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EVENING LEDGER PniLADBLPIIIA, WEDNESDAY, DKrKAIBEE
1015.
15,
AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE
By ARTHUR HENRY
--.. ., elahteenth year Perry
iflT. ...i. hnd known nolhlnc of the
l.foeuU.de of Moore Centre, tho little
IH . ...loin nlRlit In Juno when Ues-
Eft, the daughter of the postman
pi ,jid him that she waa engaged to
Ej-r fright, the blacksmith's son, this
aPL , - i Annnsti fnr mm.
Si Bail Deci. .-"a" --
:8 - -M-r later ho was Private Saun-
B ...!. a heavy gun In the hot sun
J?, warded the ferry slip of Tort Fid-
rTftom whatever u.i..bC. .... ...
Hi . 1.iaJ lolnml fortress.
?bff """.."".".". .... ;. -
WIT had PaoSCU BUM ."O ..... -t.a-
a group of maple trees, for the melodies
they played reminded him of tho summer
nights at homo when theso name Bongs
were sung on Bessie Moore's veranda,
and tho sight of tho officers' wives and
daughters gathered on their porches to
listen, filled him with homesickness.
When tho boat arrived It was his duty
to stand by the gate, very stiff, and to
look forbidding,! so that spies frofn for
eign countries Intending to land would
think better of It, and as there wcro al
ways children aboard, It was hoped that
the sight of him would Imbuo them with
a. sense of their nation's greatness and
the majesty of Its army.
Few people came to tho fort. Tho first
boat In the morning brought tho butch
ers' and the bakers' wagons, for all tho
I
It was Bcssio Moore nnd her mother.
iaUt fallen and brought him nothing
tat'lmevcntful monotony nnd tho loss of
VMeond great Illusion.
nr...n..l to him that nt ID ho was al-
'taJr an old, worn-out man for whom
bit wa already lost and glory an empty
tfii
IlfipUo of his despair he had enlisted
tllh Milor and would havo given ins mo
m Mi counlrv gladly For six weeks ho
Mi Uted In a constant fever of expecta
tion ind willingness for tno sacriucc, ami
km it occurred to him that It had been
ijhundred years slnro tho coast he
pirfeJ had been attacked nnd then, sud
i&lrwcaiy of tho dull monotony of his
tin, It seemed that durlnff tho entire
lofted years ho had been stupidly pac
lcfkndr tho burning sun with n, heavy
ISA on his shoulder
ST he stood for a. moment nt the dock
loollnj absently ncioas the bay ho saw
lilf-whlto ferryboat approaching. The
G!0f wilder juirieu in ivrnm-iujiiu iiyiuvo
iiljhe sun Hashed from tho horns of n.
trjiilbi'nd assembled on Its deck. It
Irufrlday afternoon, nnd tho band from
Fort"Crow was coming to favor tho nia--ojned'Whabltnnts
of Fort Flddlo with
iho wttiily concert.
("The rtfT.lhought of this oppressed
Blunders with melancholy tie seldom
Jimed tha soldiers who sat upon tho grass
jncircllnc tho band as It played under
officers bought fresh meat to supplement
thu provisions from tho commissary, nnd
some of them patronized tho baker occa
sionally. Thcro was Captain Tooting,
for Instance, who was a bachelor, and
very fond of cinnamon buns.
Theso arrivals and departures usually
constituted tho traftlc of tho day, i-xcept
when tho ofilcers' wives went to tho
mnlnlinu to 'iy worsted or a soldier was
off on leavp
This, however, was Friday ufteruoon,
and tho boat now entering the slip had
brought the band.
I'rlvato Saunders braced his aching
shoulder to thu weight of his gun, nnd
wearily brought his wilted form to a
rigid position ns tho uniformed musicians
trooped past, nnd then suddenly his
heavy cjes opened wide, Ills breath wns
suspended, his body boenme alert and his
Wuole being impressed tlio sentry startled
b an unexpected apparition of n foe.
Just behind tho last straggling members
of tho band, following them from tho
fciry, t.nno a mlddlo-ngrd, portly lady
whosr motherly face smiled sweetly on
Saunders from tho depths of n sunbonnct,
and with her was a slender girl in a dim
ity dress sprinkled with lolots. Her face
was turned from him, but ho knew the
roguish prolllo with its full, sweet lips
and turncd-up noso nnd tho curling wisps
of ambor-tlntcd hair that framed her
llttlo pink cars, her whlto forehead and
her cheeks so soft and rosy.
