The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-06-25
THE GOLD LEAF
THURSDAY. JUNE p, 1908.
The Volunteer.

By c. 7. Mcdonald
The BugviIle team was surely up against a
The chances were they'd win defeat aud not
undyIn fame;
Three men were hurt and two were benched,
the score stood six to four,
They had to make three hard-earned runs IN
just two innings more.
1T can t be done, the captain said.a Pallor
on his face:
I've got too pitchers in the field, mutt on
second base;
And should another man get spiked or Grip
pied in some way,
The team would sure be down and out, with
eight men left 10 play.
We're up against it anyhow. so far as can
see:
NV bows amt hitting like they should, and
that 4 what worries me.
The luck is with the other side. no pennaht
will we win:
It's mighty tough, but we must take our
medicine and grin
The eighth round opened; one, two, three,
the enemy went down;
The Bugyiile boys went out the same-the
captain wore frOwn;
The first hall Of the ninth came round. two
men had been put out,
When Bugville's catcher broke a thumb and
could not go the route.
\ deathly silence settled DER the crowd as
sembIed there,
Defeat would be allotted them, they felt 1t IN
the air:
With only eight men in the field 'twOuld be a
gruesome fray.
Small wonder that the captain cursed the
day he learned to play
Lend me II man 10 finish with" he begged
the other team.
Lend Won IL man." the foe replied, my boy
you're III a dream
We want to win the pennant too, that r
what We're doing here;
There's only one thing you can do, call for q
volunteer
The captain stood and pondered in a listless
sort OF way,
He never was gutter and he would not bt
today
is there within the grand stand here" hi
voice rang loud and clear,
A man who has the sporting blood to be /
volunteer"
Again that awful silence settled Ter the mul
titude:
Was there Il man among them with suci
Tpcklessness imbued?
The captain stood with cap in hand, Will
hopeless was his glance.
And then short and stOcky man cried out
III take II chance
Into the field he bounded with Il step boil
firm and light
Give me the mask and mitt." he said, let
finish up the fight!
The game is now beyond recall. I'll last a
least n round
Although I'm ancient, YOU will find NE mus
cnlar and s0undn
His hair was sprinkled here and there witt
little streaks of gray;
Around his eyes and on his brow a lttl
bunch Of wrinkles lay.
The captain smiled despairingly and slowl
turned away.
When He's all right one rOOter yelled
another. Let him play"
All right, 90 on, the captain sighed TIL
stranger turned around.
Took OF his coat and collar. too and threy
them on the ground:
The humOr of the situation seemed to hi
them all,
And as he donned the mask and mitt tn
umpire called: PLAY ball''
Three balls the pitcher at him heaved. thre
balls oil lightning speed.
The stranger caught them all with ease an,
Each ball had been pronounced "A strike tn
side had been put out
And az he walked toward the bench he hear
the rOOters shout.
One Bugvilie boy went out on strikes an
one was killed a first:
The captain them fail to hit an
CRASHED his teeth and cursed:
The third man smashed n double and til
fourth man swatted clear
Then, IN thunder OF applause. up came {
volunteer.
His feet Were plan ted in the earth he swun
waT-like club:
The captain saw his awkward pose and sOf
ly whispered. Dub
In" pitcher looked at him and grinned an
heayed mighty ball
The echo of that fearful swat still liDgel
with us all,
High, fast and far the spheroid flew, il sale
and sailed away:
IL he er was found. so it's supposed it sti
floats on today
Three runs came in, the pennant would
Bugvillc's for Il year
Inc ians and players gathered round
cheer the volunteer
hat Is your name" the captain aske
Tell Us your name" cried all.
As Gown his checks great tears of iov we
seen to run and fall.
or one brief moment he was still. the
murmured soft and low:
III Mighty Casey who struck out iu
twenty years ago.