davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1918-02-03

00 7E were machine gunners OF
MANI the British army, stationed
VNY somewhere in France, ana
had just arrived at our rest
billets. efter a weary march from the
tront-fi:.e sector.
The stable we had 10 sleep in was
an old, ramshackIe affair. absolutely
overrun with rats-rreat. big, black
fellows. who used to chew up cur
leather equipment, eat our Tations and
run overcour bodies at night. German
gas had no effect on these rodents
in fact they seemed to thrive on IT.
The floor space would comfortably ac-
commodate about twenty men lying
down. but when thIrty-three. includ-
ing equipment. We're crowded INTO IL
il was nearly unbcarable.
The roof and walls were full! of shell
holes W hen it rained a constant
drip drip. drip Was in order. We We're
So crowded that If fellow was u5-
lucky enough tand nearly all o. US IN
this instance were uniuckNt To sleep
under 4 hole. he had 10 grin and bear
it. II was like sleeping beneath
shower bath.
=
der leading up to it. was a sort of
grain bin with a door in it. This place
was the headquarters of our guests,
the rats. Many a stormy cabinet meet
ing was held there by them. Many 4
boot was thrown during the night 10
let them know that Tommy Atkins OBJ
iected TO the matter under discussion
Sometimes one of these missiles would
h.a 4 1 nod
countenancs of . snoring Tommy. and
for about half an hour even the rats
would pause in admiration of his flow
of language.
on the night in question we Popped
down in our. wet clothes. and We're soon
asleep As was usual, No. , guns crew
were together.
The last time we had rested in this
particular ciilage it was inha hited BY
civilians. but now it was deserted. An
order had been issued, two days previ-
Gus to our arrival. that all civilians
should move farther back of the line.
l had been asleep about two hours
when l was awakened by Sailor Bill
shaking me by the shoulder. He was
trembling like leaf. and whispered
TO me:
"Waxe up. Yank. this ships haunt
ed There's some one aloft who's been
moaning for the last hour. Sounds
like the wind in the rigging / amt
scared of humans or Germans. but
when IL comes 10 nessil IN Win splrtS
it's time for me to so below Lend
your ear and cast your headlights on
that grain locker. and listen.
/ listened sleepily for minute or so.
but could hear nothing. Coming 20 the
conclusion that Sailor Bill was dream
ing things. ! was again soon asleep.
Perhaps fifteen minutes had elapsed
when ! was rudely awakened.
"YaDk, for Gods sake, come aboard
and listen. listened. and sure
enough, right out of that grain bin
overhead. came a moaning and whin-
pering. and then a scratching against
the floor. My hair stood on end. Blend
ed with the drip. drip of the rain, and
Evening star., 1918-02-03
HE INCIDENT OF JIM, A SOLDIER OF THE KING

