Smyrna times., 1913-06-11
The Generals Picnic

NE~~~1As
''NO; only l thought il you was
goin' to the pOstOffice-but 'tain't no
matter.
"Not today, gin'ral; some other
time.
She did not turn to look at him.
but she seemed to see him Just the
same-his white hair blowing under
his battered. wide rinmed hat, his
bent figure shabbily dressed in a
faded suit of blue.
81 wish he'd get his letter and his
pension, poor old gin'ral - she mur-
INJURED. "The general" was only a
nickname ,and most of the people at
the poor farm said he was cracked
in the head and that the things he
talked about were "only his notions. Z"
= The general was not looking for a
letter that evening. For once he had
forgotten the pOstocffie in the unwont.
ed pleasure of a newspaper to read.
Just think, Mir'um, they've been
havin' an old soldiers picnic over to
JaeksOnvillel There was an excur-
sion in the cars to = place where they
had a big dinner. and there was mil
itary bands and speeches-all about
the battles they'd been in.
The loud changing Of bell at the
house announced that the evening
meal was ready, and .he light sudden
ly faded from the old mans face IS
he walked away. The dimming of
his eyes, the droop of his shoulders,
as he turned from her touched Miriam,
and there flashed into her brain a
thought so startling that she seized the
first leisure minute to consider it.
What if they should have an old SOL
diers' picnic of their own-she and
the general?
Oh. it was wonderful plan. Mir
lam could scarcely sleep for thinking
Of it. and by morning she was ready
to communicate it to her old friend.
1t is doubtful il any European tour,
personally conducted" or otherwise,
ever gave such satisfaction as did this
little trip. They tried singing "Hail
Columbia" and John Brown" and
derived a great deal of satisfaction.
If not much melody, from the at
tempt. The little girl from a nearby
farmhouse ran down and brought
them some lemonade, and altogether
it was a day crowded with pleasure.
But it was just at the close Of the
day that disaster came. They had
fingered as long as they dared, and
then VIXEN they started back to the
station the feverish hurry Of inexper-
fenced travellers seized them.
A carriage with a party Of gentle
men turned a crossroads just as they
approached the station, but the gen.
eral, intent only on the train that
was drawing up to the platform, saw
nothing else and pushed forward
There was a warning cry. a shout to
the horses, a groan.
"Oh, he's killed, and now can I
never take him back 70 sobbed
Miriam.
But the general was not dead. One
of the gentlemen, a physician. speed
lily assured himself Of that.
Il do not believe he is dangerously
hurt. - he said after a swift examina-
tion, "but there is a fractured bone
in the leg, and with that and the
wound in his head he ought not to be
moved If he can be cared for near by.
Where does he live?'
All eyes turned upon Miriam, and
the simple stery of where they be-
longed and how they had won their
days pleasure was told between
pitifsl catehings of her breath as she
tried to restrain her tears.
The station keeper suggested that
the people at the farm near the grow,
had a comfortable house and haC
plenty of room and might be WILLING
10 care fOrlthe invalid until he shoulC
be able to travel.
1--WE will see that they are vel
. paid for il, - said the leader of tn,
party, who instructed the volunteei
messenger. and word was soon SEN
the mistress Of the house was willing
if Miriam would stay to assist her.
So the general was gently remove,
to pretty, roomy chamber. his yound
dressed, and he began to mend from
the first day.
The doctor made regular visits an,
the gentleman whom the others ad.
dressed as "governor" came occasion
ally and meanwhile lsed that intang
ible but powerful thing called infiu
ence 70 set certain forces at work il
Washington. The long delayed
papers were speedily found and at
tended to. when the general had near
~ recovered, the governor brought