The Cairo bulletin., 1908-12-27

'&a EHkxD.issa VOICES, CHllulSn u II u
others, came; Yes, yes; that is just
what we want, story about Christ.
mas in the army"
The motion prevails, and you shall
have what you vote fora story OF an
army Christmas" said the veteran OF
shree wars-the civil. Spanish-Amer-
lean and the Philippine Instruction,
There We're many troops in and
about Manila In December, 1900. My
temporary home was with an Amer
lean family that had rented the large
beautiful mansion on San Sebastian
street occupied by Spanish admiral
before Commodore Dewey sailed up
Manila bay and said You may fire,
Gridley, when ready
This patriotic man and his wife,
former Wisconsin teacher, planned a
Christmas dinner and party. They in
yited dozen or more officers and
their ladies'. The dinner did not differ
materially from most Christmas din
ners, yet 1t reminded the diners OF
holiday events in far off America, and
the conversation soon turned in that
direction.
One little army lady began to tell
about home Christmas, its tree and
the good cheer, when she was a small
girl No other Christmas had seemed
quite so heavenly | can see how love
ly that tree looked; | can hear
daddys voice as he called off the pres
ents; can see mammals smile as we
children danced and chartered; can
see the happy gathering about the
table Christmas. laden; can hear
daddy's request for a blessing and
and, we'll ii was all so sweet and beau.
tiful Before another Christmas came
/ hadn't any daddy
The little lady's handkerchief
was not the only one that brushed
away a tear
Captain, this dinner reminds me
OF one our fathers have told us
about
The captain was the son OF Wis
consin soldier of the civil war and the
speaker lieutenant, the son of an
other civil war veteran.
"Tell us about it, said the wife OF
another captain.
Yes. We want that story said an
old major of regulars, who had come
down from the civil war.
1T was after the battle of Fred.
ericksburg, Va, In 1862. Four tent
mates one of whom was my father
and another the father Of the lieu
tenant here, were remembered by
their sweethearts. The four sweet
hearts got up the incest kind Of
a Christmas dinner--did all Of the
cooking themselves-and sent 1t 10
their soldier boys Accompanying 1t
wa5 good, fat letter from each Of
the girls TO her particular soldier boy.
They told us Of the table they set in
their small tent. of the coffee they
made. the comments as they ate the
good things Of the four sweet girls,
aud how it was all enjoyed. Before
he war was over all of the boys won
and were wounded, two
'
aud married the four girls. One Of !
hose girls was the best woman ever
BORN. and the lieutenant here will say |
he same about another Of the four |
"'And I will bear the same testi-
nony as to another OF those blessed |
3weethearts Of 1862 said the wife Of |
sc Other captain. sine was my |
mother.
"'Ii is ny turn to speak said the
I'D major ! was one OF the four |
o enjoy that Christmas dinner back |
# Stafford Heights. in 1862. The
n r- Of my BARNS was second TO
ioaa cf the four swecthearts'
.I..i the four-the captain, the
lc At. the other captains wife,
md the old msior-left the table,
ormed tours. shook hands laughed.
and had such reunion
Is seldom occurs.
We'll. well. well what little bit
u world It Is. anyway, said the
.t-rs.b.a Ircsaaa "