Sitef
vol xviir.
GRANTS PASS. JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER iS, 1902.
No. 4
ALONE WITH GOD.
Ort.nl me, o Lord. llttl whtl
To lt at Thy dear feet. . '
Th day li drawing to a clos.
And light and darkness meet.
Thoo kneweat. O my Father kind.
All thai thla day ha brought,
with labor, weariness and car
lta hours hav been fraught.
TDy guiding hand. O Lord, thla day
I aroaatlr hav (ought:
. pant to know Thy blessed will
In m ta being wrought
fain would look Into Thy face.
And e Thy gracious smile.
Dh. hid me In Thy tender lov
And bid me rut awbllel
And o. my feeble itrangth renewad.
Rejoicing. I'll go on
rrom trength to atrength untn at last
Th heavenly ret I won.
-A. it Q. Hicks, in N. T. Trlbuns.
ROT AS THE WORLD GIVETH.
Christ Olres What I Lasting;, What
to BmI, What Is of Abuadaat
Uleeslo-.
"Xot as the world glveth, five I
into you," said Cbrisl. and many a de
rout soul hat come to realize the mc su
ng of this statement only after life
ong service. In the first pluce. Christ
' jives what li lasting, what in real, what
of abundunt blessing. But there is
mother way in w hich Ue gives.
The world mutt have in tight the
food result of anything, otherwise It
tat little use for it. Christ given often
I rich blessing In the guise of mlefor
lune. One it suddenly turned from a
cherished purpose; a jife thut prom
ised great tbiugt becomes limited in
Its power, from an earthly standpoint.
Cbritt is not giving it success as the
world would do. He understands
what pruning will do for the vine, and
what the fruit will be.
Sometimes a most useful life It tud
denly brought to an end. "for to he
giveth Hit beloved theep." ond we say:
tiud has use for it elsewhere. True,
but that it not all; Cod lint use for
even the death of a good man or wom
an, for some toult uplift others more
In death than In life. "Precious in the
tight of the Lord it the death of LI it
saints."
But God't glfta do not end with
thote wrapped in thedarknett of mys
tery, gifts which are to be received
with submissive faith. At the Insu
when in the evening it is light these
Ihitigt are known in their true rela
tion to I if. Then He give again, but
"not at the world." for now It it
"beauty for ashes, the oil of joy foi
mourning, and the garment of praise
for heaviness." Union Gospel Newt.
our OF WORK.
A Costaltloa ol th ChrisUaa That I
had Indeed No Kinurds
lor lllm.
"Out of work I" What pity it aroused
in our heart! at the sound of these
words 1 No work! No wugrsl No
bread! Around the empty board a
hungry, ill-clad father and mothcrund
tliin-fuced. starving little ouet. A tud
picture! Hut it has to do only with
tJist which is of the earth, earthy.
These are ouly clay bodies, that after
awhile shall return to the dust of
mother earth.
Out of work a Christian! Is there
any sadness in this picture? No work!
Comet life't thort day to its closet No
wages! No penis I No mansions! No
scepters! No crowns! No, not to
much, perhaps, at the penny at the
cloie of the day. A poor beggarly,
Iran, hungry, soul-starved Christian.
Ktcrnalli poor, without hope of ever ut'
taining riches, for the diiy of work It
patt and over. Does tliia picture arouse
any pity? Vet he is without excuse.
Not that he could not work, but that
be would not, for "the harvest truly is
plenteous, but the laborers are few."
Yet to it it. Multitudes of Chrittiam
out of work. Whole churchet out of
work, seeking only present earthly
comfort and pleasure. No work. No
pay. Hunger. Starvation. Death.
"Faith if it hath not workt it dead."
So, too, it the Cbritt ian out of work.
"Why tnnd ye here all the day Idle?"
Are you out of work? W. Russell Col
ling, in N. T. Observer.
RELIGIOUS THOUGHT.
Where a man can do most good lathe
highest spot of service in this world.
Watchman.
Ood 1 not an oriental deepest. To
And out Uia character and motives
study II Un aa He was "manifest in the
flesh." Interior.
There is a great need for the revival
of religion in the family, Religion as
well as charity begins in the home-
United Presbyterian.
