Joking While under FIRE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 155, 9 June 1883, Page 2

Joking While under FIRE.

In the tnifst of danger soldiers* are sometimes pro^e to jest and laugh and even play practical jokes on each other, as the following anecdotes will show : — Dnrin? the trench work before Sebastoi)ol there was a certain man m the regiment who disliked being on duty m tKe J trehch < p^'''¥n^'"^^6""3^a7^p>t into what he considered the safest corner of the trench, and remained there as long aTKec6nld:^Th^biigißir!t»fetis company, a malicious urchin, scon found this out, and wan constantly m tb.9 habit of ptayin£"srickß7 itp; frighten this cautious fcomrad&j He would peeijffifer the parapet art) call oat " A shot 1" and then turn' round tobis friend and roll himself together like a ball.. At other times he wotild caU out *' {^L*SfcfelM*? of which be knew the man had mortal dread; and when he saw hinftliroW^imself flat on the ground, he would take a piece of earth or stone and throJHripi.clpje to hig recnmbent friend's head, and then* run up and comfort him~ by knowing him a bit of an. old shell JwiitehTMlSld picked up for the. purppse,. remarking at the same time, . ■" Thai' was J S ; near thing man.'', r All the men knew and enjoyed the jok vand sometimes^ 1 roared" iwith laughter ; but it was well for the urchin that ... liis-.frienl.-neYer-mnn^.b^ n^ This same mjan ; wounded afterwards, ana' while I was removing the bullet from; beneath the 'akin of his back the .same urchin was ; standing, by, and the moment I had extracted the bullet'— a small sphericalrone-^the boy held out to his friend a 6ib f oannon ball, saying, " See what tn|e doctor has lout buto'ye!" This J bccurieol 3 ;whileiny back was turned ; .but on. hearibgiihe remark"! looked round arid saw the boy | holding out the shot, md. the bystanders convulsed WitH laughtißrj ; adiii iguife regardless' of the' heary fire' : going "on aibund iis. ''' J ' -" ?: : ' r:: '[ ■- J ' ! ---"- s -' r -'m-