The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-20
THE RESURRECTION
By HAI ,RY HURTEL GARRETT

The train pulled slowly out of the sta tion, amid the waving of handkerchiefs. smiles that would not smile and veil of tears. It Was troop train leaving for a distant can tonment. The motley mass of men, yet in civilian clothes, surged to the small windows to catch glimpse of some dear and fl 1,miliar face. There were those who were leaving behind wives that had with tear-st tained cheeks but courageous hearts, bid them go. Others looked into girlish eye4 and read there the message
 of duty which stood paramount to con- sideration Pf self or personal affection. Still others viewed with love and ten derness be ht and aged parents whose countenances were peaceful in quiet res ignation.
 Away from the crowd in the rear of the train ma h in worn and ill-ftting suit
 sat alone, with an expression of disgust
 on his dsshpated face
 Whats the matter, fellow?" asked a man standing beside him. Haven't you anybody t4 tell goodby?'
 The man raised his blood-shot eyes and drew from his hip pocket a whisky flask that he had recently drained "Only this" he replied in hesitating voice, We've been friends since childhoods It's better
 than any df them that's making such a hullabalow on the platform. Wait uHtil Cncle Sam gets through with you. He will make a man out of you, and ih months time you'll thank
 him for saying your body and soul from perdtion."
 That's something nobody can do," the man laughed cynically, flor I ain't got none.'
 He began to make slurring remarks about religion, but the band struck up
 Over, Ther e'' and his voice became lost in the thun derous music. The song was taken up and sung Justify by every man on the tra in except one. This man held an empty VI Fhisky flask in his hands For while he sat silent, then with an oath flung the bbttle out of the window. The train cleared the station. The fare wells from the platform died away. The men were q hiet, for in every mans throat there was tightness and in his eyes the glimmer of a tear. except one who sat alone in the rear of the coach, desolate and sullen, his face overspread with deep scowl and his thoughts far from the summer sky and green hills that fleet ed past the window. Before him opened
 h, vista df bygone yeare, and he be-
 ,ts'. the hideous picture of himself,
 U ecked in body and soul by sin. He
 vas now leaving behind this record of crime and iniquity, and before him op
 portunity stood with outstretched arms, but her alchemic power could not trans form his depravity into righteousness, so stseped in Sin was he, and thus he car | rieG with him a nature that still re- | tainel all the un orodliness of his misspent 1 life.
 l At camp he was quiet and uncommun- cative, his reputation that of the most
 profane and irrelgious man in the can ! tonment. lie worked and drilled indif- ferently, and came from his furloughS 1 haggard and dissipated
 | At last 'chme the order to leave for | port of em barkation, days wait, then 1 the crowd of khaki-clad men sailed for France. There they were stationed in | village and awaited further orders Frequently the men were visited by ministers who had in the early days of the war heard and answered the cat tc greater service. One man in Inc camp would nevef speak with thess men the gospel. He spoke of tlisfu as oaiaN HFpU- critics and 1i- fs1sY. ratta.ftIs