A LESSON IN COURAGE

Waipukurau Press, Issue 314, 29 September 1908, Page 7

A LESSON IN COURAGE

as In Watterson’s 44 History of the Spanish-American War ” there is -a fine story. “ Talk about your 1” said the regular. “Chafthe old boy for my money. I found out what he was at El Caney. My company was at work digging trenches, and while we were finishing up one of the Spaniards began to fire, and the bullets sang their pretty tunes nigh to our heads. Well, there was a kid in the company that couldn’t have been over 18. Never ought to have let him enlist at all. He was always complaining and kicking, and at the first fire down he went flat on his face, and lay there. One of the ..men kicked him, but he didn’t Then along came Chaffee, * cool and easy, and sees the kid. 4 Hello, there 1’ says Chaffee. 4 What’s the matter, you fellow, down there ? Get up, and fight with your company.’ 4 No ; I can’t,’ whined the kid. 1 Can’t ?’ Chaffee, jumping down into the trench and hauling the boy up. 1 What’s the matter with you that you can’t ? Are you hurt ?* 4 No, sir,’ says he, 4 I’m scairt. I’m afraid of getting hit. 4 Well, you’re a fine soldier !’ says the general. Then he looked at the boyish face of the lad, and his face kind of softened. 4 1 suppose you can’t help it,’ he said. "It ain’t so much your fault. I’d like to get hold of the fellow that took you into the army.’ I suppose any other general would have sent the boy to the rear in disgrace, and that would have been the end of it ; but Chaffee stood there, with the bullets kiyiying around him, beside the boy, who had crouched down again, and thought, with his chin in bis hand. 44 By and by he put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. 4 There isn’t as much danger as you think for,’ said he. 4 Now, get up and take your gun and fight, and I’ll stand here by you.’ The boy got up, shaking like a leaf, and fired his first shot pretty near straight in the air. 4 That’s pretty high,’ says the general. 4 Keep cool, and ™ try again.’ Well, in three minutes that scairt kid was fighting

like a veteran and cool as a cucumv her, and when he saw it, the general started on. 4 You’re all right now, my boy,’ he said. 4 You’ll make a good soldier.’ 4 God bless you, sir!’ said the youngster. 4 You saved me from worse than death,’ and he was pretty close to crying when he said it. After a while the order came to retire from the trench, and we had just to collar that young fellow and haul him away by the neck, to get him to retreat with the company. In the rest of the fights there was not a better soldier in th e company.”