It la good U do the tight thing, but
it is still better tauant to do it. .Many
acne Humbles or drifts intoa right ac
tion, and to far to good. Ilut no one
ought to be satisfied with drifting or
stumbling at any time. He ought to
know that he lint done well because be
willed ar.) worked to do well. To Ig
nore one's own faculties it to dishonor
their Maker. S. S. Times.
A recent writer tells of the worth of
a warm heart, and says thut a warm
heart Is more attractive than a large
brain. A city missionary said to a cer
tain man: "He is not much of a man
f you measure him in tome ways, but
be It worth a hundred dollars a year aa
kindling-wood in a prayer meeting."
The world needs warming, and the
Christian with but one talent can carry
with him a warm heart. if he wilL Bap
tist Union. smsiti isii i
A raalirat Child.
A child tried to upset an elder by
nulling away the rbair as he was
nt to sit down. The child waa rep
iTiinded and asked what she would
ate done if th victim had fallen and
hart himself.
"I should lavs fstahsd a ana," aha
said.
Oa being pressed tn gives reason for
this trsnae provision she said:
"Would y.'iikave him linger in agony?"
Londosr-Glob.
I FOUND THE . f ""
NIOHT was falling fast, and
the snow was piled high
nKulust the outer walls of
the hovel where a poor mou
Jlk (peasant) named Knto
nia toy dying lu a little village In far
away Russia.
Kntouia knew that he was going to
die. It was Christmas eve, but there
was no Kindness In the season for blm.
His wife, whom be bad loved very
dearly, was already gone. For three
consecutive years now his crops bad
failed. A few weeks before tbe wolves
had devoured his last cow. If be bad
been entirely alone in the world he
would have said to death. "Come; thou
art welcome!"
Rut there was one other, bis boy
Osslp. The Idea of death became ter
rible when be thought of leaving bis
boy all alone with not a copeck to bless
himself with.
When I tell you that It takes 100
copecks to make a ruble and that a
ruble Is less than CO ecuts, you will
understand how dreadfully poor Ka
tonia was.
lie could not die peacefully for think
ing of Osslp's future. His dim eyes
'turned fondly toward the pillow by bis
side, which the boy's thick black balr
almost covered. Osslp lay motionless
In sleep. The sick inun put one feeble
hnnd upon his boy's smooth forehead
and silently commended 111 in to heav
en's care.
The house was very still. The hour
was late. Osslp's healthy, regular
breathing wng tbe only audible sound.
If only kind heaven would raise up one
friend for his boy out of the millions
of good people this big world swarmed
with. Kiitoma felt that be should not
mind bow soon bo was laid away un
der the frozen sods.
While bis band rested on Osslp's
head and his heart was filled with
these anxious thoughts the door of tbe
hovel opened softly. Tbe moujlk
turned wondering eyes In that direc
tion, and there, coming noiselessly to
ward hi in across tbe beaten earthen
floor, . was a tall woman with soft
brown eyes full of pitying tenderness.
She came close to the bed, on Osslp's
side of It, and, looking down upon the
sleeping child, she muttered:
"Perhaps this Is tbe one at last"
Kntoma looked at her anxiously.
"Whence came you, good mother,
and what seek you?"
Across the sleeping boy she an
swered softly:
"1 have come for Osslp. Tbey told
nie In tbe village that thy days were
numbered, and I knew that Osslp
would need a friend. I will love and
mm
"I biv com run ostiir."
cars fur blm as though be were my
very own. I am called Uaboushka.
and I keep my promises."
Then Katoma, the moujlk. died nap
py, for be knew that Kabooahka wss
a friend to all Uttls children, and when
she gathered Osalp doss Into ber moth
erly arms when tb end cams th child
ceased weeping for big dead father.
W"bQ Baboosbka and Osalp were
well on their wsy to the old woman's
borne, in the next village, tbey beard
a pltlfnl sound of weeping somewhere
oo the tree shadowed side of th road.
The old woman stopped at tn sound.
"W will go and see who Is In trou
ble, Osslp. Our eyes and ears should
always he kept well opened so that no
sign of distress msy escape oa."
Guided by the sound, tbey came to
stone where, walling and shivering
in tn darkness of tbs winter night,
tbey found a llttl girl scarcely as
arc as Osslp, who wss not at all wU
grown for his eight yean.