It was Bcssio Moore nnd her mother.
They carried between them a largo plcnlo
baikct covered neatly with a snowy
tablecloth. Tho sight of the bnsket made
Saunders' mouth water nnd the -vision of
tho smiling face of Mrs. Moore and tho
half-turned profile of Bessie brought
moisture to his eyes. He stood there, to
nil appearance tho formidable guardian
of his nation's coast, but Inwardly only a
homesick boy of 19 struggling with a sud
den Impulse to sit upon the ground and
weep.
"Well, Perry Saunders," said Mrs.
Moore, moving to where ho stood trans
fixed and taking Bcssio with her, still
clinging to tho basket handle. "How
stiff ou look bend down, If you can, nnd
let mo kiss you."
"But but," stammered Saunders, his
eyes fixed on tho girl. "1 I I thoughU
Oh, Bessie aren't you married yctJ"
Then Besslo droppea tho basket handle
and reached out toward him with both
her hands, her blue eyes full of light and
her fnco both serious and sweet.
"That was n mistake, Porry I knew It
as soon ns you wero gone."
"Wo thought Buro you would come
back," snld Mrs. Moore, reproachfully.
"And then I was afraid you did not
cale '
"Nonsense." said her mother. "I told
jou all along how It was." Turning to
founders sho added, laughing good-naturedly,
"I mado her oomo with mo nt
Inst She was so unhappy."
Saunders, holding both of Dcsslc'n
hands In ono of his whllo ho clasped his
gun butt with tho other, could say noth
ing He was choking with emotion nnd
gazing with tho staring eyes and open
mouth of an Idiot at Bcislc.
! Suddenly n sharp command startled
IIIVIII 11 M.l lilt) all. hi., VU1UU Ul llliul.
Tooting tho bachelor who was fond of
buns rebuking Saunders.
That a common soldier should be found
at his post gossiping and holding a lady's
had was, to Captain Tooting, nn unspeak
able offenic It was not only nn outrage
ngamst discipline, but nn Infringement on
the privileges of an oftlcer. Never hav
ing seen n battle, ho seized every op
liortunltj of this kind to prove himself
n fierce and fearless man In action. Ho
wns n tall man with broad shoulders, a
waspllko waist, a beautifully rounded
buttock and very shapely legs. Ho wan
careful that tho fit of his uniform should
reveal his charms of person, and ho be
lieved himself to be nt once a beautiful
nnd a heroic sight.
It was characteristic of him that his
reprimand of Saunders wns moro vigor
ous because of the presence of tho ladles.
They wore not so much Saunders' lrlunds
ns they wero his own audience. He hnd
no doubt that tf ho Bhould send this pri
vate to tho guardhouse the ladlts would
look upon hlin with admiring awe.
Ho was therefore overcome by a kind
of horrlllcd surprise when Mrs. Mooro
Interrupted him nnd said with calm as
Hurnnco: "There there Mr. don't wnsto your
breath. Wo'vo come to tako this young
man homo with us."
The raptnlu gazed at her stuplfled.
"Come, Perry." who continued, turning
hor back on tho ofllcer. "Put down that
ridiculous gun nnd show us n nice, shady
plnce where no can eat."
"Madam!" shouted the captain.
"Sir!" cried Mra. Moore, turning on him
quickly, ' don't scream at me."
"This soldier has cnllitcd for threo
years," stormed the captain.
"Threo fiddlesticks," Interrupted Mrs.
Moore. "Ho got a foolish notion Into his
hend "
"Silence!" hhouted tho captain.
"Sco here," rrltd Mm. Moore,., "If ypu
knew what ua folks nt Moore Centre
think of ..on soldiers "
"Mamma," whispered Bessie frantically,
"yru'll get Perry Into trouble."
"Go to the guardhousel" screamed the
captain.
(CONTINUED TOMORROW)
ht
FARMER SMITH'S RAINBOW CLUB
1
GOOD-NIGHT TALKS
There is ono thing which you must remember, and that is this is YOUR
CLUB. Write and tell mo what you like about it and also what you do not
lie about it. I mean, offer suggestions.
B-We have now about 500 members and we must get 1000 before Christmas.
