Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-06-19

any OF the Others get milk" he MUIR
INJURED; save the rest for Edgar"
Edgar don't need it, Dick" Spruce
answered gently.
Dick drew a long, shivering sigh and
his eyes wandered to the screen. HE
was soldier and he died for his
country jest the same as If he were
hit by Mauser," said Spruce-he
had taken the sick boys long, thin
hand and was smoothing his fingers.
ITS no more an what we all got to
expect when we enlist
"Of course" said Dick, smiling,
that's all right, for him or for me,
but he--he was an awfully good fel-
low, Chris"
Sure" said Spruce. Nov, you lie
still; l got to look after the other
boys"
Come back when you have seen
them. Chris"
Sure"
Spruce made his rounds He WAS
partly experience. Chris Spruce had
been a soldier In the Regulars and
fought Indians and helped the regi
mental surgeon through a bad attack
of typhoid. But it was as much a
natural gift. Chris had light foot a
quick eye. soft voice: he was in
domitably cheerful and consoled the
most qurrulous patient in the ward by
describing how much better was his
lot with no worse than septic pneu.
mOnia than that OF a man whom he
tSpruce} had known we'll who was
sCalped. Spruce had enlisted from
western town where he had happened
to be at the date of his last discharge
He had a great opinion of the town
And he never tired recalling the scene
OF their departure, amid tears and
cheers and the throbbing music of
brass band with their pockets full Of
cigars, and an extra car full of lunch.
con boxes, and thousand dollars
company spending money to their
credit.
"A man he comes up to me" says
Spruce, big man in the town. rich
and all that He says, calling me by
name don't know how he ever
got my name, but he had it-he says:
I'm told you've been with the Rcgu-
lars: look after the boys little says
he. That | will says |, I've been
six years in the service and | know
few wrinkles | do too He gave
me a five-dollar bill after he'd talked
4, 4 Of hi
cigars. Remember the towns back
Of you,' says he. 'Tis, too. I'd let
ter from the committee they got
there. asking If we had everything;
offering to pay for nurses If they'd
be allowed. Oh, it's bully town"
Spruce himself had never known
the sweets of local pride He had
drifted about in the world until at
twenty he drifted into the Regular
army He had no kindred except a
brother whose career was so little
creditabe that Spruce was relieved
when it ended-were the truth known.
in rcntentiary. He had an aunt of
whom he often spoke and whom he
esteemed credit to the family. She
was a widow woman in an Iowa vii.
lage, who kept a boarding house for
railway men, and had reared large
family. not one of whom (Spruce was
accustomed to explain in moments
Of expansion. on pay day, when his
heart had been warmed with good red
liQuor)-had ever been to Jail. Spruce
had never seen this estimabe woman,
but he felt on terms of intimacy with
her because, occasionally, on these
same pay days, he would mail her a
five-dollar bank-note, the receipt of
which was always promptly acknowl
edged by niece who could spell most
of her words correctly and who al.
ways thanked him for his kind and
welcome gift" told him what they
proposed to do with the money and
invited him to come to see them.
Meanwhile his consciousness of in
some way caring for the whole com.
pany held him a model of sobriety
In fact, he did take care of the com
pany, secretly instructing the captain
in the deicacies of military etiquette
anu PRIMITIVE
and openly showing the commissary
sergeant how to make acquisitions
and bart Ar his superfuous rations for
ace cseptable canned goods at the gro
ce4ries of the town. He explained all
the Regulars artless devices for be-
ing comfortable; he mended the boys
morals and their blouses in the same
bres tn; and he inculcated all the
regular traditions and superstitions.
Bat it is to be confessed again, that
while Spruce was living laboriously
up to his lights of righteousness un-
der this new stimulus, the lights were
rather dim: and, in particular, as re-
CARDS the duty of a man to pick up
outlying portable property for his com
pany-they would have shocked a po-
lice magistrate Neither did he rank
among the martial virtues the orna-
ment of a meek and quiet spirit. "A
good captain is always a kicker" says
Spruce firmly; hes got to be. Look
at this here camp, Captain; the mess
tents all under water; we're standing
in the slush every damned meal we
eat. Waters under our tent, water,
II know, I know, sergeant" inter-
rupts the perplexed and worried young
captain, a clever young dandy bright,
enough to be willing to take wisdomI
without shoulder straps; 'Tve been
to the colonel: he agrees with me-.
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