The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-03-13

chased the soldier, and !, WAS every
body step lively or you'd get left ~
was more than apparent that he saw
no place in that program for casual
people who asked questions. He was
there to take care Of the y NJ. G. A.
supplies IN the distributing center
which, cncascd in packing cases and
bales, filled the loft where he worked
busily carrying out some system q
sorting and arranging which involved
IN immense activity on his part, lie
| let fall the remark that he had been
at II since five that morning, and as
he spoke, he fell to II again, leaving Us
stranded.
We melted away with no formaliiics
Of leave taking, and went TO look up
Mrs. Brown, who seemed to be our
last clue. Al the hospital, by asking
our way continuously, We managed to
pass through brown canvas tents
set up In what had been gardens,
through stretcher-carriers, and white
aproned doctors, up flight OF dingy
stone steps 10 big room, hastily
transformed into a hospital ward. a
woman in crumpled \ uniform, with
pale, tired face and brave, steady
eyes, who was carrying basin oil
slightly redeemed water, was passing
the door as we entered. Yes, she was
Mrs. Brown. She staggered little as
she came 10 halt to answer our salu-
..tions, and was obliged to make an
effort to get her feet under her. She
explained this by saying, as though II
were the simplest thing in the world,
that she had been for some time doing
the Y canteen work by day and hos
pital work by night. ! said ! had not
known the Y workers ever were used
in hospitals. She said, offhand, "oh,
after big push somewhere, there are
always few days when everybody
has TO work everywhere. There never
are enough nurses or orderies for the
first five days after an offensive. But
here it is very handy, because the
canteen tent is so near. You don't
have to go long distance to get to
your work either way. We shut up
there last night at ten and was here
at quarter past ten. It's been busy
night"
Although she was as evidently as
the warehouse man, impatient OF
people who asked questions when
there was much work to be done, !
yenturcd to say, "Why isn't there
anybody in the canteen today?" She
said in some surprise, Haven't the
Third Division people come in yet?
Our boys are going forward SO fast
that we are nurrying after them, and
we gave up the tent last night. Well
be in new center tomorrow. The \
people for the Third were to take the
hut over. It's the Third that's coming
into town today to take the place Of
our boys"
| had understood very little Of this
explanation, but noticing that the i'm
patience in her voice went up notch
with each of our moves which kept her
from going back to work, did not
dare ask to have the dots put on the
is. She turned away, back to des-
perately pale young American, his
head turbaned with bandages. ! OBJ
served there was no impotence in her
manner with him.
"That's pretty fine, you know"
said to my companion, as we threaded
our way out of the hospital again, ito
work all day and nurse all night"
1.-THE funny part about her case u.s."
said my interlocutor, that she is a
Christian Scientist herself"
thought this not at all funny, but
finer yet, courageous sort Of last
dwelling of theories and ideas to the
stark needs Of suffering humanity, as
when a Catholic priest comforts the
dying moments Of Jew.
began TO understand something OF
what lay back of the quick, grateful
friendly smile which still continued to
greet my little companion, running
like sunshine along the ranks Of the
men slogging past us at the long
distance marching gait.
As we walked we turned into the
street where we had seen the dismal
deserted Y tent, and at once became
aware that something had happened in
the hour Of our absence. A loaded
automobile truck stood before the
door, an island in a heaving sea OF
khaki. Soldiers were clustered around
it, in tens, in twenties, in fifties, and
all up and down the street, we could
see others whose lettering steps
changed into a walk or a run at the
sight of the Red Triangle on the CANT
on. We heard them call to each other,
Come on, fellows, the Y trucks
come in" We were swept along by