the occasional scurrying of a rat over
head. that noise had a supernatural
sound. ] was really frightened: per
haps my nerves were Il triIe unstrung
from our recent tour in the trenches.
| awakened ikev Honney. while Sail
o. Bill reused Happy Houghton and
Hungry FoXcroft.
Hungrys first words We're. Whats
the matter, break fAst readyo
In as few words as possible. We told
them what had happened BY the light
OF a candle | had lighted. their faces
appeared as white as chalk. Just then
the whinperin. started again, and we
were frozen with terror The tension
was relieved by keys voice:
~ admit I'm afraid of ghosts; but
that sounds like a dog to me. Who's
going up the ladder to investigator
No one volunteered.
! had an old deck of cards in my
pocket Taking them out. | suggested
cutting. the low man to go up the lad
der. They agreed. | was the last to
cut. got the ace of clubs Sailor Bill
was stuck with the five of diamonds
Upon this. he insisted that it should be
the best two out of three cuts but we
overruied him. aud ne was unanimously
elected for the job.
With a $50 long mates, I'm going
aloft." he started toward the ladder.
with the candle in his hand. stumbling
oVer-the sleeping forms of nlanv. sun
dry erunts, means and curses followed
i'll his wake.
As soon as he started to ascend the
ladder a ''tap-tap-tap' could be heard
from the grain bin. We waited in fear
and trembling the result of his mis-
sion. Hungry was encoura ging him
with ''Cheero. mate. the worst is vet to
come"
After many pauses Bill reached the
top of the ladder and opened the door.
We listened with bated breath. Then
he shouted:
BLAST my headlights, if it amt a poor
dog. Come alongside mate You're on
a lee shore. and in a sorry plight
Oh. what a relief those words were
To us
With the candle in one hand and a
dark object under his arm. Bill re-
turned and deposited in our midst the
sorriest-looking specimen of cur dog
YOU ever set eyes on. 1t was so weak
it couldn't stand. But that look in its
eyes-1ust gratitude. plain gratitude
Its stump of tail was pounding
against my mess tin and sounded just
like message in the Morse code Hap
py swore that it was sending S. O. S.
We were like a lot of school children.
every one wanted to help and make
suggestions at the same time, Hungry
suggested giving it something to eat
while key wanted to play on his infer
nal jews harp. claiming it was a musi-
cal dog Hungry's suggestion met our
approval. and there a general
scramble for haversacks- All we could
muster was some hard bread and a big
piece of cheese.
His nibs wouldn't eat bread. and also
refused the cheese, but not before sniff
fng at it for couple of minutes. I was
going to throw the cheese away, but
Hungry said he would take it. 1 gave
it to him.
We Were in uuandary. 1t was evil
dert that the dog was starving and in
q very weak condition. Its coat was
Evening star., 1918-02-03

Tomorrow IS a heatless, or something
less. day." she said 'and il is not well
that you sit around the house all day
soaking up heat.
"Your remarks" the Observer replied.
carefully weighing his words. fairly
reek with truth
Therefore" the landlady continued.
81 want you 10 so to Baltimore for
more and obtain a two-quart bottle"
But. my dear madam. the Observer
protested. II never
The landlady glued the Observer TO the
floor with fixed financial eye.
''Your rent she said, crisply, lis three
weeks overdue"
And then. to make her remarks more
Evening star., 1918-02-03
BV SERGT. ARTHUR
GUY EMPEY

made better soldier than any one OF
u.s. and died for his king and country
died without a whimper of complaint,
From the village we made several
trips to the trenches. each time Jim
accompanied us. The first time under
fire he put the stump of his tail be-
tween his legs, but stuck to his post.
When carrying in If we neglected to
give Jim something to carry, he would
make such noise barking that we
soon fixed him up.
Each day Jim would pick out different
man of the section to follow. He would
stick to this man, eating and sleeping
with him, until the next day. and then
it would be some one else's turn. When
man had Jim with him il seemed Il
his life were charmed. No matter what
he went through. he would come OUT
safely We looked upon Jim as a good
luck sign, and. believe me. he was.
Whenever il came ikey Honney's turn
for Jim's company he was overjoyed be-
cause Jim would sit in dignifled silence.
listening to the w's-harp. Honey claimed
that Jim had a soul for music, which
was more than he would say about the
rest of us.
Once. at daybreak we had to go over
the top in an attack. A man in the sec
ton named Dalton was selected by Jim
as his mate in this affair.
The crew of gun No. were to stay in
the trench for overhead fire purposes.
and. if necessary. to help repel a probable
counter attack by the enemy. Dalton
was very merry. and hadn't the least fear
or msgiving as to his safety. because Jim
would be with him through il all.
In the attack. Dalton. closely followed
by Jim. had got about sixty yards int
~ l., hi
stomach by a bullet Poor old Jim toppled
over and lay still. Dalton turned around.
and just as he did So we saw him throw
up his hands and fall face forward.
Ikev Honney, who was No. 3 on our
gun. seeing Jim fall, scrambled over
the parapet. and. through that rain OF
shells. and bullets, raced to where Jim
was. picked him up and. tucking him
under his arm. returned to our trench
in safety If he had gone to rescue a
wounded man in this way he would
no doubt have been awarded the We
toria Cross. But he only brought in
poor, bleeding. dying Jim.
Ikey laid him on the fire step along.
side of our gun. but we could not at
tend to him, because We had important
work to do. So he died like a soldier.
without a look of reproach for our
heartless treatment-just watched orr
every movement until his light burned
out. After the attack, what was left
of our section gathered around Jim
b1oodstained body. There wasn't a dry
eye in the crowd.
Next day we wrapped him in a small
Union Jack belonging to Happy, and
lai dhi1n to rest a soldier of the king.
We put a little wooden cross over
his grave which read:
Private Jim.
Machine Gun Company.
Killed in action April 10. 1915.
a dog with a mans heart.
Although the section has lost lots Of
men. Jim has never been forgotten.
Copyright 1918. by Mcclure Syndicate5
Evening star., 1918-02-03

