Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-20

Scots. or ladies from hell" as this
particular Highland regiment was
lovingly called by Fritz. our neigh
Dor across No Mans Land. This
Jock had lost his left foot from
shell burst. l asked him why the
bed was made up in such a peculiar
manner. He told me that the oc-
cupant. Canadian, was up in the
pictures" Operating theater) hav-
ing both hands anputated at the
wrists and also that the Canadian
was blind, caused by the explosion
of bomb while raiding the German
trenches.
In about half an hour four white
clothed orderlies came down the
ward carrying a stretcher. In the
wake OF the stretcher came a Red
Cross nurse. They halted before the
unoccupied bed on my right. Then
L marveled at the efficient and gen.
tie way in which the wounded man
was transferred from the stretcher
TO the bed. The ''undertakers
SQUAD left, but the Red Cross nurse
sat beside her patient. every now
ana then shooing fly away from
the bandaged head or using a piece
OF gauze bandage to wipe away the
white froth which constantly oozed
from the half open lips of the ban
daged form.
In short time the ether began
TO die out, and the frothy lips twitch-
ed Then sigh. and the man began
TO sing, not God. Save the King" or
The Maple Leaf Forever" but
Lady Friend"
Pretty soon this tune changed to
a shout of Ammo (ammunition)
ammo! Ammo forward" You could
near MN all over the ward. The
nurse started to sing a grooming lit
tie lullaby. The shouting ceased.
turther twitching and twisting, and
the ether was expelled into an ever
ready little receptacle held In the
hands OF the nurse. In few min
utes rays of consciousness penetrat-
ed to the brain of the wounded man
and he started to mutter:
Turn on the lights; it's dark. it's
dark. ! can't see. It's dark, dark.
Take that damned pillow off my
head. It's dark, dark, l tell you.
What's the matter with my mitts?
They're tied; cobblestones on them.
where as /. Smokey? This dug
outs dark. Switch on the glim."
The nurse was talking to him in a
low voice and grooming her lullaby.
My God, how that girl could sing!
1t was not long before the blind
ed soldier fell asleep. He slept for
three hours, the nurse beside him.
Not for second did she leave her
post. inwardly wished that the
patient would sleep for hours longer.
The presence of that nurse made me
feel happy and contented all over.
The form on the bed stirred, and
then in plaintive voice:
Where am 1? Where am L? Turn
on the lights. Turn on the lightsv'
The sun was streaming through
the window.
The nurse was crying. So was I.
The Jock on my left was softly curs-
ing to himself
The angel of mercy leaned over
her patient and in low voice whisp-
cred to him:
Never mind. dearie; you are in
the hospital and will soon be in
Blighty for nice long rest"
The Canadians mouth twitched. I
thought he was going to cry. 1t was
a pretty mouth, but the lips were
blanched to a blush white.
He asked the nurse. What time
is it?"
She answered: Three o'clock,
dearie. Try to go to sleep. You'll
feel better SOON"
The Canadian asked in a piteous
voice, why is it so dark?' Then he
in a terror stricken voice:
II know! I know! They've put my
lights out. Good God, I'm blind! I'm
blind! My eyes are gone-gone-
gone And his voice died out in a
long sob.
Three doctors came through and
held a low voiced consultation. Two
of them left; one stayed.
The Jock whispered to me: Poor
bloke! He's going west. 1 know the
signs"
The dying man began to mutter.
The nurse bent over him. She had a
writing pad and pencil in her hand.
she whispered to him: "Dearie, the
mail is going out. Do you want me
10 write a note home to the folks
''st shot note telling them that
you are all light and win wltn
.Gem lii couple of months?"
The patient answered.
Home? Folks? I've never had
any. since I was kid. Home! God,
wish I had one!"
y
hand was wet. The bandage on my
shoulder was wet. Perhaps the blood
was soaking through. But blood is
red.
The voice of the wounded man
again: "I want-want-I want a.
The nurse: What do you want,
boy? What can get for you-a nice
cool drink"
The answer came back:
"A drink? He'll, no: I want a
SIN oke! Where's my makings?
want a fag-a smoke-a smoke!"
She looked at the doctor. He
nodded. She left the patient and
came over to me. I,felt as If I were
In the presence of God. She whisper
ed to me: Have you a cigaret. my
dear, for that poor boy? We are all
out-have not received any for ten
days. If the people at home only
realized what a godsend tobacco Is
for these poor wounded lads they
would send them out. They are as
important as Shells"
I told her to look in my kit bag.
She looked through 1t and found
one, all out of shape-a Goldfiake.
think 1t was the only smoke left in
that ward of sixty-nine patients.
With Joy in her eyes she went
back to her patient, gently put the
cigaret between his lips and lighted
1t.
A contented sigh. two or three
weak puffs and the lighted cigaret
fell out of his mouth on to the sect.