Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-14

When they found out was an AM
erican they couldn't tell me how
glad they were to see me-but they
charged me the usual prices. The
barber even offered me some cigar
cites. which took. No, mother,
hadn't learned to smoke. l took
them along for my companions. II
seemed strange, indeed, in that bar
bershop to see 'all the different ma
tionalities,s for there were Boche
Belgians. Englishmen and French
men all waiting for the same thing
"a shave. What amused me was
the expression on the barber's face
when he was tucking in the towe
around my neck. He probably
thought there were still some coot.
les there, for my neck was actually
bitten raw. r
Probably there were a few left
but 1 doubt it, Anyway, he gave
me the shave and then 1 beat 1t back
to my hospital home, wondering
whether there would be any supper
for me, as you know the Boche had
all left.
There wasn't any supper there
but there was a fire, also my bed
was still in place. But the Belgians
mad not forgotten us, for soon the
girls, including my little blonde
friend came in with some thick soup
white bread and cakes. One of them
even brought me some hot milk
OF course you know which one that
was-I wasn't hungry, but seeing
who 1T was, and how much pleasure
1t would give her to see me take
nourishment I drank it.
Hearing that the Belgians were
preparing to move all the prisoner
patients to other places in the city
L decided to hunt some place for
lodsment until the trains got run
ming again. For L wasn't going to
walk back to Paris il knew it. Be-
sides l still had a. few cooties, and
the only thing that would make
them hunt another place to start q
colony was a hot bath.
Not having had bath for about
two months, you can see how badly
1 needed it, With this idea in mind
hunted up one of the priests rum
ming around there. One of them
spoke very good English you know
and 1t was to this one L went. What
wanted to know was: Did he know
of some kind Belgian who would al
low me to use his bathtub and hot
water. From the way he studied,
he probably didn't. Finally he told
me Il could get a bath where the
other prisoners were getting theirs,
and he mentioned some big place
on a street with an unpTonounceable
same. But L didn't want to go there
l was nearly rid of the cooties, and
mixing with the other prisoners
would be sure to got another dose
not that 1 wanted to be high and
mighty about it,, or think myself
above them in wanting something
better, but because coming out 'of
these filthy German camps they
would be sure to have all styles of
vermin, and mixing with them
would be sure to catch it. So l let
the priest study little longer. Just
as l was about to give up in despair,
girl came past and he asked her
IL she knew of anybody who would
do me such a healthy favor.
The Once Over
She gave me a quick once over.
l must have passed, for she gave
us an address imm ediately. 1t was
just around the corner, so we were
soon there ringing the bell. A very
pretty lady came TO the door and
from the dough that was still cling
ing to her. hands it was evident that
we must have interrupted her bak-
ing. Hearing what was wanted she
said she was sorry, but would l do
her the favor of lodging and taking
meals in her house-would Golly!
The surprise of the offer nearly
knocked me down. / should say /
would and the pleasure was all mine.
The priest was about as surprised
as me, but he hit it we'll, gave me
good-by and left. And then she
showed me to my room, brought me
a change of Undertaking, some
handkerchiefs, socks and a pair of
house slippers, and told me to make
myself at homes Even gave me a
key to the house, saying L was free
to go and come as l wished.
There wasn't whole lot to the
room, but there was a whole lot to
the bed. Golly! but that was some
bed! Never have slept in a softer
one. Why when one crawled be-
tween the blankets one sank down
tWO ltclB 81 oOlJ was II. +,
you should have seen me! fear
| forgot all my manners, for passed
my plate for the third helping. Bdt
instead of shocking them this man
and his wife were only pleased the
more. That was as 1t should be-.
was a liberated prisoner, and hav-
ing had four years of Boche rule
they knew l was hungry, L was!
But the way that woman could cook
would have made a man with the
dyspepsia eat square meal. And
she didn't have a big variety OF
things to cook with, either, but even
at that she could concoct some of
the most appetizing dishes L have
ever eaten.
There were just the two of them,
just he and his wife. And they
were very fond of each other Never
did L see a couple so proud of a
guest, though. Why. the way they
treated me. one would have thought
L was the President of the U. S. A,
instead of a hungry man, eating
them out of house and home. And
they catered to my taste, too, even
giving me eggs and bacon for break
fast when eggs costs so cents piece.
And then they found l had sweet