Babooshka kneit down by tn child
and. gathering ber cold llttl feet into
gi warn) clasp, muttered:
Terbapa tbla la tb child.'
XJwq ab said aloud, "What to tbs
8 .. 1
5" -XsI-cWtj
V ' La, I 1
nan- i
MYERS'.
name, little one, and what doest thou
here alone In tbe bitter nighttime?"
' At which tbe child's tears flowed
afresh, and between ber sobs she told
the kind, soft eyed woman how she
had been traveling with a great com
pany of men and women who were
leaving their own village to seek a bet
ter land across tbe seas our own
blessed America, I mnko no doubt
and how, when they bad encamped for
the night, ber aunt, who was the only
relative she bad tn tbe world, had sent
ber Into the woods to gather fagots to
pnt under tbelr soup kettle, and how
she bad wandered so far that she had
SUE TOOI TUB CBtPfLKD DOY IM HER ARMS.
not been able to find ber way back to
I the camp, and bow the feared tbe
wolves would devour ber before any
one should come to look for ber. Then
she told Uaboushka that her name was
Vasallsaa. '
Uaboushka clasped tbe little wander
er to ber great motherly heart
"Thut Indeed, the wolves shall not
my dear little Vasnllssa. I cannot give
thee back to thy aunt, fur 1 know no
better than thou dost where this great
company of men nnd women may be
camping for the night. Ilut thou sbalt
go home with Oxslp and me. Thou
sbalt share our Ore nnd our porridge,
and all that Is mine thou sbalt share
with Osalp. I can keep the wolvea of
hunger and cold away, and If thy aunt
Comes to claim thee she shall And thee
rosy and-happy."
Then VawillSHa quickly dried her
tears, and with ber hand clasped In
Baboushkn's she trudged cheerfully
forward until they came to a tiny little
cottage set back from the road a short
distance. In Its one window a lamp
was burning brightly.
The window and the lamp belonged
to liabouthka'a cottage, Hhe pushed
its unlocked door open, and the chil
dren entered with her into a clean
wept well warmed room.
A large chair wns drawn close up to
the hearth. As Ilnlmishka entered she
glanced eagerly at this chair, and again
he muttered under ber breutb:
"I bad hoped be might have come
while I was out"
"Oood mother." Osslp asLed, "why
do you leave a lighted lump In the win
dow when you go a way f
"Bo that," she answered, "sbould any
one go astray In tbe cold and tbe dark
be might Bud his way to my poor
cottage. And now let us see If the beau
broth has kept warm all this time. I
tnade It before I left borne In the early
morning hours so thut If sny wander
ers found tbelr way hither they might
not leave my roof hungered."
Tbe bean broth bad kept warm. She
bod Osalp throw a few more fagots
tinder tb pot aud set Vssallsaa on a
tool hi to wannest nook. Then tbe
brought tlire bowls. Oiled them with
tb bean broth and put them on the
tabl. Over them the asked a blessing.
Before ber ow n wooden spoon bad
mad two Journeys from bowl to Up
h beard a Umld knock at tb door.
En ran quickly to answer It A tall,
pel lad stood outside. In bis arms he
carried a sinall mlt of a boy, about
who shoulders wss wrapped a worn
and soiled woman's shswL
Th tall, pal lad looked Into tb flr
lighted room with longing eyes. Ills
teeth chattered wltb tlx cold a b1
asked: "Good mother, may w stk
shelter for tb night? Tb cold bits
bitter bard, and my little brother i
troaba is but a sickly cripple."
Then Babouahka opened wid ber
door with an eager band and fast beat
ing heart. Perhaps, at last this was
tb child. What tbe said aloud was:
"That indeed tboo mayest But wby
art thou abroad on socb a bitter nlgbt
with tb llttl oner
' Bb took tb crlftilrd boy in her
strong, lortng arms and carried blm
rrraTgnrto-nfe- great rmttrTh 'the'enim--ney
corner. She rapped her own
best shawl about him aud chafed bis
small, withered feet until they glowed
with warmth. The tall, pale lad
looked on gratefully.
"I am seeking an asylum fur the lit
tle one," be said. "I bare to work hard
to keep blm and myself from want A
rich merchant has promised me work,
but he saya I must not bring Petrusba.
That be would take too much of my
time."