Jfaww you aro busy with your Christmas shopping, and thut is all tho moro
ttMonwhy I appreciate what you have already done.
W I m so glad tho buttons please you. Before you try to get other members
k'eure you understand what tho Club means to YOU. Read tho pledge
tHnk what a grand thing it is to havo 500 boys and girls al! trying to do a
Mo kindness and spread a little sunshine eacli and every day!
g' Aren't you happy?
E You need not look out of your own home to find some ono to make happy.
j& mother kiss father, just one time extra each day. Help mother and
tot NEGLECT daddy.
. You do not have to look in China or California for some one to mako
JjPpy. LOOK RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
Make your teacher happy by knowing your lessons and spread a llttlo sun-
Kwein the classroom by smiling.
Hemember, 1000 members by Christmas!
FARMER SMITH,
Children's Editor, EvENlNQ Ledge...
PARMER SMITH, The Children's Editor,
The Evening Ledger, Philadelphia, Pa.
I wish to become a member of your Rainbow Club and agree to
DO A LITTLE KINDNESS EACH AND EVERY DAY.
SPREAD A LITTLE SUNSHINE ALL ALONG THE WAY.
Name ,
Address ,
tv Age
School I attend ,
P
kiri -.. .
r.
ffirtt in
m
(Your Workroom
Rainbow rinb T.nst f!r.risr.
Jj made my father a wallet to keep
Loi.ey m. I made it like this. I
went to a leather
findings store and
bought a piece of
leather eight inches
jg ww ttuc long and six inches
5jr -J wide. The leather
was xnin ana easy
to fold. I took a
dollar bill and put
the centre of the
; of lealhpf- (km T t- .,-
5K?6- and cut the leather down
'"d to fit the dollar bill. I didn't
all the way, I left a sauare of
S?r at each opposite end so that
would be something to hold the
PPiace. These square flaps fold
Slwe pioney and you then fold the
iauec just as you would a let
J have a burnt wood set and I
a Httle finfOk aVAHnil tlat. flJlM
Uurnt' my father's irilt.ala on tnn
Where thev wnnlrl slinw wluin
fia closed. I am sendintr a draw.
W the wallet
ANTONIO DI SANTI,
Carpenter street.
Do You Know This?
1, This typewriter is stubborn and
refuses to copy all of this little poem
for me. What words has the type
writer omitted?
If I saw a mouse
I'd run in the .
If he followed
Away I'd !
(Five credits.)
2, What musical instrument makes
you think of fishing? (Five credits.)
3, Why shouldn't we tell secrets in
a cornfield? (Five credits.)
Our Postoffice Box
A big important-looking envelope
flew into our office the pther day, and
what" do you suppose was in it? The
names of FORTY
TWO little girls
and boys all from
one class in school!
They are the Sec
ond Year A schol
ars of the William
C ti 1 1 e n Bryant
School. Maybe
ALFRED PALMER. yOU'd like tO KnOW
the names of ouch an energetic
body of little workers. They read;
Elizabeth Booker, Beatrice Pem
ber, Dorothy Riley, Lillian Law
son, Roberta Thomas, Victoria Minick,
Ednn Conker, Thelmn PofFenbergcr,
Anna Dwyer, Mary Diebert, Miriam
Costa, Dorothy Ryan, Mary Cassidy,
Marie Pill, Edna Moritz, Anna San
ders, Doris Sanders, Eleanor Mayer,
Evelyn La France, Hannah Mnben,
Hilda Cohen, Joseph Cunningham, Lin
coln Goodyear, John Decker, Joseph
Carroll, J. Miller Blew, Charles
Craemer, Joseph Simon, Benjamin
Love, Hugh Forbes, Alfred Schnitzer,
John Phillips, Thomas Dougherty,
Gill Thompson, Jcrrie Altmnn, Albert
Snyder, Frank Young, George Win
gate, Edward Dougherty, Richard
Raysbrool: and Lester Lovick. Wasn't
that a happy surprise for your editor?
Look carefully at tho young man in
tho picture, he is the treasurer of the
8th Street Rainbow Club, and we are'
expecting frequent reports from him.
Great Doings in Toyland
"I was thinking," said Santa Claus
to his good wife one morning. "I wns
thinking that it is timo I sent some
one down to Philadelphia to see how
the children are gotting along."
"Why not send Sugar Plum? But
bo sure to tie a string to him or he
will never come back."
