Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-22

The men wero all tired out. and soon
raspins shores could DO heard from
under tho cover OF blankets and over
coats.
Tho no1t day was Christmas, and wo
eagerly awaited the mail. which was
to BIO brought up by tho ration party ut
noon.
Not a shot or she'll had been fired all
morning. The sun had como out, and
although the trenches were slippery
with mud. still 1t was warm. and we
felt tho Christmas spirit running
through our veins. We all turned In
and cleaned up tho duSout. Making
rcfiectors out Of ammunition tins. stick
ing them into the walls Of the dugout
we placed lighted candle on each, the
rays from which turned night into day
Bill was hustlins about preparing
the Christmas spread. lie placed a
waterproof sheet on the floor, and
adding three blankets. he spread an
other waterproof sheet over the top
for tablccloth. and arranged the
mems packs around tho edges for
chairs.
Presently tho welcome voice of our
the dugout:
Come on. mo lads, lend a hand with
the mall"
There was a mad rush for the er-
trance. In a couple of minutes or 80
the boys returned. staggering under
load of parcels. AS each name was
read off, parcel would be thrown over
to tho cSpcctant Tommy My heart
was beating with eagerness as the
sergeant picked UP each parcel; then
pang of disappointment as the name
was read Off.
Each man in the dugout received
from one to four parcels. There was
still one left. could feel their eyes
sympa thizinE with me.
Sailor Bill whispered something to
the sergeant that I could not get The
sergeant turned to me and said:
why. blime me. Yank, must be
goin' balmy. ] left your parcel up in
the trench. I'll be right back"
Returns with big Parcel.
He returned in a few minutes with
a large parcel addressed to me.
eagerly took the parcel and looked for
Another pang of disappointment passed
through me. ! knew no one in London.
Then II all flashed over me in an
instant. About two weeks before I
had noticed collection being taken
up In the section. and at tho time
thought IT very strange that I was
not asked to donate. The boys had all
Clipped in to make sure that I would
not be forgotten on Christmas. They
eagerly crowded around me as 1 opened
the parcel. 1t contained nearly every.
thing under the sun. including some
American cigarettes.
Tears Of gratitude came to my eyes.
but some way or other I managed not
to betray myself. Those Tommies GER
tainly were tickied at my exclamations
of delight as I removed each article.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see
them nudging each other.
A man named Smith in our section
had been detailed as runner" to our
captain. and was not present at the
distribution Of the mail. Three parcels
and five letters were placed on his
pack SO he would receive them on his
return to tho dugout.
Presents From the Queen.
In about ten minutes man came
from the trench loaded down with
small oblong boxes. Each Tommy, In
Guiding myself. received one. They
were presents from the Queen of Eng
land. and each box contained a small
plum pudding. cigarettes, a couple of
cigars. matches and chocolate. Every
soldier in the British army received
one OF these boxes on Christmas Day.
At last Sailor Bill announced that
Christmas dinner was ready, and we
lost no time in getting to our respec-
tive packs. sitting around in a circle.
Smith was the only absentee. and his
parcels and letters. still unopened. were
on his pack. He was now a half hour
overdue.
Sailor Bill. noting our easerness to
begin, held up his hand and said:
Now. boys. were all shipmates to-
gethcr. Don't you think 1t would be
better to wait few minutes more for
Smith?"
We all assented. but in our hearts we
were cursing him for his delay.
Ten minutes passed-tifteen-then
twenty. All eyes were turned in Sailor
Bills direction. He answered our looks
with:
Go to It, boys. we can't wait for
Smith. I don't know what's keeping
him. but you know his name is in
orders to leave. and perhaps he is so
tickled that he's going to see his wife
and three little nippers in BliEhty.
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