The Washington herald., 1915-03-02

down his life. Besides. most OF the other were
going. Ii he stayed at home he should be con-
sidcrcd a coward. 1t was better TO sacrifice wife
and children than TO face such shame Then. too
If the did not fight, their country would be
conquered. And their wives and children would
perhaps, be destroyed, together with their homes
In the ranks there plenty OF excitement
And there was tho joy OF companionship and OF
working with thousands OF other men, united by
traditions and by speech and by associations, all
for common cause. In brave uniforms they
marched, battalion after battalion, singing IA
miliar song. Already the lust OF blood was work
ling in thcn the desire reach and to destroy the
prey. Lite was taking on a new and wonderful
interest Here was the mans world so much more
inspiring than the hum-drum life Of women and
children at home.
But at night, when the soldier lay on the
ground, surrounded by thousands OF others look
ing strangely like himself, he began to long for
those left sbchind. What were they doing Were
they thinking OF him and waiting? Were they in
danger Suppose sickness should come upon
them want: But such things must not be
thought OF There was a mighty task ahead.
Now ior sleep, bringing rest and strength for
the march in the morning.
As the days passed the soldier iet his muscles
harden. And yet the marches brought terrible
fatigue and pain. Would they never reach the
enemy: And when they did, what would happen ,
Would he feel terror under fire. Suppose he
should be tempted to turn and fee? He wonder
ed if the others were asking similar questions
of themselves.
OF the war and its causes. 1t became plain that
his side was in the right with God looking on
and approving The men he was going to meet
were his country's foes bent on destroying all
that he held dear He was glad now that he had
come For the first time in his life he realized
what it meant to belong to his great country.
One afternoon. on the slope OF a beautiful
that the enemy lurked the other side. Now
the men were ordered to dig trenches. For hours
they wor ked without ceasing. Then with aching
and aching backs they told to lie on
their bellies and to make ready. Soon the fighting
would begin 1t proved to be different from what
the soldier had thought it would be- For the most
part it consisted OF lying for many hours in the
trenches. damp, uncomfortable, firing into the air.
and hearing whizzing above great. screaming
noises. After all, not nearly so interest
ing it had been said to be. However. it
comfort to have the other about, making Jokes
and laughing.
Suddenly the laughing and joking ceased. One
OF these great screaming things tore a great hole
out OF the trenches, hurting masses OF dirt and
pieces OF human flesh into the air. The soldier
found his face splashcd with blood. He felt sick
the pieces OF flesh, mixed with Garth. Heavily he
lay the ground as ii trying TO bury himself
out OF danger.
That night there a respite The screaming
and the whzzing ceased The army slept. The stars
looked calmly down, millions OF stars, like the
OF God. The breeze played gently through the
leaves The river wound into the distance like
long, gray ribbon.
The next day, at dawn, fighting began again.
The soldier heard that the enemy becoming
discouraged. In the late afternoon the order was
given to advance. Heavily the troops rose from
the trenches and linped down the hill. Over an
improvised bridge they passed For hours they
tranped over the rough and dusty roads. 1t was
that the enemy had taken a stronger
position and that the retreat was For
several days the marching went on. broken only
by occasional halts for food and by the need of
sleep.
. From day to day the soldier gained confidence.
After ALL it was only the comparatively few that
persisted in battle. Most of the men about him
soon forgotten. Oh, for one decisive victory.
that should justify all their WEAKNESS, this
certainty. this driving and on. How long
would the war LAST Home unreal now.
Those peaceful days the farm seemed like
another life.
At last came the impact of the two armies. 1t
might be the turning point of the One great
victory would put terror into the heart OF the foe.
Every man must be his mettle. They were all
well seasoned now They had been under fire long
enough M to be afraid of mere noise.
Soon the soldier found himself in the great
human mass that was hurting itself like an ire
sistible machine up the hill. The whizzng and
the shrieking were music in his ears He felt a
strange happiness. like intoxcation. Then came
and a distant sense OF being trampled
on and one more was added to the thousands OF
corpses that caused the men TO stumble and to
curse.
Alter the brilliant charge soldiers came back
with dogs and with women in white caps with
white bands on their arms marked with red
crosses. They gathered the bodies in heaps and
covered them thickly with quick-lime.
| Night closed in. Millions of men slept. The
stars came out. shining on tho world like the
ycs OF God.