Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-14

Her face was pale, and she looked as if she
| had been crying. Philip, darling, CONT
here!" Philip approached her, wondering whai
was the matter.
Darling" she said 81 have something te
tell you; but first little Phil, remember thai
you are a soldiers son, and must be brave
On Tuesday there was a terrible battle, anc
the English were defeated, and-dariing
| daddy-was-"
| 81 know, Aunt Julia; you needn't finish
thank yor.' and Philip turned round and LEFT
the room. Poor little chap He was only
eight, but he kept saying, "A soldiers son
never cries, and even if he minds he doesn
show that he minds"
| And he bravely made his way upstairs to
| the schoolroom, where he and the other chill
dren, with the exception of Peter, did lessons
from nine till twelve with a daily ,governess.
s WAS that naaeRg an went woadn s
Philips thoughts kept wandering OF to
South Africa and daddy, and he could not fix
his attention on the lesson. Pat was rude
to Miss Smith, and had three French verbs
given him to learn, and altogether 1t was not
a very cheerful little party that got ready
/ to go for walk After dinner Mrs. Silyes-
ter told the other children the sad news Of
Colonel Trevors death. From that day the
house seemed changed The children no longer
played at soldiers-Philip refused to look at
them. they no longer raced over the house
playing hide and seek; Philips merry ringing
laugh was never heard now.
One day, about a fortnight later, Pat come
| tearing downstairs to breakfast. Mother,
he burst out, as soon as he got inside the
room, do come to Philip. / can't make him
out All night long he's been jabbering away,
and just now when tried to wake him up
he started talking all kinds OF nonsense
| Mrs. Sylvester looked grave and hurried up
| to Philips room. The little boy was tossing
restlessly on the bed.
Goodbye, daddy" he was saying. "a sol,
die diers son never cries, l won't cry, daddy,
looked very grave.
The little boy was moved to a room at the
| top of the house, where he would not hear
| the noise OF the other children.
| Betty stole into the dining groom, where her
mother was sitting for a minute or two.
Mother, will Philip die?" she asked anx-
| iously.
"We can't tell, darling; he is in Gods hands;
but you know, while there's life there's hope"
Betty returned dejectedy to the other chill
dren. 1t was wet day, 30 they could not go
for a walk, and were seated disconsolately
round the table.
II believe Phips going to die," she said
jeridiy, and it's COS he minded so bout I'm
Gle Philip dying, and we said he didn't care,
COS he didn't cry" and Betty put her head
on the table and sobbed.
For weeks Philip continued in the same con-
dition, sometimes delirious, sometimes con-
"Oh, daddy" he moaned; eff only daddy
were here
And then one day, when the delirum was
at its height the door opened and-daddy
walked ina daddy that limped, and had only
one arm. but still daddy.
He limped across the room, and came over
to Philips bedside.
philip, my 1yy, own little son, don't you know
Daddy Daddy's dead!" murmured the lit-
tie boy.
mo, daddy's not dead; they thought he was,
but he was only taken prisoner, and then he
escaped, and got wounded, and SO he's back
to Phil"
"Daddys- The weary eyes
closed, and still grasping his fathers hand,
Philip fell asleep.
When he awoke the delirium had passed,
and, although very weak, Philip was con-
scious, and slowly. very slowly began to mend.
In about fortnight's time the children were
allowed to come and see him.
"Oh Phil" said Betty, I'VE thought you
were going to die, and we could never be hap
DIV again, but now it's all lovely; you're get
ting better and Uncle Pills come home You
must be quick and get we'll, for we have rip
ping games Of soldiers with Uncle Philip;
we've got kind of hospital now, and the old
tgencral with the medals got wounded yester-
day, but he went to the hospital, and it's
ali right now; he's going to fight again to-
day"
away to the seashore with Colonel Trevor,
and while they were there Mrs. Sylvester wrote
and said that they were, missed SO much at
Clarence terrace. that when, they came back
live there always.