"And where seek you an asylum for
Urar
Uaboushka looked pitifully at the
small, sad face of tbe cripple. The tall
brouier anaweredsaiflyr
"Alas, that I know not yet I was
seeking tbe nearest town to 88k coun
sel of the priest"
Uaboushka laid a klud baud oo the
boy's arm.
"Put care away from thy 'young
heart Thou bast found an asylum
for thy crippled brother. He shall
travel no farther on tbe frozen roads,
lie shall be my own little Petrusha. I
have a tiny truckle bed Into which he
will fit to a nicety. Such as I have,
dear child, I make thee welcome to in
the Christ Child's name."
Tbe nlgbt was but very little older
when the three children, Osslp, Vasa-
llssa and Petrusba, fed, wanned and
comforted, were sleeping the care fro
sleep of innocent childhood. '
Ouly the tall lad and Uaboushka aat
by the fireside, because there was no
bed left for them.
"Tell me, good mother," the boy said,
looking straight Into ber kind eyes,
"why are you so good to all children?
Tour fame hat gone abroad."
Uaboushka did not answer blm at
once. When she did, her voice sounded
as sweet and solemn as church chime
tt vesper time,
"Yes, I will tell you, my son, for you
re nenrlng your own years of respon
sibility, and It will be well for you to
learn in good time the solemn lesson
that an opportunity once lost is lost
forever.
"Many years ago I was setting my
houBo In order when three men stopped
at my door wltb a great piece of news.
" 'We have seen a radiant star In tb
aat' they said, 'and we know that tb
Christ Child must be come. Leave thy
labor. Come wltb us to And blm and
to do blm honor.'
"But I sent them away wltb words
of foolish Impatience. 8cest thou not
that I am setting my bouse In order!
Go thou to where the star beckoni
thee, and I will follow at some more
convenient time. I can see Its light
without thy help.'
"So they went their way and left me
tn .-o mine. Ilut when tbe time cam
that I found it convenient to follow
the star clouds obscured tho heaven,
unil there was no star to be seen, and
to I knew not how to seek the Christ
Chllil.
"I have been sinking blm ever since,
up nnd down In tbe land. Whenever,
wherever I see a little rblld I think
perliiips 1 have found tho One I seek.
and n iv heart yearns over 111 in. But
not yet have 1 found the Christ Child,
whose fare must shine wltb the radi
ance of the star I lost."
With teats of sorrow wetting her
eyelushe Uaboushka fell asleep In her
chair. Kbe had filled all of ber beds
with cold and friendless children.
And as sho slept a tender band
seemed to dry her tears aud a loving
voice to whisper lu her ears:
"InuHiiiuch as ye have done It unto
the lenst of these little ones ye have
done It unto sie. They were homeless,
and ye took them In. They were hun
gry, and you have fed them. They
were cold, aud you have wnrtned them.
The Christ Child Is In thy own heiirt."
And on that glad Christinas morning
Babotisuka awoke with a great peace
In her soul, for she knew that she bad
found blm the bad been seeking far
and wide.
TRANSFORMATION
CervrifM.
Earth wag de$trt 4pot
A wrjryr wty,
,TM onv (he world Jhcrt djw&td
i i r .
v Uie CirUb7U tfjy,
L Tbtn.' likr jibt JkUt tntdt grttn
) V By funning brook.
Y By fanning
li ,Hppt fttxtttnd tit tbe world
Cs c- courts too.
tMVt wu gloomy puce.
A dreary way.
Until th Star ante
I Christmas
we
to Bed tb
The heart'
Saviour cam
A .
