ask him about the use %
all warlike weapons. and 20 plead for
instruction ia their handling
Long after Putai became well he lin
] kered about the village. assuming
many Of the tasks Rama was wont 20.
do and intent upon showing his graft
/ tude 10 Rama's mother by providing
| her with a better living. And he was
Ramas companion as well. lie oh.
I tanned all the weapons employed by
the Goorkhas and. TO the boys keen
delight. taught him the manual OF
arms. The boy was an apt pupil and
rapidly became proficient
Now the lads OF the village. as has
been suggested. we're enthusiastic In
| their soldier games Thcy worg organ
lied into little company. each mem
Der with his established rank Uni
/ forms they had. with the round cap
worn by British rifemen. and some
/ times even small arms About once a
fortnight there was held meeting
when. after close competition. election
OF officers was held
Rama was present at the next cleo.
! ton. Putai suggested that the lad ask
TO be enrolled In the company.
What do you know" asked Lam
put, the captain.
Thereupon Rama proceeded TO show
what the old soldier had taught him
Wonder grew apace as he rapidly
went through the manual OF arms
without a single mistake. Then he
told what he knew OF military tactics
Finally, he placed a row OF sticks In
the ground. about eight inches apart
and with their heads Just four f'et
high. Running back distance. he
picked up from behind a tree round
quoitlike weapon sometimes used by
the Goorkha soldiers, and which Pu-
tai had presented to him. The Quot
is very sharp on its edge. Deity whirl~
ing Il, Rama cast II at one OF the
| stakes. The head of the stick was
cut of as nicely as you please. And, In
succession. Rama aut on the head OF
each stake.
Amazed at his dexterity and knowl-
edge. the lads crowded about Rama.
patted him upon the back. ard en-
Enthusiastically showered compliments
upon him.
Next time a body of troops passed
through the village the little company
OF Goorkha lads marched In frcnt. ss
was their usual custom, But at their
head was a new captain. a keen-eyed
lad with proud, digDiiei bearing
every ,nch a soldier. you would Aays
! said II was Ramal