The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-02-22
CHAPTER I.

r., Johnnie comes marching home
again. ,,,,.-,h,
..u .avs him a hearty welcome then.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
o.. man with cheers. the boys with
shouts. go .
~ veil all feel gay. when Johnnie
Ss' c"nes marching home again!
Tho old man and the little boy. his
,.,ndson. sat together in the shade Of
4. hu walnut tree In the front yard,
catching the Decoration Day Pa
,,der Is 1t passed up the long street;
.,d when the last of the veterans was
ant Of sight the grandfather muir
pured, the words Of the tune that came
adftInp back from the now distant
hnd At the head of the procession.
ibid you, Grandpa?" the boy asked.
did l what?"
Did you all feel gay when the army
pit homer
II didn't get home all at once, pre-
dsely." the grandfather explained.
when the war was over suppose we
felt relieved, more than anything else"
you didn't feel so gay when the
var was. though, I guess!" the boy
ventured
II guess we didn't"
Were you scared, Grandpa? Were
you ever scared the JOhnnies would
vnT
NO. We weren't ever afraid Of
hat"
well, weren't you ever scared your
sk, Grandpa? mean when you were
battle"
-Oh, yes; I was" The old man
hushed. scared aplenty!"
4. don't see Why" the boy said
PROMPTLY. Il wouldn't be scared In a
battle"
Wouldn't your"
.'Course not Grandpa, why don't
700 march in the Decoration Day pa
nde' Wouldn't they let you?"
I'm not able to march any more.
Too short Of breath and too shaky in
tie legs and too blind"
y wouldn't care" said the boy. "rd
h 10 the parade anyway, II l was you.
I'D been In your place. Grandpa, and
they'd let me be in that parade. I'd
Ven right up by the band. Look,
Gfandpa! Watch me, Grandpa! This
. the way I'd be. Grandpa"
h rose from the garden bench
shsre they sat, and gave a complex
Imitation Of what had most appealed
y him % the grandeurs Of the pro-
es's'on, his prancing legs Stimulating
nose OF the horse Of the grand mar
40, while his upper parts rendered
~ drums and bugles Of the band. as
vel u the ohicers and privates Of the
aliua company which had been a fea-
!ue Of the parade. The only thing
Ieft out was the detachment Of
Nterans,
rutty-boom! Putty-boom! Putty
eomrooom-boom!" he vociferated, us
ne orums-and then as the bugles:
N IA, ra, tara!" He addressed his
,suse legs: "Whoa, there, you
'a'teyl Gee! Haw! Git up!" Then.
s.'ng an imaginary sword: "Col-
,amn right! Farwud march, Halt!
larry harms" He carried arms"
Snow'dler harms!" He "shouidered
tms," and returned to his seat.
1natd be me. Grandpa. That's the
wy ia d." And as the grandfather
.uueo' seeming to agree, thought
'sNntly dismissed returned to the
]no OF the composite procession and
u asked:
"elL why weren't you ever afraid
e'ndpar
W. we knew they couldn't"
A.. guess so.' The little boy laughed
-. u.'niuily, thinking his question sat
4. a,'of'iy answered. II guess those
'0nnnies couldn't whipped a flea !!
~ my cidnt know how to fight any at
- .o %o they. GrandpaT"
w., yes, they did!"
Nnatr The boy was astounded.
Ssnt they all just regular ole cow
Grandpa7"
~. ~ said the grandfather. SThey
~. pretty fine soldiers"
,A lucy were3 Well. they ran Away
ad.% sver you began shootin' at (em,
n.s %etimes they did. but most times
M. aidnt. Sometimes they fought
n. ""dcatt--and sometimes we werS
w.. e' max ran away"
rs.. the johnnies were bad men,
w. they. Grandpa1"
IN. Joys forehead. customarily Va.
ma, Mowsl some little vertical
uIsI produced by a struggle to
H.. Well. but ae began slowly.
IA ~ Grandpa. li>'en here! You
m . you said you MT ->r got scared
"e JOhnnies were O.Jn' IN win"