I S tiaV -v, W
EDITION
LOOKING FOR
SANTA CLAUS
The snow was fulling ou the moun
tains, biding their tops In a misty veil,
and tbe air was full of whirling flukes,
which were rupldly covering the brown
earth wltb a cnrjiet of white aud oblit
erating the trail up the mountain side
wbcro trudged, or, rather, stumbled,
along a grotesque childish figure In
man's rough Jacket, the
sleeves rolled over and
over to let out the small
brown bands, while, the
edge of the coat, ou a lino
with her beelt, left a trail
In tbe snow. A red hood
covered the child's bead,
dark curls peeping out
around ber fuce, and In
the fearless, wistful eye
bono a new light, for
Dorothy was going to find
Santa Onus. When her
mother had gouo to heav
en a short time before,
they bad carried ber up
the mountain, and God
and Santa Onus were al
ways associated together
In the child's mind. So,
if God lived up there, San
ta Claus could not be far
away. Thus reasoned lit
tle Dorothy In tbe hours
when ber futher was off
working In tbe mine and
slin WHS left atnnit with
her rag doll In the llttlo D"0"hnyi.W"
brown hut which served find Bant
as shelter and borne. ciaua
"Santa Claus may not come here
Dow mother has gone," tbe little girl
said, "and It must be nenr Christmas,
so I will find hi m, and perhaps he will
take mo 1n bis reindeer sleigh to see
mother and God."
Little Dorothy paused tn ber task
of sweeping the one room of their
borne, and, putting some potatoes in
the ashes to bake, that ber father's
upper might be ready for him, she had
wrapped herself in bis old coat, donned
ber red hood and started out to And
Santa Claus.
It cbsnced that day that on of th
mine owners wss down from tb city
on tour of Inspection,
and, having seen Dorothy
on a previous trip, b
bad. remembering anoth
er little girl who was very
happy on Christmas eve,
brought down a Christ
mas box for Dorothy and
so strolled along with her
father as be started home
ward, that he might give
i i . ., .. t. i,n,iu
K'iV'iJM Httl maiden herself. But
'fr"l when they reached the
brown hut Dorothy was
not there, and when re
peated calls brought no
answer the two men.
alarmed, started In oppo
site directions to seek ber.
Mr. Golden following tho
almost obliterated path
up tbe mountalu side,
where, a mile beyond, be
found tbe little on al
most burled in the falling
now, and as be stooped
to lift ber In bis arms she
Dear,
aood murmured drowsily, see
Mr. Santa ,
ing the klud face bending
Claus."
over ber:
"Dear, good VI r. Santa Claus, I
want"
When sb opened ber wistful, dark
eyes sgaln, the same kind face was
bending over ber as she lay ou ber cot
In the little brown bouse, ber father
holding ber tn bis arms, while beside
ber was tbe most beautiful doll of
which sho bad ever dreamed, aud,
clasping It close to ber heart, little
Dorothy asked with reverent Joy, the
dark eyes Oiled to overflowing:
"Dear Mr. Santa Claus, Is you God
too?"
CAM.IB BON NET MARBLE.
J. Saw S
A $onglttt ni,y
Till thinitlg tnith lui
VI K.hrnmat'iiy,
Then tvtry liny fill
Thtl dinctf thiig
Found roict. And
uurtt ioei,
day.
world' dctpait
dread bight
to tarth I
.... I
81
mi i
m
MM I
li'htbeVird1)
(t insone)" fl
' nm 8
SOLDIERS
9l t t) I' CbpvVK, o, P Xfat U SoM ) If
IT was a brilliant holiday store,
tho windows and the shelves and
the rast ablaxe wltb filigree
and thronged with dolls and
dlsliet and engines and trains and
skatea and sleds, aud hobbyhorse
that gtilloied, and cows that moord,
and nilco that ran, and and every
thing, absolutely everything, thut ever
enters tbe most rapturous Christmas
dream.
Iu the center of tho largo show win
dows, fronting upon the gay street,
stood two soldiers. Tbey were by all
odds tbe finest soldiers In the store,
much superior to the personnel com
posing tbe different troops and regi
ments and companies ttutloned here
and there along tbe aisles. Tbe pair
were made of tin, to be sure; but they
were of heroic nature, eight Inchet
tall, richly uniformed In black and
yellow, and could be wound up to that
they would present arms several times
in succession.
Tbe other soldiers, poor things, were
compelled to remain the whole time at
a "carry" or a "right shoulder" with
out relief.
Naturally these two soldiers were
proud and of aspirations reaching be-
oh, to oxt awat snow this rrauui,
auAhu mount 1"
yond their present narrow quarters.
They pined for a wider sphere. Aa
they stood and (tared wltb stern, died
gate through tho plate glass Into tbe
gay street they talked together In toy
language, and Done, not even the most
versatile linguists among the people
passing and repassing, knew that they
talked.
"Ob, to get away from thla eternal
guard mount over lot of frippery!"
sighed the one.
