Evening journal., 1917-08-07
Arthur Guy Empey, Author Over the Top Makes
Appeal for Contributions for "Our Boys Tobacco Fund

particular Highland regiment was low
ingly called by Fritz. our neighbor
across No Mans Land This Jock had
lost his left foot from a shell burst
! asked him why the bed was made
up In such a peculiar manner. He told
me that the occupant. a Canadian. was
up in the pictures" Operating thea
teri. having both hands amputated at
! the wrists and also that the Canadian
was blind caused by the explosion Of
a bomb while raiding the German tren-
ches.
In about half an hour four white
clothed orderlies came down the ward
carrying a stretcher In the wake Of
the stretcher came a Rod Cross nurse
They halted before the unoccupied bed
on my right. Then 7 marveled at the
efficient and gentle way in which the
wounded man was transferred from
the stretcher 10 the bed The under
takers squad" left, but the Red Cross
nurse sat beside her patient. every
now and then shooing a fly away from
the bandaged head or using a piece OF
gauze bandage 10 wipe away the white
froth which constantly oozed from
the half open lips of the bandaged
form
In a short time the ether began TO
die out. and the frothy lips twitched.
Then a Sigh and the man began 10
sing. not God. Save the King or
"The Maple Leaf Forever" but Never
Introduce a Bloke to Your Friend"
Pretty soon this tune changed TO a
shout OF Ammo ammunition Ammo!
Ammo forward" You could hear him
all over the ward. The nurse started
TO sing a grooming little lullaby. The
shouting ceased Further twitchsig
and twisting. and the ether was 'ex-
PEELED into an ever ready little recep !
tacie held IN the hands Of the nurse |
In a few minutes rays OF conscious
ness penetrated in the brain OF the /
wounded man and he started to NUT
ter:
Turn on the lightsI it's dark. It's
dark I can't see. It's dark. dark. Take
that damned pillow of my head It's
dark. dark 7 tell you. What's the mat
ter with my mitts? They're tied; cob
blesiones on them. Where am I, Smo-
key? This dugouts dark. Switch on
the gllm."
The nurse was talking 70 him in a
low voice and grooming her lullaby.
My God, how that girl could singi
II was not long before the blinded
soldier fell asleep. He slept for three
hours the nurse beside him. Not for a
second did she leave her post. In
wardiy 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 a piaintlve voice,
Where am !? Where am ~ Turn on
the lights Turn on the lightslh II
The sun was streaming through the
window. 4
The nurse was crying. So was l.
The Jock on my left was softiy curslng
10 himself
Never mind. deerisI you are in the
hospital and will Roon be In Blighty |
for a nice long rest,
The Canadians mouth twitohad. I
thought he was going to cry, It was q
pretty mouth. but the lips we're
blanched 10 o blush white.
He asked the nurse What time Il
M?"
She answered: Three O'Clock dsaris.
Try to go 10 sleep. You'll feel better
soon"
The Canadian asked IN piteous
voice why Is Il so darkr Then he
shouted in a terror stricken voioei II
know ! know They've put my lights
QUIT Good God. I'm hlindi I'm blind /
My eyes are -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 mel Poor
blokel He's going west. know the
signsl"
The dying man began 10 mutter, The
nurse bent over him. She had a writ
ing pad and a pencil IN her hand. She
whispered 10 him; "Dearie. the mail
is going out DO you want me 70 write
a note home TO the folks-iust a short
note telling them that you are all
right and will be with them IN a couple
OF months7"