The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-11-28
CHAPTER w.
Times Have Changed.

Times nave SHdHSCb.
The SD of the Browns had started
for La Tir on the same day that the
12Sth of the Grays had started for
South La Tir. While the 12Sth was
going to new scenes, the SD was re-
turning to familiar ground. 1t had de-
trained in the capital of the province
from which it's ranks had been recruit
ed. After steep incline, there was
welcome bugle note and with shouts
of delight the centipede's legs broke
apart Bankers, laborers', doctors,
Wallets, butchers, manufacturers and
Judges sons threw themselves down
on the greensward of the embankment
to rest. With their talk of home, OF
relatives whom they had met at the
station, and of the changes in the town
was mingled talk of the crisis.
Meanwhile, an aged man was ap-
preaching. At times he would break
into a kind of trot that ended, after a
few steps, in shortness of breath. He
was quite withered, his bright eyes
twinkling out of an area Of moth
patches, and he wore frayed uniform
coat with a medal on the breast.
is this the 53d?" he quavered to
the nearest soldier.
1T certainly isl" some one answered.
Come and join US, veteran!"
as Tom-Tom Fragini here?"
The answer came from big soldier
who sprang to his feet and leaped to
ward the old man.
Its grandfather. as ! live!" he
called out, kissing the veteran on both
cheeks. 81 saw sister in town, and
she said you'd be at the gate as we
marched by"
Didn't wait at no gate! Marched
right up to you'll" said grandfather
Marched up with my uniform ant
medal on! Stand off there, Tom, 81
can see you. My word! You're big
germ your father, but not bigger'n
was! No, sir. not bigger'n / was IL
my day before that wound sort O. ben
me over. They say it's the lead in tn,
blood. I've still got the bullet!"
The old mans trousers were thread
bare but well darned, and the holes il
the uppers Of his shoes were CAREFUL
patched. He had merry air of OF
, timism, which his grandson had In
herited.
, We'll, Tom, how much longer 20
, got to server" asked grandfather.
/ six months" answered Tom.
? "One, two, three, four" grandf;
, Their counted the numbers off on hi
: fingers. That's good. You'll be
! time for the spring ploughing. M.
how you have filled out! But, som
y how, / can't get used to this kind {
: uniform. Why, don't see how a girl
I be attracted to you fellows, at ALL"
n They have to, for we're the onl
l kind of soldiers there are nowaday
r Not as gay as in your day, that's sur
a when you were in the Hussars. eh p
T. Yes. / was in the Hussars-in Il
Hussars! | tell you with our sabr,
IL a-gleaming. our horses bits a-jinglin
our pennons a-flying, and all the col
l of our uniform-I tell you. the cir
l. used to open their eyes at us. And v
r went into the charge like that-ye
Ie sir, just that gay and grand. Colon
Galland leading!"
ct Military history said that 1t hi
IS been a rather foolish charge. a fiji
ID example of the vainglory of unreaso
ing bravery that accomplishes nothin
ct but no one would suggest such skep
cism of an immortal event in popul
he imagination in hearing of the old M
n as he lived over that intoxicated ru
Of horses and men into a battery
If the Grays.
We'll, didn't you find what l So
ne was true about the lowlanders?" ask
Of grandfather after he had finished I
n charge, referring to the people OF
southern frontier of the Browns, whe
Id the SD had just been garrisoned.
III mo, kind of liked them. l made
er lot of friends" admitted Tom. They
er very progressive"
nd Eth. Ell? You're joking!" To II
al the people of the southern frontier "
J" only less conceivable than liking I
people of the Grays. That's becau
ne you didn't see deep under the
They're all on the outside-a fligf
ny lot! Why, If they'd done their p;
to In that last war we'd have licked I
ig Grays until they cried for mercy,
be their army corps had stood its grou
Is, at Volmer-"
IS. $50 you've always said" interrupt
es Tom.
be "And the way they cook tripe!
b. couldn't stomach 1t, could you? A
Of IL there's anything I am partial to
al good dish of tripe! And their lis
y. beer-like drinking froth! And tn