The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-05-15


scarcely taken up his position for nights vigil an enemy patrol
had surprised him and although he had making his e
in the darkness his expended in
The exchange OF shots few hours later the thing
pened and he had been yet away from his og
nal post until from his sector of the
ewescacd trcnchcsby angle enenys lines dawn
approaching fast
cold dizze heded the coming of the sun and the
lad was half submerged muddy pool An icy swept
the waseand and chilled the very watcher But the
winter wind brought TO his acute ears came dull
scraping scratching sound with faint steel on steel
The physical discomfor of his position soldier
the fearful realization that enemy approaching that
ne was IN grave danger of discovery The boy had thought that
could ne he concealed in his slight shelter through the day he could
make his back the American night Dis
Rovery meant death, worse capture
The sound OF the approaching suddenly
deafenng peal Of thunder from the mouths behind
,he lines preparing for another day of battle and booded
ing the American enemy he
knew must be close The soldier carfuy lay
for he knew that the of single naube
IN the Pandemonum of bursting shells.
The drilling rain ceased the leaden clouds parted
shone in glory through the smoke laden casting morning
hrst beams the dread battlefield The German dmy
seen bending low scuyng from depression depression with the
evident intent OF obtaining vantage point from which snp
the American trenches The boy the shell hole that the
mans next advance would bring him his position and as
Inc started his final DASH the boy raised himself edge
hollow and pulled the trigger. The droppedbut
sorey wounded for the falling winged messenger
OF death its journey but snapped empty chamber
boy realized with terrible emotion despair that his cartridge
had been expended the night before The Boce yards away
had the boy pull trigger the empty gun had seen the
look of despair his face and knew deenseess With
chucke and ee of triumph the Hun prone position
and with the swness of snake gliding through grass with the
"reminiscences of bouncing woopd
down on the American boy in the shell hole.
1t too late for him fix him bayonet last stand against
the foe Too late oppose cold with hot desperate
struggle for life The lads hand erked cartridge belt
mad search for clip cartridges just one more clip
The German knet the edge brought his gun to his
shoulder and took careful lain at the boys ivid brow.
The theatre crowds beginning hrong
street. for four O'Clock Flanders in Atlanta caow
youth strong toward the taxi line with bepowdered
cast aside the butt of the last of twenty-five pack cigarettes
He poster in show window procamng thrift stamp
would buy clip of cartridges for The maiden
giggled at the Clever remark he made.
An ndugnt mother paused buy quarters worth of candy
fos spoiled child.
traveller slipped the palm of the porter as he
boarded his
little cooed newsy a alley the whites of his ewes
shining big ratified the dice exctedy challenged Shoot whole
quataw You faded replied the little newsy with smuge
his ecked The coins pavement when
frightened DE cops! the whole gang scurryng
OF the quarters rolled through the gutter into the
Apastaced youth with cigarette stained fingers pushed
chip into the center of felt table which pasty
faced boys crowded
An overed citizen stepped into lunch ordered cup
OF coffee and sandwich The check the waiter laid beside plate
bore the figures 2 AS the overed emerged from the
lunch he garng Buy Thrift Stamps
Clip of Cartridges boy the Trenches and gnned sheep
isny as he caught his
Back i'll that shelcarred No-Man Land khaki Law
with his face buried i'll the that edde
than its woned color His cold white hand back over
his cartridge belt his stiff fingers spread though final frenzd
futile search for the last clip of cardgeor clip
:here.
In another shell hole perhaps fifty
thin jets of fame spurted in American
trenches that day than soldier fell to rise
more, pierced by bullet from the German sniper
twenty-five cent Thrift Stamp posters tell us
clip of cartridges to boy in the trenches OF Just
clip of cartridges in this terrible war? Il" is only little
hing" you say, But is il really such little thing?