Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-08-08
A Singular
Find
II Occurred on a Bat.
tlefield In France.

g II Occurred on q Bat. 9
6 tlefield In France. g
8 By F. A. mitchell &
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
George Elliott lived south Of the Dor
der line separating Canada from the
state Of Maine. George was desperate.
He was very poor, he was In love, and
the country about him was dead
and alive region wherein 1t was hard
enough for q man to pick up living
for himself, to say nothing Of possi-
bic wife and q family Of children.
It is this kind of man which, when
4 war breaks out, furnishes food for
powder. When a man sees only mis-
cry before him in life he looks upon
death as not altogether undesirable.
Besides, till 1t comes he has no re-
sponsibility as to food and clothes
The government takes care Of him till
be Is told to stand up before an enemy
and be shot down. His idea Of being
shot is a bullet In vital part that will
end his misery at once. He doesn't
consider being MANNED and turned
again on to the world In q far worse
Ok than before.
One day George went to see his girl,
Ellen Barry, and told her that he was
going up into Canada to enlist He re-
minded her that 1t was madness for
them to think Of marrying and his 60
Ing to the war would be as good way
as any 10 end what was becoming tor
lure. The only response on Ellen's part
was tears. This made 1t all the harder
for George, and, taking her in his
arms, hse kissed her, then, releasing
her. turned and walked away without
looking back. Ellen gazed mournful-
ly after him through her tears till he
had passed out of sight, then, sobbing
convulsively, went into the house.
A year later Private George Elliott,
who had been enlisted In q Canadian
regiment of sharpshooters, was con-
cealed among the branches Of tree
In northern France picking OF the
enemy with his rife when a shell
burst under his perch. When George
came to himself he was lying in the
crater or hole made by the explosion.
he tried to draw up one leg and fall
ed. Then he tried to move his left
arm and failed at that. His cheek
was resting on something hard and
cold, and he managed to raise his head
sufficiently to see what his rigid pillow
was. It was iron, manufactured iron,
and, judging from what was uncov-
cred by the earth, It was sheet iron.
One who covets death from q dis
lance Is not 80 anxious for 1t as 1t ap-
proaches. Georges desire had been
for q sudden taking of without know
Ing what was to happen. Now, lying
In q shell hole in the ground, neither
friend nor enemy about. he was very
much concerned lest he die from In
attention. he knew that he had been
wounded, but how seriously he was
ignorant. he made another effort to
draw up his leg. and this time sue.
ceeded. It had only been benumbed.
As to his arm, that was In very bad
shape. It had been mangled, and arte-
rial blood was flowing from 1t. On
fortunately he had been unconscious
only a few moments, and there was
yet time to stop the bleeding. Making
q tourniquet of his handkerchief, he
succeeded in COMPRISING the orihce
through which he was bleeding.
Having lain quiet for some time and
feeling desirous to do something for
his safety, he sat up and looked about
him. Being in a hole, he could not
look far. Indeed, the only thing OF
any interest whatever was his metal
pillow. Only one or two square feet
were uncovered. and George. tapping
on It with the knuckle Of his right
hand, made up his mind that It was
thin and there was hollow space De-
meath It.
Meanwhile shells were falling and
bursting about him. BE had been
when dropped from the tree in advance
Of the British line, and It did not seem
TO be any nearer him now. Nor did 1t
appear that the Germans were any
nearer. He had some curiosity to
know what was under the iron Gov
sring, but, wounded as he was, this
was impracticable Having nothing to
DO, he looked up at the tree above him.
It was a peculiar shape, and he noticed
this particularly.
Presently shell burst 80 near him
that 1t shook down some earth from
the side Of the hole he was in and Gov
cred the metal that had interested him.
he was sorry for this, because he had
been contemplating an effort to ex-
anime it more thoroughly. But he was
rery weak and would not likely have
mcceeded. Soon after this he heard
men tramping, the word Of command.
and his comrades charged past him.
It was not long after this that the
Red Cross people came and, putting
George on stretcher, took him to the
rear. where he was examined. BIS
arm had been 80 badly shattered BY
Ia fragment Of the shell that the sur
geon attending him decided to ampu'
tate It. George sighed. BE had come
| 10 the war to fnd release from misery
and misery had been added He had
lost an arm, which would 'necessitats
his being discharged Death was %
Ear from him as It had been before ne
enlisted.
When George was discharged from
the hospital and the army he was told
that he would be sent back to Canada.
He said nothing. but he thought a good
deal. He would have liked to see hal
beloved Ellen again, but It would onl,
| be a renewal Of q situation whicl
'Iwould again have to be ended. 81
might be returned to Canada, but from
there would 60 anywhere 30 long - !
was not back to her. While he va
waiting he thought Of the hole he ha'
fallen into when knocked out Of tn
tree and was seized with q desire .
know more Of his iron pillow. Ther
,as not much change In the. situation