Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-01-06
THE SOLDIER BOY IN THE RED
SHIRT.

B
When the children came in, the next
evening, Uncle Tan was cleaning his
gun. Peter looked on with the great
est interest, and Uncle Tan asked him
If he liked guns. Peter said that he
liked them better than anything.
Uncle Tan asked If they would like
to hear how the children visited the
soldier boy. the time that Aristotle
aOst his tail
The children said they would, and
they climbed up on the long bench,
while Uncle Tan went on cleaning his
gun.
The story was as follows:
Once upon time, Great-aunt Ma
'tilda went to Boston to be gone three
days. She left the children in charge
of the cook, and told them a great
many things which they mustn't do. It
was the summer of the war in Africa,
between the English and the Beers.
The children were sitting on the
shore, looking off over the sea toward
the southeast.
"Auntie has forbidden US nearly ev-
erything," complained Brother. "There
isn't a thing that she hasn't told us
not to do, unless it is not to go to
Africa"
(which way liz African" asked Sis
ITS right straight out there" said
Brother. ''If you got into a boat and
sailed out there right straight over
the skyline and down round the earth,
you would come smack up against
Africa"
Lets CO." said Sister, much as if
she had merely proposed a walk over
to the pOst-oftice.
THAT'S not so easy" said Brother.
ats a fearful distance, and they have
fever there, and it's dangerous"
Wouldn't you like to see a real
war" asked Sister. eff we could
once get there on the carpet, we could
stay up good and high and look down
and see them fighting"
"Crickey, that certainly would be
fun, mOre'n a box of monkeys. But
the carpet would take weeks to get
there, 1 think"
Perhaps not. We might try and
see. 1 dare you to try" said Sister.
II won't take your dare" he said,
though 1 will take some boys dares.
III go If you want to-"
So they laid their heads together
and planned it out.
They went down to the store and
bought lot of canned things to eat.
They couldn't get a bottle of spring
water there. for It was a very simple
little store, but there was fresh bot
tie that auntie had hardly begun to
drink at, when she left. This bottle
they carried up into the grove in their
whe9lbarrOw. Then they carried up
1lat7Iets and things. Among the
things were some bandages and sur
geOn's plaster and arnica and alcohol.
They thought they might sprain an
ankle again.
"But there is one awfuIly hard
thing" said Sister. ITS cook. We're
left in her charge, and she's RESPONSE
bile, and if we disappear she will just
be crazy"
Serve her right for some of the
mean things she's DONE" said Brother
heartlessIy.
''But she would send for auntie, and
like enough for father and mother,
and that would be awful" The chill
dren came down the hill hand in
hRnd, Doth feeling very gloomy.
But they heard something that quite
made them brighten up. 1t was the
sound of Bridget in tears.
=. "Oh, wirra, wirra, whatever shall l
idoY" cried Bridget, who had her apron
over her head and was rocking back
and forth on the doorstep.
What's the matter, BridgetY" ask
ed Sister.
"'Tis me own darlint has got the
measles and we've not had 'em at all.
at all. Yen both catch 'em sure as
murder"
The "darlint" that Bridget meant
was her own daughter Maggie, the
second girl.
"Put her in the top story, said
Brother, land take care Of her. Jo-
hanson can bring up things to you,
and wen take care of ourselves.
Wen go camping for a day or two,
and then Mrs. Johanson will give us
our meals. Never you worry about
Us, Bridget" and the little hypocrite
Datted Bridget on the back.
I am sorry that Brother thought he