Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-12-18
SLIvERS' DREAM
PVT. HAROLD @. JENSEN
28th Co., M. II. D.

The song said tnat he was Just a
long, lean country gink, but that was
before he came to live in Uncle SANS
tents. He Used to be long and lean
now he is long and stocky. One Of the
characteristics remained. and il was
one to be proud of-he was from the
country, and it was of his particular
country he was thinking one damp
afternoon In mid December as he lean
ed over q letter that began:
Dearest 2 but had gone no
further, He looked out over the sands
of the drill-fleld- perhaps it was
1.-THE monotony of the prospect, or, per-
haps it was because he had walked
post the night before or, who knows,
perhaps 1t was because of the thoughts
THAT he was trying to put into the let
ter--he did something that would have
matters hard for him If he had done it
"a few hours before. He fell asleep.
1t was not exactly a dream that he
had, but it must be very like one. For
all at once, he knew not how he was
on shrieking, creaking, stuffy old
train; and Judging from the haggard
looks of his comrades, they had all
been there for quite some time" He
turned with surprised look to the
window and this is what he saw:
They were pulling into the dark, "tu-
bular portion of the big Northwestern
Terminal in Chicago. Again lie SEEM
ed to sleep soundly Now, how could
this have happened when, as / have
said he was already asleep. | cannot
tell you, for / am no interpreter of
dream phenomena But he did-and
when he awol1e again it was plain that
Chicago had been left far behind. for
they were speeding over snow covered
plains, through cuts that had caught
snow on their jagged rocks, through
an occasional little tunnel. out again
over the snow, past a half familiar
little red station, so swiftly that he
could not read ITS name
He was not on the troop train now.
1t was a reai train, and he was riding
in style-a cent mile passenger,
with conductors to question instead of
guards, He guessed where he was
going, but he dared not believe it, FIJI
nalty he screwed up courage fumbled
in his blouse, and found his ticket. No
nlistake-he was really going there |!
You wouldn't know the place if I told
its name to you, at least not if l told
you the name that was on his ticket.
But that ticket meant a place that you
know and | know, just as we'll as he
knew it--and that place is HOME
AT last the moment was about to
break--he recognized the barns that
slipped by, the timber that filtered past
the car window, and, oh, boyl that
sturdy white horse that was making
slow but sure trip to the very sta
ton at which they were about TO stop.
In the cutter, all oblivious to the
Watching eager eyes at the window
sat Father. And AT Fathers side sat
Somebody and if you want TO know
her name you would have to waken The
sleeper and have him show you the
unfinished letter-and that would new
er do. for it would break the bubble
You can guess who twas can't you?
Our friend arises, gets into his over
coat, so short that it shows his sturdy
limbs Just above the knees, but warm
nevertheless, grasps his luggage q
don't know if it was a barracks bag,
but I suppose 500, and gets as far as
the door when the train stops and he
almost kills puny drummer who IN
cautiously is following him out. Down
the steps he goes Just as the sleigh
pulls up at the station, He gets a
hearty slap on the shoulder
Now I'm not the mean cuss YOU may
think me--remember, I'm only telling
YOU as Cohen said, but as long as it
happened | have to tell il. Right here
Inc awolse. and il was not quite the
hand he had expected to find on his
shoulder. Come on Silver, Wen have
to hustle outa here if we get back to
stand Retreat and maybe they'll tell
as 10 pack our barracks bags" This
las was said with smile that bespoke
the utter impossibility ,of such thing
happening.
Now I'm no writer of stories. and |
started out to tell this just as it hap
pened, but you didn't seem to like it
when let Silver wake up just now.
guess IN just make up the rest of this