Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-16
fHE sPIRIT OF THE OLD
DOht\iO\.

Captain B!acktons face grew very
s go, q. 9f read the message just
ne sara 70 the youthful soldiers around
aim in the trencn. here's u chance fo7
one OF YOU ~ snow Cnc!c sam what
stuff you're MADE Of. These arc orders
o. the Germans that must be rottcn TO
Genera! Long at once. His h3adqUar-
Ser.' as YOU know. are across the line
IN me heSt trench, a danSerousi and
perii0us Journey Tor whoever uhd+r-
thkcs II. J must frankly say. has very
LIE chance 10! his life. as lie viii be
Aardl% see how vs. can do Il at all
Tor u is almost Impossible that any
enc should even reach there alive
Hc stopped and looted around him
on me bright. boyisli faces. He knew
that therc WAS not one among them
thai would MOI go. not one who would
Tor mis- country. 70: America. ever ana
always first in the hearts of its sons.
du!i oche burned in his heart; all.
how il panied him 10 see these boys
90 forth to certain death; how dread
I'll IL was for hin, 10 have to send
hem Bat such were the horrors OF
II see he said that YOU are all
ready and willing. and Cod bless YOU,
,ny deal FELLOWS foG il. shall not APP
point one of You. can't; it is TOO
ASK fo:' q volunteer. de paused ana
looked them owe" searchlnsly then
"cit on y man VINO understands
inl!y all the danger he is risl<ins. how
little chance there is. and goes be-
cause ne wants 10 render tho service
% his country and his God
instantly al! sp.an2 10 their feet. but
enc slender lad, with dark. curly hair
and angling blue eyes stepped for
ward CAPTAIN ne said. Ia be very
Old Glory has Gonc her part by INC
and now its nay turn. I'll do my best
TO sei the message 10 Colonel Long,
Al iii.
be very proud II you'll let nc have this
chance 20 serve nay country and The
Old Dominion. I'm from Virginia, YOU
captain. II there we're more men in
VIC world lie YOU there would be no
wars. My sou, YOU are b:avH,y up-
hoidins the standards of your noble
state, true son OF the land OF ~
Washington and Lee. and Virginia and
Amei!c!. are proud Of YOU. You shall
nm the paper as he srasped his hand
nSh;ly. God grant that YOU may
safely return; such as you. are none
captains eyes and DICE Wayne turned
away quickly that he might not see
Il when he reached the ladder 10 climb
through no mans land he turned for
an !nstan; and said. Captain his
voice tremhied. bat he went on. If i
go west won't you let the little mother
DOM IN Dixie know thai only did
my duty: Nirsiniam could not do
ctherw;se. ana tina; ] wanted 20 do
what | did. Fearing TO trust his
voice. the captain nodded. ana in ii
momcn; the boy was gone
God alone knew what that Journey
cost Dick as lie crawled through no
ilounds OF broken sod. bursting shells
digging up the earth around him. ono
thought alone remained ixcd in his
mind. that ho must for tho sake Of
America &c. that message TO Genera
Long. At the end OF two to-turoua
hours lie tell exhausted into the neHi
french. easninE. ne gave the message
Next morning he swoks refreshed
rcaay TO begin the tourney backward
General Long saw bin before Inc went
boy brought tears - his eyes.
Tho journey back was worse than
hcforc. Waync though; every moment
would be, his last. aud jas; in from, OF
tho trench BIZ Of failing she'll splin;-
cred his left arm, but he kept OH and
linaily reached tho trench.
Wayne knew nothing more for two
weeks, whom he awoke one day TO find
himself with only one arm. his praises
ringing everywhere ard ii Cross OF Vic
tory for especial service.
E,ackton INA, nieh:. ones arm is sue,
small thing to give for ones coun-
try. Why. captain. my mother. my
state and my country arc woah every
much 10 give for Old Glory.
You arc right" answered ;he cap.
tin and any m man who is not wiling
~ coward" repeated WAYNE. "a
coward captain, Id ratio" die ,hcu-
end deaths than have that name ap-
into the oldcr mans face. I'm ~ Viz.
Siniam and Nirg'nang. Captain Black
ION, arc never towards.