El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-07-29
BILL
o.
By Sgt WILLIAM H. SMITH, Company infantry U A

Bill was the durndest teller
AT we ever had in the comp'ny.
He clun' clear up to the top
And went on ahead Of me.
He first took on In Louieville,
And say he was the biggest recruit
AT ever hit the parade ground.
All bumped over and sick to boot.
But it wasn't very long afore he left
The recruitin' barracks and went away
With big bunch of "Johns"
Out to CaIifoTny, in Monterey.
RicoIect he was room orderly onct,
Had a pick and shovel gOin' to work,
When the old top sargint come out
And says, "Hey, Bill, need clerk"
Bill never was very big and strong,
So he lowed he'd take the job and do
The best he could, and learn the army
All through and through.
Now Bill was printer by trade.
His dad run paper back in Indiany
Somewhares, in a little country town.
So the colonel called Bill in to. see
How much type he could set
And if he'd handled printers ink.
But the cap'n didn't want him to go,
Cause he liked Bill, I think.
Peered as if he'd set and look at Bill
Learnin' on the typewriter, and then
He'd look kindo proud ike round to-the top sargi
Say what a great boy Bill must have been
Wasn't long afoTe Bill got to KNOWN
All the office work pretty well,
And the way Bill got along with the fellers
In the comp'ny is more'n can tell
Peered Jest like they all liked him
From the start, and IN about
Six months he was a eorp'al and had on
His stripes afore the order was out.
He was in charge Of a squad
Was an athlete, and on field day
He'd run races and pitch tents,
Takin' all the medals away.
Bill was a sargint in about five
Months more. Some fellers said
The wide stripes and cheverons would
Give Bill the swell head.
But they didn't, and III be burned
If it didn't beat the land
While was On furlough back east,
Bill was made drum major Of our band
lest after bein' orderly for Admir- Evans
And Thomas of the Pacific fleet,
When all the ships was in Monterey bay,
And Bill dressed up slick and neat
In tailor made uniform and white gloves.
The colonel told the capn night then
AT he could juggle the stick all right,
And Bill was promoted again
Bill could hike more and longer
Almost than any of US fellers could
AT was older and had gray hair.
While he was young he understood
All the maneuvers and hikes and drills
And most all the army ways
I was always next to Bill on parades
And drills days after days.
Pee1ed jest as though me and Bill
Ne his dad, and him my son
Was the clostest chums, and I could
Like him more cause he had Won
The old top cutter, most always cross
Would come around ard say
AT Bill, now a top sargint, like hisself,
Was all right, he'd "rsised" him that way.
ricollect 'at when I got retired I'd
Go WHARF Bill was jest to see
What he was dom, maybe never say
A word too busy to notice me.
But when the 10th went to the Philippines
stood on the dock shakin' hands till
All the boys went up on the deck,
And 1 stood a-lookin at Bill.
The big transport was leavin' and
Sailed away from the pier so slow
AT my eyes jest KEEP on cryin' for Bill.
I know he hated TO 60,
Cause he stood along the side and
Shouted he'd be back in a year.
Tryin' to gladden. nv heart and at the
Same time tryin' to hold back a tear.
'Peered Jest like was lost when the
Ship was so far out It looked right still,
And my voice was weak, and arms tired