Impressive. she stepped over to the sit
ting room window and drew back the
shade.
How the wind blows and the snow
piles up, Heaven pity the poor and the
homeless on night like this she said.
'Of course, | shall be delighted to go
TO Baltimore for YOU, the Observer, who
dearly loves trolley ride, declared.
True to his promise, the Observer was
up. bright and early. the next morning.
waiting for orders to advance. The
landlady was as cheerful as d landlady
could be She laid two thin strips of
bacon instead of one large thick one on
the Observers plate. and when he had
finished his breakfast she handed him
slip with the number of a certain
. Baltimore business house written on it.
Since you are unacquainted with
Baltimore" she said. you had best take
this slip. However. If you lose it, the
name Of the place is the Busy Bee
Grocery. If you forget that. look for a
store that resembles a beehive. That is
the Busy Bee. And be careful not to
break leg in the rush. The goods
want are ready and. waiting for me.
can't get them here any more, you un-
Whereupon the Observer, who is as dry
as a book on knitting, shamefacedly
Struck out for the Baltimore car.
Several other persons evidently had
started for the same car, for all of the
seats were taken by the time the OBJ
server arrived, and. before many min
utes. all of the available foot space, in
cluding that which the Observers own
feet afforded. was taken up.
It was a happy crowd, though Moth
ing seemed to anger any of the people
on the trip over. i Several gentlemen
dropped empty suitcases one another 8
feet, and yet no one became angry. And
the way the passengers warmed up to one
another was remarkable. 1t was just a
nice family group. all bent ON the same
mission in life, il seemed.
How much are you going to get?' the
Evening star., 1918-02-03

der a fence? The answer was: Two
pigs This is the prime reason for the
use of two pianos. But l believe two
pianos will be found of service in all
evanRelistic services, large and small.
The fact that the two must move along
in perfect unison curbs any tendency
toward individual whimsicality of ex-
preston in either. We manage to get
Evening star., 1918-02-03

~ SHEN the Observer returned
MANI from the Tabernacle the other
HtY night his landiady was sit
v ting up. waiting for him.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-10-17
Phone 533
ave lots to eat when get home.

have lots to eat when get home.
Oh, for good sleep in real bed
again. think when I get home again
/ will rejoice in good long rest,
when / won't have to listen for the
sound Of bugle at any time Of the
day or night, won't that be "grand
and glorious feeling" We have the
credit of being the best working unit
in any Of the camps we have been in,
and hold the high mark in this, our
permanent camp.
Let US hope the men drafted be-,
tween 10 & 45 will not have to get
inc this big fight. The U. s. should
be proud Of her boys in France when
they see what the boys are going
through for her and let me tell you
the Allies are all for the Yanks.
Sorry to hear of the boy you spoke
Of who deserted at Deming. You can
bet here is one son who will fight till
he is numbered with the foe before
he would be gutter, would rather
be placed out on the hill where have
seen some Of our boys, than do any
thing Of that sort. When we meet
with hardships, the only thing can
think Of is the fact that it can't go on.
forever and also the glorious day
when we return home with the bacon.
We will sure make good use of the
car when get home. Whatever you
do, don't sell it.
Emil told me in his letter that he
was going to fix my car up for me,
if he needs any money for repairs,
take it out Of my allotment.
You surely have received. my other
letters by this time. The check fol-
lowed me from Camp Mills. The
weather is fine here at present, but
cool sleeping. have bad cold but
outside Of that am fine.
Well / will close for this time, hop
ing to return soon, With love
Priv. Marcus d. Bramon
Base Hosp. No. 40. "A. p. o. 785
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-10-17
Letter from John Ryan

