The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-05-15

We were sitting on a nrestep In the
ekunt line trench. II was bright and
sunny and We were bubbling over with
enpd humor. There were two reasons
~ this: rrst--our battalion was to
b relieved at nine that night and we
were going back for a two weeks
rest second--it was spring. We could
ms1 It In the air. Even the wind
blowing from the German trenches In
Car direction had q sweet and
ssprinsy" smell.
About thirty yards down a communi-
cation trench 20 the left was an or.
eAard. The trees were SCARED from
bullets and fragments OF shell; but
ven these battered trunks could not
resist the feel Of spring, because here
and there on the twigs and branches
could be seen bursting buds. Fitting
around were numerous birds, %chirping,
and tometimes ~wrangling among them
solves.
To me II seemed odd that birds could
aecustom themselves to war. Occa-
sionally a German shell. or perhaps
~ Of ours. would 60 screaming over
the orchard. The birds did not seem
% mind the n~oise-just carried on
With their nest-building.
In wi company was an American
named Alexander Stewart. Naturally
he and I were very chummy.
Stewart and I were the chief
Amusement promoters" In the COM
pany, the Tommies constantly looking
to rs for some new diversion.
In the English army a Tommy seems
b have the idea that an Americans
chief vocation in the United States Is
TO invent. and to keep on %inventing.
OF course, Stewart and I did not in
any way try to dissipate this idea; In
fact we encouraged IL, and took great
pride In being looked up to In this
way; but, believe me. Il kept us hust-
ling to keep the Tommies amused.
II was getting too warm for soccer
football. and we knew as soon as we
got into rest billets that the issue
would be put right up to Us: "How
are you going to amuse % while be.
hind the linesf
We were Americans, and red-blood.
cd; spring was in the air. and our
thoughts turned to what every Ameri.
can boy is thinking Of upon thu arrival
Of sprins-baseball.
turned my eyes to the muddy para.
dos (rear wall Of the trench) and fixed
my gaze on a fragment OF German
shell embedded In the mud. Pretty
soon this fragment seemed to change
into a baseball player. with mask. pro-
tector and catcher's mitt. He was
c%rouching behind the home plate and
signaling to the pitcher. Just then
Stewart said: "Say. Emp, I wonder
II we could teach the Tommies how to
play baseballr"
Immediately turned In his direction.
He was also staring at that fragment
Of shell.
answered: ibid you ever try to
teach q Ch!naman how to speak
Frenchf"
he got II right away and a detected
look spread over his countenance, and
be let out a long-drawn sigh.
A Tommy sitting on my right butted
In with "Did you sye byseball. Yankl
Why. I saw q gyme in London. and It
II absurdly easy to plye, but I cawn't
sye I fawncy hit"
With a look Of disgust Stewart
turned to me and said II guess you're
right. Emp, II would be easier to teach
the Chinaman French"
That night we were relieved and
went behind the lines.
The next afternoon, after parade,
We were sitting In IN orchard drinking
tea. About a month before, Stewart
and I had taught the Tommies how to
pitch h~orseshoes. There was great
rivnlry among the different squads,
each squad having a team.
Just then Corporal Watkins came
over to us and asked: "where are the
'orse shoes7 / cawn't find EN-"
Another Tommy answered: "Strafe
me pink, where are your h'eyesi
Cawn't you bloomin' well see the h'of
ficers usin' 'em behind that billet over
there? Blime me. they're AWAY,
a'gummln' the gyme."
Sure enough. the officers were using
"a horseshoes.
Stewart, with a look Of depression
on his face, turned TO me and said
-Well, here goes, Emp. Steve Brodit
took q chance. 90 / might be able t.
get away with this"
Then. turning to the Tommies. h,
said: "Did any Of you blokes evel
hear Of John McGrawT'
Three Of the Tommies answered
~Yes."
A sunny smile and q look Of hop,
6itted across Stewards face, and b,
bseathlessly asked. "who IL hef" Tn,
three started to answer at once. bu
Stewart. m~ajesucally extending hi
hand. palm forward. said Get II
1ne. one at q time. Now. Perkins. WIN
u John Ncqrawr'
PeFtdas answered.: why. 'Ss I