Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-05-13
Private Herman MeiSner
[Original.]


opened, and the German army was
hurrying to the frontier. One morning
before the days march began young
recruit was brought before the colonel
IF the Eighty-seventh regiment of the
line in arrest
''This is Private Herman Meisner,"
said his captain. Last night he vol
unfairly relieved one of the guard and
connived at the escape of prisoner
under charge Of sleeping on post. He
admits this, but says that the man he
released, Carl Meisner, is his cousin
1t happened that the colonel was a
kindly man, one who would naturally
be touched by such friendly devotion.
The culprit was a mere boy, with Sax
on hair and blue eyes.
"How long have you been in the
ermy?'' asked the commander.
1.-Two weeks"
captain, this young fellow is doubt
less ignorant Of the enornity Of his
offense, and we need every man at
his post Of duty. You may release
him. Has the escaped prisoner been
rearreSted?'
HE has, colonel"
The march was resumed. In the
evening as the colonel was refreshing
himself with smoke the captain re-
turned with Private Herman Meisner
again in arrest.
Colonel" he said, when the prison
ers were inspected after the days
march Private Carl Meisner was miss
ing. and this man, Private Herman
Meisner, was in his place."
The colonel knit his brows.
"What did you do that for" he asked
of the boy, latter my leniency to you
this morning?"
'They told me my cousin would like
~ be shot for sleeping on post"
"That is his affair, not yours. Do
you want to get yourself shot in his
place?'
II would rather, colonel"
"Thats very, very ridic-very noble
Of you, but it's unjust to yourself. 1t
seems to me, captain, that this boy
has the true elements of a soldier in
him, but he needs instruction. You
may return him to duty. Has the real
prisoner been rearrested?"
"Yes, colonel
The next morning Private Meisner
was again brought before the colonel
for having made a third attempt to
free his cousin. This time he had fail
ed to even get the prisoner away from
the guard. The colonel sent the in
corrigible Herman back to take his
place with the other prisoners, to stand
trial at the proper time for mutiny.
''YOu are little fool" said the CON-
mander. ''Your cousin will be shot for
sleeping on post, and you will be shot
for mutiny."
Herman smiled.
Are you sure he's sane, captain p
asked the colonel.
Perfectly sane.'
"Well, take him away"
The next day there was a roar of
artillery at the front. AS the colonel
was mounting his horse the captain
appeared and, saluting, said:
1.-THE prisoners desire permission to
take their place in the ranks for the
coming battle"
Grant it for. any in whom you have
confidence. l suppose those two cous.
ms are among the applicants"
carl Meisner has applied. His cous-
In who tried to effect his escape has
not
'"Thats strange" said the colonel,
and, putting spurs to his horse, he
rode away.
That day was fought the battle of
Gravelotte. When it was over the cap.
tain appeared before his colonel, this
time with both the Meisner cousins.
Colonel" he said. 81 have to report
that decided to put all the prisoners
In the ranks for battle. Carl Meisner,
who was in arrest for sleeping on post,
distinguished himself by conspicuous
gallantry. His cousin Herman ran
and hid himself behind log.''
The colonel looked at the prisoner In
perpleXity.
"And you,' he said to Herman, "are
the man who wished to get yourself
shot to save your cousiny'
The colonel expected him to hang
his head in shame. He did no such
thing. He simply smiled, smiled with
his beautiful blue eyes, his delicately
curved lips, every feature in his boyish
face.
II WISH" said the colonel to the cap
tain, 'they would stop robbing the
cradle to procure material for the
army" Then to Herman, How old
are you, boy?"
'"Twenty."
The colonel sat thinking: Presently
he said to the captain:
"See that the charges against Carl
Meisner are withdrawn and make him
corporal. AS for this coward-what
the dickens he meant by trying to get
himself shot in place of his cousin I
don't know, but we can't be incum-
bered with him on a campaign-send
him back under charges of both mu-
tiny and cowardice."
Private Herman began to cry.
"What are you shifting for?' began
the colonel, when Carl interrupted him
Colonel, she is a woman-my wife.
We have two little children at home,
and she should be there to take
care of them. But she would not let
me go to the war without coming with
me, fearing would get killed-just as
II she could help that"
"Phew!" exclaimed the colonel. "A
woman! That accounts for her