My Dear Folks:-
Will try and write few lines
and let you know I am still among
the living and doing fine. / am sitting
in the attic window and it is about
fourteen inches wide and three feet
long. There are lots Of funny things
in this country but I wouldn't have
time to tell you much about them in
this letter as it is almost dark.
We took -(censored)- days ride in
box cars since we landed in France
and it was hard trip. There were
about seven more men in each car
than could possibly lie down SO we
worked it in shifts and would make
seven men stand up in the end of the
car for two hours each night.
I was anxious to get away from
Fl Worden and go some place where
there was some excitement. I don't
think there is such a thing as SUBJ
marine anymore because we got on
landed the -(censored)- so you can see
they are fake. You won't have to
worry about Tom as they didn't get
me.
] suppose you think ! am a fine
Guy for not writing sooner but the
Lieutenans came on different boats
and the Captain asked us not to write
because he had so much to do with
out doing any censoring.
This is fine country and l don't
feel bad about anything only l can't
talk French and say, these French
girls are sure swell looking.
Send me the addresses of the boys
who are over here, also TOMS. think
we will be settled down here for two
months and I could write them and
maybe see them. Roy Thomas is in
camp about two miles from here and
they sure have got a swell place to
stay.
We were in England just long en-
ough to get acquainted with their
money but this stuff here in France
is sure a puzzle.
Well it is getting dark and I will
have to close and spread my blanket
out and get some sleep. Answer soon.
Your son and brother
R, j. Ryan
Battery B. Goth Art. c. A. c.
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-10-17
Letter from Herman Hover

On the Job. g. 16 18.
Dear Folks:-
( There is quite lull in the pro-
ceedings so I'll dash off a few lines.
Just finished dinner chad spaghetti
instead of rice, for change) and
smoked my pipe so feel pretty good.
Believe me, this is the free and easy
life. I'll take it up here instead of
down in "repose," anytime. There are
four of us and two ambulances at this
station and nobody to bother us. When
there is work to do, we do it, but,
thank goodness, when there is not, we
don't have to diddle around doing
something ito keep busy" Don't even
have to get up at any special time
unless business demands it. Slept till
800 this morning. Great stuff. AS
told you, the Italian army don't be-
lieve in breakfasts so we don't miss
anything by sleeping late. But yes
terday we had to take a load to the
hospital at 400 A M so it about evens
up.
They have tent here that is used
for a receiving station and four Ital-
ians, who do the litter carrying from
the cable line. One of them speaks
some English and they are all good
fellows SO we get along royalty in the
tent. We have cots in there.
We are right in a canyon and the
sun is shining down brightly, not
very hot and few shells whizzing
over once in awhile, but none fall in
here. just enough noise to let one
know the war is going on. We get
most of our work either early in the
morning or after supper. We became
aggravated this morning. Had job
to carry a man down to the, hospital
and deuced if he didn't kick the bucket
coming down the cable so we got
cheated out Of a job. Some of the
fellows get mutilated up quite con-
siderable.
| Your sixth letter (not numbered
but guess it was sixth) and clippings
of July 21st, got to me early in the
morning of the 18th, just before we
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-10-17

started up here. Glad to get it. Expect
you have got lots Of my letters by
this time, ought to have, anyhow.
Clippings were interesting. Guess
/ do know Beard. He is sitting beside
me now. He and I are on the same
ambulance. You know he is the fellow
Joy spoke about getting married last
summer. A good fellow.
You certainly feed the new drafted
men nicely. They seem to get the
best Of it all around.
Oh yes, got the first two punches
of papers with the letter, too. They
come in handy to read up here but l,
don't seem to know many Of the
people l read about anymore. Ger
tainly nothing very startling around
home but the papers are interesting
just the same.
Don't expect I'll ever get to Rome
but if do I'll call on the Consul and
borrow hundred or SO on account.
Have only been paid once since we
left the states. don't remember What
Harris looks like but as long as he is
friend of the family, why so good.
You wonder if we like it over here.
Decidedly, yes. OF course there are
some disadvantages with being con-
nected with the Italian army but they
about balance with the advantages
and it's a novelty to boot. Yes. our
good times are thing Of the past
They certainly were good while they
lasted, though. All we can do in oul
spare time here is take life easy.
Thank God, there are no feas uI
here. Bites all healing up preparing
for a new onslaught when get bach
to the villa. They are certainly dis.
concerting to say the least. I used
salve, powder, salt water, carbolie
acid and hog dip but still they came
out on top. It's gay life.
Have taken some awfully goot
kodaks since I've been here. Wish
could send some but can't send pic
lures. That was all bosh and piffl,
about not bringing kodaks. We go
trimmed. Some Of the fellows bough
them over here. Wished I had bro
mine. Can get all the pictures wan
off the others films, though.
Am running down. Everything i,
all O X and am feeling fine as usual
, With lots Of love
Herman
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-10-17
Letter from Harlan Amen

