Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-28
The Daily Story
BIRTHDAY SToRY-BY CAPTAIN F. A. mitchell.
convrichte, by AssoeIatsl literary Bureau
Copyrighted. 1919, by Assoeiatel literary Bureau

"'Were you very badly woundedT
asked.
"'Badly enough to be laid up three
months thus far. The surgeon says
that I've got another month of 1t. but
I'm not going to stand it I'm going
back next week.
mot going to stand it! I should
think you wouldn't stand to so back
Mt ALL
"'I wish you would tell me- said
later. how you felt when you were
marching up against those Confeder-
ntes and the hailstorm OF bullets
"'At first felt kind O. sick ut my
stomach. That's the way a good many
of us felt. l reckon. il we tell the
truth. When I saw men shot down
about me it made me mad. The rest
of the time was mad: that's about
all of it. Soldiers become like dogs
or any other brute when they are in
fighting trim
That's an ignoble view to take
of it
Its the true view all the same
"It occurred 10 me to ask him IL he
knew the young soldier l haG read
about who had taken command OF
what was left of his regiment and
was leading the men forward when he
was shot down. He said there was
| nothing in that. for when the officers
were all killed somebody must take
command and it was likely to be the
maddest man left. There were many
such cases.
why weren't they reported?' ask
ed 4 read only of this one
''Oh, reports of battles are manu-
factured,' he replied. Its dog eat dog
in fight, and that's all there is about
it.
cat this point the lady on whom
called came down to receive me.
Permit me to Introduce my neph-
ew. Colonel Stevens she said.
81 looked about for Colonel Stevens.
but saw no such person. My eyes
finally rested on the STRIPPING l had
been talking to. and noticed an anus
ed look on his face. What did it mean?
That boy a colonel? It could not be
possible.
"Charlie doesn't look much like a
colonel IN his present condition. said
the hostess. but l fancy he looked
more military when at Fredericksburg
he took command OF some seventy or
eighty men, all that were left of GOO
who were struggling on up that slope
in face of murderous fire.
"They say that a drowning person
sees his whole life pictured before him.
xuord hod cpol-on IN tho man
came up TO appall me. though it is q
wonder that ever got beyond mistak-
ing him for schoolboy. l sank into
chair in collapse. My hostess. seeing
my confusion. looked amused, but the
subject of my mistakes. now that the
truth was coming out. began to look
annoyed. Finally when had regained
: my tongue asked:
care you the man I read about
who
"He made no reply. but his aunt re-
, piled for him. Yes. she said, 'he is
the Stevens whose conspicuous act of
h bravery was reported at the time
"'While the others didn't happen to
get into the newspapers, put In the
hero.
"'The regiment Is being reorganiZed,
added the aunt, and Charlie is to be
its commander. He has already been
, promoted to be colonel for gallant and
|, meritorius services at the battle OF
Fredericksburg
There are persons who love to hear
, their praise sounded il not merited
but few are annoyed even Mt listen
10 xxnpAc nf it,rn fhot
richly deserved. Charlie resumed bis
reading. which had been interrupted
by my entrance. To him 1t had beer
perfectly natural when he saw the meI
!, deprived of their leaders to spring tC
? the front and shout, Come on" He
p could see nothing remarkable in thi'
and could not be convinced that it was
, remarkable or that he should be her
! aided In the newspapers and promoted
+ ADORE his fellows. any one of whom
if given little time had been as likel!
as himself to do what he did. This. a
4 any rate. was his view of the matter
a his opinion
a why. grandma. who was this man?
asked the girl who had listened to til
g story.
t oh" exclaimed the old lady, 81 for
l got.'
n Forgot what:"
e At the moment diminutive old ger
= tleman with snow white hair entere
II the room.
e There he ISL said the story teller
t well. what is IT." asked the OF
{ man. discovering that be was an objec
i of Interest.
d This Is Alice's sixteenth birthday,
I said the old lady. land she remembers
s that was sixteen the day the battle G
Fredericksburg was fought. She cal
a ed for war Story, and | told her on
about you
= The old man frowned Don't te
n that again." he said. "War was mad
for wild animals. It's unnecessar.
o and from now on the disputes formerl
T. settled by murder will be tried in int
national courts-at least. that's Ia
proper place for them. I hope there
I he no more legitimate killing"