Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-12-27

when l was a little boy. l found a
diary today beside dead soldier when
I was looking for something to eat. II
had a pencil in H. ] think / will write
init. Sister is sleeping on the ground
beside me. We have slep out many
nights alone. Without her would be
lonely.
When war began the soldiers came
and .~rned our house and a rough
soldier shot father and did something
TO mother cannot tell l fought him
and he beat me with his gun and for
long time was asleep. Then after
a while dreamed heard sister crying
and calling Mama, Mama" and then
/ walked UP. Mama lay on the ground
near me and little sister sat By her
sObbing and calling Mama, Mama. -
all the time. crawled TO them. felt
Mama's dear face. II was cold I
called 10 her. She did not answer me.
He had killed her I lay down and
cried. The soldiers were burning
houses near BY and heard them yell.
ing and shooting. / was afraid they
would kill sister and me and when It
was dark told sister not TO make any
noise and We went into the woods.
l am afraid he broke my arm. could
not use it for a long time and it is
crooked now and sore. But little sis
ter how she cries for something 10 eat.
Yesterday found some potatoes and
we ate them raw and a kind woman
we met gave US some Of her bread. 1t
IS the first We have had for q long
time. l saved mine for sister. II
seems long time since the war be-
gan. Last week we were between the
TWO armies and were so frightened BY
the noise and the bright lights at
night. Sister cried all night-poor
'lsleT-but we got away. ! don't dare
peak TO anyone. am afraid they will
take sister away from me. have seen
them kill little children. There was q
lost little boy and girl. The soldiers
took them from some kind people who
had picked them up and the soldiers
took them away and shot them and
sister saw them do it. II was awful
We hid and went as far as we could
That night. We are so hungry all the
Time. We have hunted everywhere for
something TO eat. One day we cano
TO a place where they had fought and
saw some soldiers lying still by a
great hole. hid sister and crcpt neal
hem for something to cat. touched
The hand OF one soldier. II was cold
lie was dead and next to him Law :
man and his head was all gone on tor
ma a red thing hung down over hi.
eyes and face that came from insid
n" top Of his head. Maybe It was hi
Drain. Pretty horses that sister love
20 well were dead too. I found
| pretty piece Of brass. II was rough
II ahined and sister liked IT. 1t wa
black on one side. But | couldn't fin,
Anything for her to eat. Sister ha
Just walked up and / must stop.
Sister is asleep again. She cried
-it,le when she walked up this mornin
bu; when gave her some Of my brea
she was happy. Then she saw som
pretty flowers and we played in III
fields till | saw some soldiers and "
| hid.
There was just a little bread left TO
lister today and she cried again.
haven't lad anything for three DAYS.
sister and l were sicl; all day ycstcl
LAY. We saw n lot of birds in a ficlt
When we went near they all flew NJ
They were eating a dead animal. 81,
."r and / gnawcd n hone We wcrc s
hungry hut 1t made us sick.
We haven't had anything to cat 70
over week. 1t raircd all last nigh
1t was cold and sister moaned n,
night Sister Is so tired today an
can't stand. She has laid still on tn
vet ground all day. have tried (
get her something to eat but can
find anything and l can't 20 far frc.