The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-03

mat Is the hard part, the waiting,
returned her mother. During a time |
of war he might expect promotion;
but now, Jennie, it will be very slow |
We Americans are always at peace |
with the rest of the world-except, |
perhaps, the Indians; and even they |
don't give us any trouble nowadays"
She finished with little sigh. Jen-
ME laughed as she answered.:
IF one did not know you mamma,
one might think you very heartless
and bloodthirsty after hearing you
make such speech. But I can
should be war; for I can remember
the time of the Indian outbreak at
Fort, when papa's company was
so badly cut up
81 did not think what I was saying,
DEAR said her mother. God forbid
that my foolish words ever come back
to reproach mel"
But they did come back, and that
very soon. This conversation took
place in November, 1897: and the fol-
lowing May Captain Messmer and his
son were both on their way to Santi-
ago de Cuba, though in different regi-
ments. The speedy promotions of
war had already made John corporal,
but this was small consolation to his
anxious mother and sister. Time will
not permit us to recount his adven-
lures, and they were not few; but we
will follow him to San Juan, where,
after the first days fight, we find him
stretched at full length near dying
campfire, writing a letter on a piece
of brown paper, with the merest ex-
cuse for a lead pencil 1t ran thus:
Dearest Mother and Jennie-Who
knows but that this may be the last
time you will ever hear from me?
have been under fire all day-we have
been, should have said. No one need
| say he is not afraid in his first battle.
I wouldn't believe it if he did, and
don't you believe it, either. It's all
well enough till you begin to hear the
| bullets whizzing and fellows dropping
on every side. But after the first few
moments there is no thought of fear.
You only want to get at them. Every
! time | took out a fresh cartridge /
said Il prayer and then, [ tell you,
! [ went at them with will. Once, on
| both sides of me the boys We're killed;
and two or three were wounded after
ward just next me, right and left, but,
thank God, wasn't touched. We were
not in the first part of the engagement
and to see the almost solid wall of
dead bodies we had to walk over at
our first fire was sickening to body
and soul. | couldn't look down, for fear
| should run away; SO l just looked
straight ahead and fought like mad
| Fellows don't talk to one another
much about their feelings-they re
not like girls and women-but I'll bet
ten to one they all felt as l did. God
| preserved me through this days fight
and [ hope and pray He will tomor
row.
| 81 haven't seen father yet; don't
know whether his company was i'll the
fight or whether he's dead or alive
There has been an awful lot of sick
ness here, too; and l want to send a
dollar to Jen to have d Mass said
for the sick and dying and dead.
hope this letter will get to you some
how. We're sure to have a hard day
tomorrow It's funny, but so often
of late I've thought OF poor mother
lamenting my chances for promotion
never dreaming war would come sc
soon. If | get out of this all right, il
won't be because | haven't done my
duty.
The fire is pretty nearly out;
can't see to write any longer Good
by, Jennie. Good-by, mother!
don't feel as if | were not going to sec
you again. Your loving
JOHN
A boyish letter, but the writer was
barely eighteen.
The next day Corporal Messmer was
sent by his colonel, under the hottest
fire, with some dispatches to another
part of the field. He went and re
turned in an incredibly short space oil
time, feeling already like an old, ex
perienced soldier, and bearing himself
as one. The colonel complimenteC
him highly, which pleased the boy very
muchs Later in the day, when the
| fight was won, and John, with several
| Continued Oh page 6.)
L