Somewhere Sep. 2, 'f8
Dear Family:-
/ got mothers number 8 letter
today and was mighty glad to have it
as it's been two weeks since had
heard. Her numbers six and seven
are still on the way some place. I
don't remember numbering my last
two, so account for them.
We have been mighty busy for the
past five days since the last advance
in our sector was started. The con-
gestion on the roads and in the air, has
been greater than 1 ever saw it. We
lost two more Of our boys night before
last: Stanton, our corporal, and LIE
Mairl. Neither was seriously woun-
ded and will probably be. back soon.
We expect Kelsay in day or two
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-10-17

Letter From Dr.. Lusk.

Letter From DIR. Lusk.
Camp Grant, Rockford, ILL.,, October
Z, 49, Dear Mr.. Lahman: I have
intended for several days to write
you a few lines to let you know a lit
tie about how army life seems to one
who has been away from it for TWEEN
ty years. AS you know this is my
second experience under the old flag,
having served in the Spanish-Amer-
lean debacle in Porto Rico.
When / arrived in camp on the af-
ternoon of Sept. 81, in obedience to
orders from Washington found the
camp as busy as an immense beehive.
Il reported here and there, one head
quarters office after another until l
was finally assigned to my proper
place with the development battalion
of the 161st depot brigade. The only
duty being considered by the medical
section of the army at present in
Camp Grant is the control and Grad
! ication of the epidemic of influenza
which some enthusiastic reporter
has dubbed, without rhym or reason,
j"Spanish Influenza" as it is neither
more nor less than the influenza that
sweeps the world from time to time
with direful results. 1t was my for
tune, good or bad, to arrive on the
scene when the battle was at it's
height and the S. o. S. call was ring
ing loudest. | was Immediately put
into the harness and told to get busy
and let me tell you | lost no time in
oheying, for when from 100 to 200
men are being lined up single mfr
mary each morning at "sick call, y
there is no time to be wasted. These
infirmaries are merely examining
and first aid stations and are distrib-
uted all over the camp. They are
equipped for taking care only of the
milder cases and all the men who are
sick enough to require careful at
tention are sent to the base hospital
where house surgeons and nurses
ana other HOSPITAL attendants are pro-
vided. | say that these helpers are
provided" but that statement is sub.
ject to modification, fors the problem
of securing sufficient efficient help
is major one at this time.The call
for nurses is insistent and even pitt
full. Our nurses force has been sc
depleted for over seas duty that it is
becoming more and more difficult 70
secure enough of these modern Flor
ence Nightingales to meet even The
liiost pressing needs of the base hos
pitfalls. The hospital here was con-
structed with rooms intended to ac-
conlmodate one patient and there are
two patients now in each room. 1t
was my misfortune on the fourth day
after my arrival here to be sent to
the base hospital, not as surgeon,
but as a patient sick with the COM
mon ailment, and even now l am
. obliged to use my barracks room as
a convalescent ward for recovery
from the sickness. Each soldier upon
being dismissed from the hospital is
ordered to his quarters for week
because the hospital is too crowded
to allow him to completely recover
before being dismissed.
But this letter is already too long
SO j will close and later tell you some
thing of the proper work of the de-
j ve!opment battalion to which I am
assigned for duty.
Sincerely yours,
Capt. E. E. Lusk,
M. C. U. S. A.