Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-02-19
A Soldier S
ldyl
D, JESSE ETHEL stiERwrN

y Every mother was In tears, ever ri,
ter looked sad. Only the thoughtles
l. swcethearts and those who had no rel
alive going 10 the front seemed indii
ferent TO the occasion.
n Il was a pathetic picture, for all IN
brave or mock-buoyant bearing Of tn
boys In khaki. In the minds Of al
was the sorrowful knowledge tina
many among the odd FIVE hundred re
< cruits leaving the training camp for m
eastern shipping point, were viewing
friends and home for the last time.
As TO the soldiers. every man was
erect. bright-eyed, laughing, joking and
singing. One fair-haired fellow
seemed 10 be the prime favorite OF the
group with whom he marched.
i "All got your troubles, fellowsl' ne
jollied. Free from care I-tra-la-la !
Not a living relative In the world. so
no weepers, and II get H. on some
lone hill. why, no mournersf
There was tug at his arm ms he
ranged up with the others on the depot
platform 90 await the backing In OF
the train. He turned. OF came his
hat. a gratified flush crossed his face.
''If you please, Mr.. Wilbur" spoke a
shy. lovely, dimpled girl, scarcely his
own age. "Could mamma say good-by
10 your"
Roy Wilbur had said he had no rel
atlves or friends in particular. He rec
ognlzed his mistake. Was not Eva
Burt here at his slider And her moth
or had sent for hlml And because he
had been poor and obscure he had
never dared TO raise his eyes with the
fervor he inward, experienced, but
now a sudden hope inspired him.
"You have neglected us Of late. MFR.
Wilbur" spoke Mrs. Burt. but her
tones were indulgent. almost caressing.
No one could resist the appeal OF that
boyish, Ingenious face and the pathos
OF his environment.
Trimming camp-getting ready TO
leave" and like fragments OF explana-
ton tided Roy through a confused
apology.
"We shall think Of you wearing this
In the trenches" continued Mrs. Burt,
handing Roy a parcel containing
sweater. Homemade. and especial
ly for you, and Eva"
The young girl fiuttered like timid
bird. at Is only little comfort kit,
Mr.. Wilbur" she said.
Their eyes met as he accepted the
little package. Then Eva Burt burst
into tears and hid her face against her
mothers arm.
"Poor boyI" said Mrs. Burt herself
deeply affected, and her hand rested
upon the uncovered head with a gen.
tleness of a blessing. 81 know you
will make us all proud Of you"
A quick order came from an officer,
and, waving his hand In adieu. Roy
hastened back into the ranks, a new
| ideal come into his life at that mo-
ment.
"Strlke her upl" hailed a comrade,
and the unslung ukelele twanged out a
melody he could now inspire with gen.
uine appropriation and fervor THE
Girl / Left Behind Me-"
At the open window Of the passen-
ger coach he was going over the
sprightly air TO the accompaniment OF
the voices of his comrades, when the |
train started up. In the near distance |
Mrs. Burt was waving her handker- |
chief in adleu. Eva. standing just be- |
hind her, kissed her hand TO him. He
thrilled. He was no longer friendless
nor lonely.
You're putting the right punch into |
that song" enthused fellow soldier, |
and every note brought new life and |
courage to dashlng, reckless, single
hearted Roy Wilbur.
In the trenches the whimsical little
instrument did Its cheering duty, and |
Its lOyable owner was the soul OF that |
Jollity which makes hardship endur-
able. one night Roy was returning
from a visit to a near camp, when a
portion Of the brigade to which he
belonged swept by him. bent on cap
turing a redoubt somewhat ahead. As
he drew aside 10 let them pass n shell
burst directly over his head. He was
thrown PROSTATE, with dozen ugly |
wounds.
Roy lay there awaiting the coming /
Of an ambulance following the troop. |
He was faint, In pain and dangerously |
hurt, but he unslung the ukelele with !
which he had been entertaining the |
camp he had visited. Out upon the |
clear air rang the notes Of his favor
ite air, encouraging those on the !
march, and they broke out into re-
sounding cheers.
Roy Wilbur was taken TO the hospit-
al. TO collapse. Then there was fever, !
dellrlum. two months convalescence.
and one fair, sunny morning the chief |
surgeon pronounced him on the way
TO recovery.
skVhere's INV ukalele1 \ want IN Gala