The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-11-08

dies World for November he tells a
story OF Red Cross nurse and a
young Canadian soldier. blinded and
wounded to the death, who wakes to
his sightless and dying condition. and
knowing ALI begs the nurse for "a
fag--a smOke--a smoke"
Empey had been slightly wounded
In an attack on the German lines and
he found himself in the base hos
pital at Rouen. The mortally wound
ed Canadian boy was operated upon
In the same hospital and brought to
lie alongside the American and a
Jock. "A Scottie from. the Fifteenth
Royal Scots. or 'laddies from hell az
this particular Highland regiment
was lovingly called by Fritz, our
neighbor across No Mans Land"
"The stricken, delirious boy grad
ually came to his senses.
THE form on the bed stirred, and
then In a plaintive voice:
Where am I? Where am I?
Turn on the lights! Turn on the
iights!'
THE angel Of mercy leaned over
her patient and in a low voice whis-
pered:
Never mind, dearie: you are in
the hospital and will soon be in
Blighty for. a nice long rest.
THE Canadians mouth twitched.
l thought he was going to cry. II
was a pretty mouth. but the lips were
blanched to blush white.
Finally he asked in a piteous
voice. why is 1t 80 dark?' Then he
shouted in a terror-stricken voice:
81 know! 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 long sob.
Three doctors came through and
held low-voiced conversation. Two
OF them left: one stayed.
THE Jock whispered to me: Poor
bloke! He's going west. know the
signs. I've seen them before
"The dying man began to mutter.
The nurse bent over him. She had a
writing pad and a pencil in her hand.
She whispered to him: 'Dearie. the
mail is going out. Do you want me
to write note home to the folks
just a short note. telling them that
you are all right and will be with
them in a couple OF months?'
'The patient answered.:
Home! Folks? I've never had
any since I was kid. Home! My
God. how I wish l had one!'
THE writing pad in the nurses
hand was wet. The bandage on my
shoulder was wet. Perhaps the blood
was soaking thru. But blood is red.
''The voice OF the wounded man
again: I want--want-want a.
"Tl.e nurse: What do you want,
boy? What can get for you-a
nice, cool drink?'
"a drink? No; I want a smoke !!
Where's my makings? | want flag
"a smOke--a smoke!'
"She looked at the doctor. He
nodded. She left the patient and
came over to me. She whispered to
me: Have you cigarette. my dear.
for that poor boy? We are all out
have not received any for ten days.
II 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
II told her to look in my git bag.
She looked thru It and found one,
all out OF shape-a Goldfake.
with Joy In her eyes she went
back to her patient, gently put the
cigarette between his lips and light
ed II.
"A contented sigh, two or three
weak puifs and the lighted cigarette
fell out OF his mouth onto the sheet
He was asleep?
1T was getting late. fell asleep.
When l woke up 1t was morning.
"The bed on my right was empty.
The nurses in the ward had red eyes
They had been crying.
II turned an inquiring gaze to the
Jock on my left. He solemnly nod
ded and his mouth twitched..
thought he was going to cry, but
suddenly he looked at me. tears In
his eyes, and said. Jaw, go To-!
and turned over on his side.
do the men in the trenches wan
smokes?
do the men in the trenches wan
them? They need them! They CT!
for them! They must have them!
Don't you almost hear the cry o