Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20

VtU0I6, SouuS ACss VS. t<A&s - 49,
what We want. . story about Christ 4
mas In the army" /
The motion prevails. and you shall .
have vha. you vote fo--a story Of N !
army Christmas said The veteran o. !
three varx-,ae civil. SpaRish-A-nes- /
scaH and the Phi'ippine insa-rec;ion-
Tkere were many troops in And
aAcut Mania 10 December. 1909. NJ
temporary home I1s With an Amer
3cna family TIA; had rented the large.
hoAntisui mansion on San Sebastian
STREET occupied by Spanish admiral
before Commodore Dewey sailed up
Manila bay and said: You may fre.
0sfdsey. when ready.
This patriotic man and his wife.
former Wisconsin teacher. planned a
Christmas dinner and party. They In
vfted q dozen or more oficers and
their ladies'. The dinner did not differ
materially from most Christmas din
uers. yet II reminded the diners Of
holiday events in far OF America. and
the conversation soon turned In that
direction.
One little army lady began to tell
shout q home Christmas, its tree and
the good cheer, when she was small
gfrl. No other Christmas had seemed
quite 20 heavenly. can see how love-
" that tree looked; can hear
daddy's voice as he called of the pres
ents: can see mammals smile as We
ch1ldren danced and chartered: can
~ the happy gathering about the
table Christmas-laden; I can hear
dnAdy's request for q blessing and
md. well II was all SO sweet and beau
t3fui. Before another Christmas came
I hadn't any daddy. !
the little lady's handkerchief
WaS not the only one that brushed
away . tear.
Captain, this dinner reminds me
q one our fathers have told US
about
The captain WAS the son Of . Wis
cousin soldier Of the civil war. and the
speaker = lieutenant. the son OF an
ether civil war veteran.
Tell u about it. said the wife Of
oaotAsr captain.
Yes. We want that story said IN
~ major Of regulars. who had come
tOWn from the civil war.
s at was after the battle Of Fred
6taoksburg. Va. in 1862. Four tent
1lASes. one Of whom was my father.
- smother the father Of the lieu
liant here, were remembered by
RSlr sweethearts. The four sweet
6o6ffs GOT up the incest kind OF
Il Christmas dinner-did all Of the
SSohinx themselves-snd sent 1t to
kalf solder boys. Accompanying 1t
3as Z good. fat letter from each Of
- sirls to her particular soldier boy.
LII told us of the table they set In
81 small tent. of the coffee they
n3A the comments as they ate the
I'D thing, Of the four sweet girls.
II how II was all enjoyed. Before
- ear was over all Of the boys won
i1smmissions and were wounded. two
"a them twice. yet all returned home
u married the four girls. One OF
Akoss girls was the best woman ever
-. and the lieutenant here will say
- came about another Of the four.
sss.And I viii bear the same testi
pny - to smother OF those blessed
ivooehearts Of 1852 said the wife OF
- other captain. She was my
psher.'
Il II 10 my turn to speak said the
- major. I was one Of the four
= 05oy that Christmas dinner back
u STAFFORD Heights, In 1862. The
oeAss Il my BARNS was second to
- q The four sweethearts.'
fAsn the four-the captain. the
uoutsaant, the other captains wife.
- he Old major|lsft the table,
GgDed TOURS. shook hands, laughed. |
uneYa1ulated, and had such reunion
. ssldom occurs.
Wei, well, vel what . little bit |
- D world Il 10. anyway said the |
N61soisAsd hostess"
uo6ep thO AQiSeietoo.
s&~e~,