"Wltb all my heart!" agreed th
other. "Tb monotony is frightful"
"I'd glv half my solder to receiv
orders to report to some llttl boy,"
continued the first "Oh, for changer
"Hut the majority of llttl boys are,
so rough sud careless," responded tb
second. "I uuderstaud tbey scratch
you and bend you and acberwlse mal
treat you without taint, aud soon
you're done for. I f refer duty of a
tiioro quiet instructive nature, where
I may tescb by means of my deport
ment rather than by violent action."
"Well I should uJoy a bard drill
and a tussle, 1 bollev," asserted th
first
"Our organism Is too fin fur sucb
active service, my lad," Indulgently
corrected tbe second. "What scratches
ud dents? No, no, Glv in post of
more elegance, where my uniform will
be treated a It deservea."
Christmas day had been over and
gone a mouth when after tbelr separa
tion tbe two soldiers sgsln encounter
ed one another, but this Uui lu a great
heap of rubbish at tb city dump,
where the dump man bad unwittingly
thrown them out
"Hurrah! Hello, old chap!" exclaim
ed the first soldier delightedly.
"Hello."' returned th second, wltb
rather mora reserve. "Goodness! Been
through tb Beveu Years' war?"
Well might b put this query. Tbe
other soldier was a perfect wreck. 11
bad lost an arm and a foot bis besd
wss sharply Inclined forward upon bla
cheat b bad only on cy, bis body
wss twisted askew, bis goo was bro
ken, bis cap was tnlsalng, his features
were bettered slid distorted, and as for
bis uniform of black and yallow there
was hardly a spot of paint on him!
"I I've been having my tussle," an
Don need tbe flrst, wltb a cracked laugh.
"But yen wby. you evidently found
Just what you wer looking for."
"yes," explained th second, "I fell
Into so excellent post It wss tb
0
bands of a tittle boy, sura enough, but
he wnan't allowed to burt me. Bee, I
baven't mark on ma." And be ex
hibited himself proudly.
True, ho was still in dress parade
condition.
Thunder and Man!" chuckled the
first "And look at me! Do you mean
to say that you never were stepped
our
"Oh, no," replied the second. 1
didn't He around on the floor. I u
put away Just as soon a ha was don
playing wltb me. Ills mother bad
tnade blm very orderly little boy."
"8o you never stayed out all night
In tb ball or In tb uilddl of tb sit
ting room?"
"Never," said th spick and span sol
dier. "And did be hoot at you with bla
rubber gun ever?"
"Nover," said tb (pick and (pan sol-
tiler.
"And be didn't bit you to se bow
oft you were?"
"Never," said tbe spick and span sol
tiler. "Or drag you about among tb chairs
with a atrlng?"
"Never," said the tplck and span sol
dier. "Or sick th terrier on yon?"
"Nover."
"Or taka you to bed wltb him and
roll on you?"
"Never. I was lwnyt placed oa tn
belt In th closet"
"Or kick you or whack you or throw
your
"Never. Watch I can present arms
as well aa ever."
"Or kits you and hug you wltb all
bla might and cry for you whoa b
wtt sick through eating too much
candy?"
"Never. II used to forget m en
tirely for days and days. Did your
boy really do all that to you?"
"Yea all that aud more," answered
tbe battered soldier softly.
"And did be kiss you, you taj?"
asked tbe spick and spun soldier a bit
wistfully.
"Yes; be kicked ms aud be kissed
me," laughed the flrst
"And did you enjoy It?" pursued tb
econd curiously.
"I bid th time of my life," declared
tbe other. "How did you fiud thlngs
up to your expectations?"
Tb spick sud span soldier hesitated;
then be replied:
"Possibly. 1 can't complain. But
but somehow I grew dreadfully n
Buled. I almost longed at times for
more excitement more energy, W
got tired of oue another. After a day
cr so ws exhausted all our programme
of proper exercises, and be was so cau
tious of wearing me out that 1 was
laid aside, aud-and. Anally, her I
am. I dou't suppose bs even know!
that I'm gone."
"Dear me!" mused tb other. "I'm
glad my little boy wu not Ilk yours.
