Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-12-20
raE r1Rsr cHR1srMAs.

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.
Nevc again during the war were we
to know such a Christmas as the first
one was made for us. Never again
was the whole north to make again Il
combined effort to cheer and encourage
us and let US know that we We're not
forgotten. 1t was good to be alive and
to be Il soldier.
The boxes and hampers began to
come down 10 days ahead, and as they
reached Washington by rail the quar-
termasters' teams loaded them up for
the front. And what did they SEND us
our wives. mothers, sisters and sweet
hearts? Everything that a kind and
loving heart could make or buy and
pack. We didn't seem so far away
from them as later on. There were
mothers mince pies by the thousand.
There were sweet cakes. jells. cookies.
roast chickens and h not. They sent
us Undertaking. handkerchiefs, house
wives pocket Knives. tooth brushes,
salves. ointments and one can't remcm-
Der what was left out.
And with the boxes came letters
three. four and five pages long-letters
of love and encouragement, and not a
single one of them telling Of any trou-
BILE at home. We were standing be-
tween our homes and disaster. and they
lI 10 ~ NC d1O n
some other time they might tell us hat
mother was Ill. father had lost his
all. or that brother Tom or sister Nell
had been laid beneath the snow-but
not then.
And when there was neither wife nor
mother nor sweetheart to forward a
box. there were other women kind and
loyal n willing to take hold. That
a man was at the front wearing the
blue vas enough for them.
Bless them! Why. we cheered and
cheered until the echoes should have
cached the pines of Maine and the
plains of Kansas. VIC had not become
stern and hard hearted yet. We were
still linked to sentiment n home. And
every man was comrade to another
then. We had all come down together.
having known each other at home and
the true test of comradeship had not
come. Later IN we were to be a very
selfish lot and to learn that sentiment
had no place mids the crash of mus
kerry or of the muddy march.
On that first Christmas day most of
u officers went to Washington to
celebrate. and the camps We're left in
charge of the ~sergeants. and the men
hidden to feast, frolic and be merry.
1T was grand fun to open those boxes
and the contents were passed around
until nothing was left. MOI one single
selfish man among the thousands. One
ate of pie made in Vermont--Of cake
made in Illinois-of doughnuts made
by some comrades friend in some Ohio
home.
nj we did q thing that we could
never do again on that day. There
We're men anon us almost straight
from their homes across the sea. We
culled their names from the rolls. and
we took their arms in q brotherly WAY
and led them to a tent and Toasted
them. that they might not think them
selves in a land of selfish strangers.
And some Of those mcn-big. strong
men-shed tears and choked when they
realized the feeling hat prompted us.
1t made them of US as nothing else
could.
The bands were left us. and they
played for the jumping matches. the
foot races and the wrestling bouts. No
ma gave way to anger-no man struck
q blow. And those who could sing
gave MS songs, and others mad
speeches.. II I say again that it was
good to be alive that day and be Il SOL
dier.
1t was when night came and we
gathered in smaller groups. that men
read their home letters over again and
looked more thoughtful. And when the
strains of Home, Sweet Home
reached their ears. heads We're turned
away that tears might not be seen. And
when men reached out their hands to.
one another and gripped under the spell
of the day that had closed and of the
music. it seemed as if they felt the
shadow that would stalk beside them
ere the leaves had hardly turned green
again. OF the thousands and hou
sands that shook hands that night
when taps sounded to separate them,
one out of five was to find a grave on
the tangled banks of the Chicahominy,
or in the nire and scum of the White
Oak swamp as q grand army fell back
Observation-Disclosures turning now
and then and inficting wounds and
death.
During those dreadful days of almost
constant battle, with his back to a
tree. to which he had crawled from the
narrow roadway when he found that
his end was near. I came across n
private soldier whom / knew. His
was the first face l had recognized in
30 hours.
What is it, Tom?" l asked as 1 held
my canteen to his lips.
It's end for met" he gasped.
I'll try and get you into an ambn-
lance" / said.
They don't carry dead mem"
but I'll halt a surgeon"
lack. said he. the name Is Susan
Coffroth, and the address is Charlotte,
Eaton county. Michigan"
Your wife?'
Yes Tell her how it happened. I
stood up as long as any of the boys.
didn't II"
you did,
And 1 fought as well?" he asked
eagerly.
Better than some / said truthful
Tell her that. Is there fighting vet? %
Yes; in he rear and on the right"
And are they beating us?"
YES" I had to admit.
He reached for my hand. and we sat
Tins for five rn{no1toC yvhi1n tho v.rooL