Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-08-29

mtAlANJs
such measly material as II No.
I admit that I'm not a fair specimen.
I scraped through az to height when
1 enlisted. measuring barely ave feet
four. I weighed 40 pounds, though
be added proudly. though ! don't be-
lieve I'd pull up a hundred now
"'You mean ninety
81 thought what a shame It was 10
send such n STRIPPING out to be shot
down like a dog, and that too, by hu-
man beings. The sight Of him gave
me a repugnaRcs TO war I've never
recovered from, and l am happy TO say
that every year war is rendered more
difficult among civilized nations and
consequently is less likely to occur.
Were you very badly woundedr l
asked.
BADLY enough to be laid up three
months thus far. The surgeon says
that I've got another month Of II, but
I'm not going TO stand It. I'm going
back next week
"'Not going to stnnd I'll I should
think you wouldn't stand to 60 back
at ALL
"T wish you would tell me- I said
later. how you felt when you were
marching up against those Confeder-
ates and the hailstorm Of bullets
AT arst I felt kind o. sick at my
stomach. That's tho way a good many
Of us felt. l reckon. II we tell the
truth. When I saw men shot down
about me II made me mad. The rest
Of the time I was mad: that's about
all OF It Soldiers become like dogs
or any other brute when they are In
lighting trim
"Thnt's an lgnoble view to take
ofit'
ats the tTuo view all the same
at occurred to me to ask him IL he
knew the young soldier ! had 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 1t was likely to be the
maddest man left. There were many
such cases.
"'Why weren't they reportedP 1 ask
ed. 4 read only OF this one
"'Oh, reports of battles are manu-
factured,' be replied. It's dog eat dog
in a fight and that's all there is about
It.
AT this point the lady on whom l
called came down to receive me.
Permit me to Introduce my neph-
ew, Colonel Stevens she said.
II looked about for Colonel Stevens,
but saw no such person. My eyes
finally rested on the STRIPPING ! had
been talking to. and | noticed an anus
ed look on his face. What did 1t mean7
That boy q colonel? 1t could not be
possible.
"'Charlie doesn't look much like a
colonel 10 bis present condition. said
the hostess, but / 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 a murderous fire.
'They say that a drowning person
sees his whole life pictured before him.
Every word ! had spoken to the man
came up to appall me, though 1t is a
wonder that ! ever got beyond mistak-
ing him for a schoolboy. / sank into
a chair In collapse. My hostess, seeing
my confusion, looked amused, but the
subject Of my mistakes. now that the
truth vas coming out, began to look
annoyed Finally when I had regalned
my tongue ! asked:
care you the man I read about
who
"He made no reply, but hlc aunt re-
piled for him. Yes she said, he Is
the Stevens whose conspicuous act Of
bravery was reported at the time
awhile 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
It's 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 II not merited,
but a few are annoyed even at listen,
ing to words Of encOmium that are
richly deserved. Charlie resumed his
reading, which had been interrupted
by my entrance. To him 1t had been
perfectly natural when he saw the men
deprived OF their leaders to spring "a
the front and shout, Come OnF he
could see nothing remarkable in this
and could not be convinced that Il was
remarkable or that he should be her,
aided in the newspapers and promoted
above bis fellows. any n Of whom
II given a little time had been as likely
as himself to do what he did. This. al
any rate. was his view OF the matter
and l have never been able to change
his opinion"
why. grandma, who was this manr
asked the girl who had listened to the
story.
oh" exclaimed the old lady. II for
gotr'
"Forgot whatT'