Of course there ar tho kuocka; but
tii a vrrstuxt xxrr.
h. our couipuulousblp was sweet! I
bet be t crying for me tit this Instrtut
poor chum! Still. It Is as well that I
am carted to the dump. I am old and
disfigured sud a back uilnlcr, aud I
wanted to go In-fore bp would cease to
mist me."
Tbe spick and spuu soldier was ill
lent "III. yl!" sollloqufcajd the veteran,
wltb a sigh and wltb a chuckle, stiffly
rolling over on bis bac k. "I'm past re
pairs, but tt wss sw et-ay. It was '
worth It'. Ibare hiidV-tbe Urn of '
my Uf."
And wltb hi or eyr b gated I
through a cblnk In tt debris up at tb
tars.
' . j ' ' ' - "
t
A. BKAVE DESEliTEIL
' BY EDWASD B. CTJLtUC. 3
"What's that yoossy?" said Sargt. Tools,
tt he kicked .t'i tnow oft hit boot tnd ast
town by tiie Pre in tbe little wooden shack
diet did dun for barracks. "You sty ther
lever was sny good in a deserter? Well,
fou're mined it by jutt ou, and have mad
I four insiead o( a bull's eye. Didn't row
ver hear teil of Jim Benton, of T troop, of
ihe Twelfth? Jim was a deserter, so Waab
iiaton people ssid, but Jim loved th flag
ind hit duty to it better than nine-tenths
if th fellows who serve their full 90 years
tnd then get let out with Unci Sam's
thanks and small bit of money every
nonth (or life. .
"What mad him desert? Well, what
should make aa old soldier desert bat a
woman? Some poet or other jmk told
shout a fellow who had been tempted all
kinds of ways. Money couldn't get him;
(lory couldn't get him; notbin' could get
lim, to all th wise onet thought, and th
ot him, or, at th verse slinger put it, 'wom
an tempted and he fell.'
"Jim as in th tervic 25 year before ha
struck hit Aag to a petticoat. Like all those
fellwws, when he gut hit be was hit to bad .
thtt none of your surgeons who are up in
mstttt- i.i .eutinient cjuld p..' - il get
out the bullet, or perhtpe I'd beau .ay ar
'or that's the kind of ammunition the
little chap who. shot Jim uses. You see,
Jim was nigh onto 90 when he got hit sight
filed and held on to this pretty young crea
ture with blonde hair, blue eyes and pink
ehreka. It's always the way with the old
ftlloars, when they get stuek on something
young. It goes hard with them. You see,
the girl had heard how it was that Jim had
always been steady, had never seen li'e in
side of 'the mill' eicept at t trem! rr . th
guard, ard, moreover, how lie - ' 'A
irawing I mr per rent, with I t tau.u er.
"Jim always went into t fight to win, and
he got o to th track of that girl and hung
to it just at he did to the Kid's trail down
in the Apache country when 'I' troop waa
chasing that red devil through the Arizona
hell. The girl led Jim for a while roquet
tish like, just to make sure of him, I gueat.
I don't tuppos the ever cared t rap for him,
but th wat of a kind to whom Jnn'i littl
pot of money and hi retired pty meant a
beep.
"Jim wasn't any beauty. Tie looked lis
on of this artist fellow Remington's pic
tures of us fellows. All muscle tnd bone,
but as thin aa th company cook's soup
when th beef doesn't show up. Moreover,
Jim had a scar on his far that was deep
enough to drop a Springfield enrtriilge in.
He got it along with a medal of honor when
he wat trying to save a kid trumpeter from
being gobbled up by th Siout nut on th
Rosebud. Th medal of honor didn't mean
anything to that girl. It might to soma
who wear skirts, but not to one of her kind.
"We"., finslly w all thought that Jim had
eorsled her all right. It wat given out that
th Twelfth's chaplain wss going to have a
job tying the two ap. None of theboyteon
gratulated Jim too hearty, because most of.
them had tised tb affair up right, and
wouldn't hav it that tb girl was good
enough for Jim Benson, She might b all
right for a rookie, but not for an old fel
low who had teen more campaigns than th
girl had year. I ought to hav told you be
fore thtt this particular petticoat wat visit
ing at th poet. She came from down Iowa
way somewhere.
