Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-05-14

They had done their bit for king and
country, had died without firing a shot
but their services were appreciated,
nevertheless.
Later on, I found out their names.
They belonged to our draft.
! was dazed and motionless. Sud.
denly a shovel was pushed into my
hands, and rough but kindly voice
said:
"Here, my lad, lend a hand clearing
the trench, but keep your head dowr
and look out for snipers. One Of tn,
Fritz's is daisy, and he'll get you If
you're not careful"
Lying on my belly on the bottom Of
the trench, I filed sandbags with the
sticky mud, they were dragged to my
rear by the other men, and the work of
rebuilding the parapet was on. The
harder I worked, the better felt. Al
though the weat..er was cold, I was
soaked with sweat.
Occasionally bullet would crack
overhead, and machine gun woulr
kick up the mud on the bashed.in para
pet. At each crack I would duck and
shield my face with my arm. One Of
the older men noticed this action of
mine, and whispered:
"Don't duck at the crack Of q bull
let, Yank; the danger has passed-you
never hear the one that wings you
Always remember that If you are going
to get 1t, you'll get 1t, SO never worry"
This made great impression on me
at the time, and from then on, I adopt
ed his motto. If you're going to get it.
you'll get It."
It helped me wonderfully. I used II
so often afterwards that some Of my
mates dubbed me, IF you're going tc
get 1t, you'll get It."
After an hours hard work, all my
nervousness left me, and was laugh.
ing and joking with the rest.
At one o'clock, dinner came up In
the form of a dixie of hot stew.
I looked for my canteen. It had
fallen off the fire step, and was halt
buried In the mud. The man on my
left noticed this, and told the corporal,
dishing out the rations, to put my
share in his mess tin. Then he whis.
pered to me, always take care Of your
mess tin, mate"
had learned another maxim Of the
trenches.
That stew tasted fine. I was as
hungry as bear. We had seconds, y
or another helping, because three OF
the men had "gone West" killed by
the explosion Of the German trench
mortar, and we ate their share, bu;
still I was hungry, so I filed in with
bully beef and biscuits. Then I drained
my water bottle. Later on I learned
another maxim Of the front line, &c
sparingly with your water" The bully
beef made me thirsty, and by tea time
I was dying for a drink, but my pride
would not allow me to ask my mates
for water. I was fast learning the
ethics of the trenches.
That night was put on guard with
an older man. We stood on the fire
step with our hands over the top. peer
ing out into No Mans Land. It was
nervous work for me, but the other fel
low seemed to take 1t as part Of the
nights routine.
Then something shot past my face
Ny heart stopped beating, and duckef
my head below the parapet. A sof1
chuckle from my mate brought me t.
my senses, and I feebly asked, "Fol
heavens sake, what was thatT
He answered. "Only rat taking {
promenade along the sandbags."
felt very sheepish.
About every twenty minutes the sen
try in the next traverse would fire ,
star shell from his flare pistol. Th'
'plop" would give me start OF fright
I never got used to this noise durini
my service in the trenches.
would watch the arc described b.
the star shell, and then stare into N
Mans Land waiting for 1t to burst. /.
its lurid light the barbed wire an
stakes would be silhouetted against IT.
light like a latticed window. Thel
darkness.
Once, out in front Of our wire,
heard a noise and saw dark form
moving. Ny rifle was lying across th'
sandbagged parapet. I reached for II
and was taking aim to fire. when m!
mate grasped my arm, and whispered
"Don't fire." He challenged In a lov
voice. The reply came back Instant!
from the dark forms:
"Shut your blinkin' mouth, yo'
bloomin' idiot; do you want US to clio
1t from the BOcbes"
Later we learned that the word, IN
challenging or firing, wiring party on
in 'front.'" had been given to the sentr:'
on our right, but he had failed to pas.
It down the trench. An officer had over
heard our challenge and the reply, ant
Immediately put the offending senti
under arrest The sentry clickr
twenty-one days OH the wheel, that Is.
he received twenty-one days field pun
ishment No. I, or "crucifxion." as
Tommy terms 1t.
This consists of being spread-eagied
on the wheel Of a timber two hours q
day for twenty-one days, regardless OF
the weather. During this period, your
rations consist of bully beef, biscuits
and water.
A few months later met this sentry
and he confided to me that since being
"cruclfied," he had never failed to pass
| the word down the trench when SO or
dered. In view of the Ofense. the
above punishment was very light, IN
| that falling to pass the word down o
trench may mean the loss OF many
lives, and the spelling OF some impor'
mt enterprise in No Mans Land.
Continued next week
The Ncighbor's Hens.
(srringneld " } Rep ,rter.)
When the snow has melted,
Leaving here and th"re
Patches Of the garden
And the lawn quito bare;
Then from Oil directions.
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