"Is Philadelphia such a lovely
place?" asked Santa Claus in surprise.
"Why, my dear, you have always
told me what beautiful children there
are there and how you love to visit
Philadelphia," answered his good wife.
"That's sol That's so!" exclaimed
the jolly old fellow, "Get me your
workbox so that I can get somo
thread."
Mrs. Santa Claus went away and
returned with her little red box. "I
only have about 234,574 miles of darn
ing cotton. Will that do?"
Santa Claus went to the window
and peeked out. "I guess that will
reach to Independence Square," he
said. Calling Sugar Plum he tied the
darning cotton around his ear and put
him on the window seat
"I want you to go down to Philadel
phia and see what the children want
for Christmas," he said to Sugar
Plum.
"All right," said Sugar Plum.
And with that he gave a jump and the
darning cotton ran through Santa
Claus' hands so fast it burned them.
Down, down, down! went Sugar
Plum until there was a BUMP!
Santa Claus peeke-J out the window
and said:
"He's there."
"And t5o is my darning cotton," ex
claimed his wife, t
fe SCRAPPlLE "j
HUMORS OF A REMOUNT DEPOT
LONd-DlSTANCD GROOMING.
Punch.
Well Qualified
y y IW
Illustrated Expressions
MgSaagES
THE PADDED CELL
l'cnn Punch Bonl.
"OFF ON A DAT."
N ( DEAR! I 5W HER LAST Jj-1
I WW.' Ngne pMMTS -AWT THAT
C -- ' fD SM' AMYTHIN6 AGAINST I
3 TE-fiESA- GUT I HEAR f
C ) ue Treats Joe HORRID ) I
( B0T-WT WRSMT TO J V
I g-ive. HER HM LOV&) V
V
DID IT EVER HAPPEN TO YOU?
"My husband was a condrmeil ,
Btnokcr when I married him a year I
afio, but today ho never touches the
weed." .
"Good. To break off a lifetime! habit
like that rcciulrca u pretty strong
will."
"Well, that's what I've Bot."
Two Halves
Smlthson-My half-brother la en
gaged to my wlfo's half-sister.
Jltfon When will they bo mado one?
Mice! .J
ARElVr Vol)
500N READY
r" r"P
j
4tT AMOvtoN
I KlDDD.VJt5H0Uli:
HftVEiTftKTEOf
1 f.N Hour ftco
G6EKt C05H1. ALICE.
I YAW DIDN'T TOO
..VriXET TO DRESS
THIS fsFTERNOOH?
iMOW.COrtFOUNDniJL-- "
be? r f
BUR(r h UTILE. fSLICE!
bRn'LLOETlMEToSTMJ
HOME. OEFOR-EaWttET
i nuK.t
oh! why
HOWDY DOl
COMERItHTj J
IN 1
H -mm
kooofiEsstRAcioojIwEVeDeeM
TAl KIMC AHOl.T AMI. P) ANNlNf-
.,.-..;..,-. -".'"' -.V ..II.
F0R1HIS fKTY 1-0R YltCftq WV
HOW WtKt GOiniTOBESOUSTE
STARimCWElLNEEI OOIiftVEi
griCOHIfHWtlE
IALICE.lT51HEttEW
ftEICHftCRS CjoHE
To SPEND THE J -rr
Diplomacy
Too Dangerous
-Tho Sketch.
The Special (compelled to make un
embarrassing arrest): Look here, old
chap If you'll como quietly I'll Give
you half a crown.
Jimtnle Mamma, mayn't I go out?
The boys say there's a comet to be
seen.
Mamma Well, yea; but don't bo too
near It.
AND THE WORST IS YET TO COME
pnn if I
r. mm 1 if. " v
, . 0r rri mc 4 III I i
W$& (m r U ' ' S7IC"0S ..Kf in '
ANGELINA FROM DIFFERENT VIEW POINTS
fe ftS''HCi' '5L-
Xgfsfl StCS HCA g ffiR SEtS uctK
-Dil,'y EVtct.
Very True ' A Question of TJme
v ' j-2i tfrLt
He- I havo & ple'-dul car to inus-i;
bhe Yes, but you tlon ( lng vitb
your ear!
Carolyn C'oulcl io isavry a ma
nho spends all be taaVtST
bvJa No. but I could loy him
whiie It luted. -: ,
4
1
5
iftais