One night she gave it out that she wat go- ,
Ing home, and that Jim must go dowa ther
for th splicing. 8h elesred out, end in a
few days alter th old fellow gets a furlough
and clears out, too, following the imi'. as w
heard after, way down to lows Now, you
mutt just get hold of this fact. Jim waa kind
of a pious chap, but be loved th flag better
then any Bible that wat ever printed, but
for a thort tim that girl was ahov th
nag. Jim wat just erasy for her. Th ttory
se that th wouldn't come back, snd
woulda't marry him unless he quit th army
the tad ther. Jim tried to quit through
th regular red-tape channels, but ther
wouldn't have it dowa is Washington.
"Jim Benton, veteran, medal of lienor
anas, fighter in a hundred fights, lover of bia
flag and country, and as good a soldier aa
ver wor quartermaster's shoes, deserted,
and deeertad for a petticoat. 1 forgot to sty
that Jim get his wad of money from th
psyenaater before bis leave was up.
"Then was another desertion inside of a
month after Jim quit thcailort. Thai tim
a woman did the deserting, though a fel
low heled her ta do it, tnd along with th
woman and th fellow went Jim s money.
I don't tuptos during the honeymoon the
full (ore of what he hsd done went home
In th bull's eye with Jim. It went home.
however, when the gni quit. Jim wanted
So be reinstated in the service, lie wa
willit to take tht heaviest penalty for ab
sence witnout leave, but he knew now how
it Nit lie t deserter, tnd more than that.
he ranemhered bow all good soldiers de
spise a felluw who quits. v
"Jon's beast wss clesa broke. Re got in
enmmuni'atiofi tb hit old captain some
how, and M tried -l wort th thing through
tlx tleirtinant luri'm, but there d been a
heap oil t'rtrrliooa aboat that time, tad de
enilr Jira't medal and bisjjft yetrs with narv
a 'blund' nor a day in 'the wll' sgxinst him,
the honorable, th secretary e( war said if
Jim ww taught he must take bit mnlkine.
It was rumored around old fort John
son that Jfun had been teen on thtedge of
tbe woods IweYjBg al liieom piareand seem
ing kind ut wikeiike. One night one of the
old quart rriiiuu sharks got on fire. It
was just heioiY level practice srst(n, srl
the building had a auar big boxes o,' ammu
nition in it. These eaa pretty stiff win, I
blowing, mil it looked a if the her racks
tnd a lot of other things .ue!d so. li last '
slot! hail esi'loiled the other bwoitmga Mould
l ave gone sure. Th hr was fa,il eating
around lho Uixes and the fellows foueil
toy of the risKie a little, good tolditr smfl
though thty si.
"All at once while th crowd wa bear
ing bs .imebody jumped (Iran through
the In . plump intu the tire, lie grabbed
a bot a;... t .ire it out clear f tiie blase,
and then anotner and another, though th
llamee were burning his clothes and going
ap wrrstlilike about hi bead.
"Winn he had don tb business eleaa
and g ' ' 'oe man jumped nut of tnc names
sad ir- the wood. Well, 1 gUes yo
ikuow ' it waa It wat Jim lleaion. We
if.iuut i. in iead aett day in a thicket, hut
.the esli-u. part of the mtttir wtt that
.Jim's beoy wat wrapped in an 1, gsrrlsoa
tlsg that iail beea pinned tlx ut him by th
last tffoti u those poor humid hands. Jim
though), VMM.se, that, deeertrr though k
wss, if U-.llid Abu tbey might bury baa
Iwitn Hit tug. ..
")iil they do !( $, and gave him th
ri golaiioa three rwtsuda.tvrer the grave aid
I th best prayer that tb ojd chaplain knew
I how to pray.
! "H")t, I've beea 30 years in th tervic
I've only got on year before 1 retire, bwl
as sure as drill call soupii ;b decent seats,
r I'm going to tight ehj of petticoats till tot
est U month art uu'tlucsgo lUKurd
Herald. .
Th lU rwsieasee.
When th plainly dressed woman
utrred th crowded car all tb young
men wer ton busily engaged In read
lug their nwspapcrt to notice her.
Seeing which, the somewhat elderly
but well preserved bachelor near th
door arose.
"Take thlt seat madam," h lak),
touching bia hat,
"Wall. I should say ooil,"sh replied.
Indignantly. "YonVaWf tnnughtob
. . T. . . . tt PP K k our i-". "