Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-04-07


corporal at meal time. Bob had a
place Of honor at the table and be-
came an expert in the use of his
baby knife and fork. If the steak
was tough Bob would saw it with his
knife for time and then sieze II
with both hands and pound his plate
with it, chattering, scolding and max
ing the funniest of faces during the
exercise. This was source of rare
amusement for the whole mess, hence
it happened that Rob's plate was
nearly always supplied with q piece
of the toughest meat to be found In.
camp. When at last the corporal
cut the meat into small pieces, Bob
saluted him by bringing his right
hand to his head, palm out, bit OF
military he had picked up by watch
ing the soldiers as they saluted their
officers, and INDUCED in, a smile that
always brought appreciative applause.
= One day Bob was at the colonel's
quarters when delegation of ma
tives, men and women, was present
to plead for leniency IN the punish
ment of the husband of one of the
little brown women. While the talk
was in progress Bob sat on the back
of chair, perfectly still, except as
he eyed with apparent closest
scrutiny first one then another of the
colonePs guests. The fearful wife
seemed to appeal to Bob's sympa-
thetic heart At her he looked and
winked a good share of the tine. HIS
general appearance was that of
particularly wise justice of the peace
while presiding for the first time. The
natives won the colonel over; he let
the offender off with mild punish
ment, whereupon all of the men and
women shook hands with and
thanked him. The little woman in
tears did more than thank and shake
hands; she kissed the coloners hand.
This part of the ceremony made
deep impression on Bob. Sliding
from his perch he walked up to the
colonel and for a moment stood look
ing very wistfully into his face. Fail
ing to attract his attention he
climbed the colonePs leg until he
reached his right hand when he chat
tered gave 1t hearty shake and
than an affectionate kiss.
After that at the end of a meal,
when he retired, when he awoke and
upon the return of the corporal from
a hike, Bob invariably kissed that
officials hand
Bob soon learned to wash his
plate, knife and fork. and when the
cook sang or whistled during dish
washing, Bob sang and whistled in
his way. and when the cook washed
his hands and brushed his "-air his
did the same for his
hands and hair
Bob possessed the soldier instincts
to remarkable degree. 1t was gail
and NORWOOD for him to see the
corporal start on a campaign, or
hike, as they say in the Philippines
1t was necessary to confine the little
chap on such occasions. He moaned
and plned and refused to eat for days
at a time while his master was alb
sent
Bob was permitted to go out and
meet the company some distance
from camp on it's return trip. He
scurried along the line, giving ex-
preston to his delight by grimaces
and noises that set the tired soldiers
to roaring with laughter they could
not suppress if they would. When he
found the corporal his cup of Joy
was trimming full. With a bound
he reached a hand and kissed it
over and over again. And they were
real kisses, too The smack was
equal to that of confirmed lovers.
That done Bob took station on the
corporal's shoulder and rode into
camp a veritable company hero,
smiling and saluting like chief al
review
Bob was reserved and shy, in a
way. Try as they would, none OF
the other soldiers could get kiss
from him. IIe liked all of the COM
pany but loved only the corporal,
and venture that no one ever had
a more loyal or a truer lover than
Bob. Even the colonel failed in his
multiplicity of attempts to get an
other of Bob's kisses. He would
look at the colonel in a way that re-
minded one of the little girl who was
invited to kiss stranger, shake his
head and run away. am sure that
if Bob had understood how to speak
English he would have said to the
colonel, "do not think because
kissed your hand once I shall allow
myself to fall into any more such in
discretions. Moreover | kissed You
on state occasion, in the presence
of large company, not as lover,
but to give expression to feeling of