Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-03-04

resist the temptation to sit down Of
fered by a large stone that stood too
conveniently near me. Leaning my
gun up by my side. l proceeded to de-
vote my undivided attention to keep
ing awake. and before knew II tired
natures sweet restorer" lit upon my
eyelids. and / was fast asleep. | need
not tell my soldier comrades what
sleeping on duty means In such times
of war; but to the young men of to-
day who sigh for war as the path to
glory or the way to fortune, ] will
explain that II means a disgraeeful
death Suddenly | awoke and reached
for my gun. but 1t was not there,
Then indeed was awake-wide awake
no room on my lids for bslmy sleep
TO hutter her sable wings any more
that night. or course some one-prOb-
ably az oticer--had taken my gun
while | slept. and now the relief guard
would soon come and them was
lost! Oh, the horror of the next few
moments, as In imagination ] saw my.
self the next day standing before my
coffin. by new-made grave, facing the
loaded muskcts of my comrades,
awaiting the fatal order to fire that
would close my eyes in sleep forever
and send my soul into eternityi How
sweet home-my dear old home
seemed then | almost tainted with
fright. and was about to "disperse,"
when an idea struck me. The dieci
pline OF the place required the sol
diers mounting guard to have their
guns polished to p glitter. In my ex-
tremity, / remembered that at the
guard-mount that morning my gun
was not clean" and comrade had
kindly permitted me to take his. My
own gun was at the barracks by my
bunk. not ten rods away. Would IL
he possible TO leave my post reach
the barracks, and return undiscovered.
and before the relief-guard had come?
There was no time for hesitation. l
| made the effort, and the sound Of my
hurriedly returning footsteps was
| only partially concealed by the slight
ly heavier-measured tread of the
guard, who appeared a moment later
| But ! knew that the gun with which
| | had mounted guard must be in the
| hands OF those who could convict me,
and that the only thing which could
assist any extraordinary combination
| Of circumstances that might arise to
favor me was to put on as bold a
front as possible. My plan OF action
was instantly formed, and l stood
there as calmly as a boy with n new
! crow-gun, aud as the relief came with
in the proper distance | sang out;
Halt! who comes there
Relief" was the answer.
Advance, corporal. with the coun-
| tersign."
The officer of the day came forward,
! brought my gun down to a charge
| bayonet. and demanded Of him the
countersign. which he gave me said
"Countersign is correct; advance re
| lief Then the officer said to me-
Where did you get that gum"
| Nj CIV NlldN gun Attt tAiltf hflN
Impossible! for ] took your guf
from YOU not an hour ago"
Sir, YOU must be mistaken, for this
gun has my name written on tn,
strap"
He said no more. but ordered thu
corporal TO take me to the guard
house When we arrived there he took
my gun and looked at the name writ
ten on the strap II was my gun, sure
enough Giving a wink to the Ser
geant. he turned 10 me and said, grave
| ly; You have played your part we'll
| fully understand but rs you are
young and unaecustomed 10 army life
We let you off this time, but be care
| full in the future"
was completely taken back, having
entertained little hopes OF mercy from
him My boldness was now gone, and
! burst into tears would have EN-.
braced aud kissed that stern officer
then and there, had | been sure II
would not prove a breach Of discipline,
which had resolved, il possible. never
! 10 commit AGAIN