The Detroit times., 1909-05-31
The Hear of a Boy
A Memorial Day Story Written For This Newspaper
BY W. G. Shepherd

First Sergeant Bill jerks walked
across the lawn at the Soldiers home,
carrying kite. Six boys fairly danced
along beside him. because he couldn't
walk as rapidly as they wanted 10
and they couldn't walk as slowly ms
he had to- Under his shaggy. hoary
hair his blue eyes heamed with ex-
pectation and excitement. The wind
blew OF his rough riders hat-Biil
had laid away his little cap OF the
days OF 81 when the Spanish-Ameri-
can war had set the new vogue-and
he shouted 10 one of the boys;
cit that hat. there. you. No. never
mind. don't want II on. Carry IL.
| tn only blow OF again"
And the little fellow placed II on
his own mead. Behind him. in single
| file. the other boys fell into line. and
danced in n procession. First Sergean;
| Bill Jerks walked alongside content
eddy. not noticing them, like ser
geant.
IF procession seaadalised- First
Sergeant Jas Whitcomb. who happen
ed to be looking from his window In
the Soldiers home. II scandalized
half a dozen other old veterans. too.
THAT Bill jerks is a regular dog
goned kid said First Sergeant Whit
! comb 10 several old soldier compan'
ions who were in his room
Coin of TO fly new kite" said
one OF them.
| Jest like boy" complained an
other. And tomorrow Decoration day
too" said another. He's my room
mate, and | know he amt cleaned NJ
MS suit fer the parade
The old cronies gathered at the win
dow 10 watch Bill and his friends.
But, by -, he could fight. | seen
him at Antietam shootin and swearin
al the same time Acted jest like a
a kid his whole life, | reckon" added
another.
But the little procession passed
down behind a swell in the marvellous
green lawn Of the Soldiers home, just
exactly as happy as II Bills boyish
ness had been praised instead OF criti
cised by his old soldier friends. And
before long Bills new patent kite.
! as he called II. was soaring above the
! hollow OF Minnehaha creek. a tiny
speck.
when you goin' TO the cemetery
asked Bits roommate. the next morn
ing
Bits stubby. weakened fingers wan
dered to his shaggy gray mustach as
they always did when he was puzzled
by links. forgot" said Bill.
Forgot Decoration day?"
Il did. comrade." said Bill. sadly. Il
was goin '--goin -er-to-er -
Coin 10 what?" demanded his
, friend
Well Peter, maybe you'll under
stand and maybe you won't. But | wa
gon' 10 umpire a ball game of the
kids
First Peter looked shocked. But h
Eeouldn't gaze as long and as accusing
\ ~ AZ the shame-covered Bill as he
thought he ought to. because he re
membcred Bill at Antietln.
We'll. Bill" he said. us old fel
! 4re--bteff fiffititsz:-tftat-ttfr
Young folks OF these DAYS don't care
enough for Decoration day. And hers
you go humorin' them"
II know, know" said Bill 'bu
II amt so bad as you fellows think
Young folks will be young folks. u
amt flowers that makes Decoration
day: It's memories. recollections
Young folks amt got those. Bu
that's no sign they don't think OF u
old soldiers
Bill waited Peter was discomfort
ingly silent Bill still waited. Petei
still declined to talk.
But have to go to the ball game.
said Bill at last. These two mines
have been talking 'gainst each othe
and neither Of EN- would play unless
umpired So finally ! gave In.
plumb forgot about Decoration DAY
and I have to go That's all.
But Bits step, as he left the room
was not that of guilty man. II haC
boyish spring. like that OF a MAJ
going TO a ball game.