Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

Page 25 text:

THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A SAMMY (. I.,'tier from a Seventeen-)’car-Old Soldier to His Mother) Hear Mamma:—1 don’t like this place detail. The other hoys would think I wan t a sport it they knew I wrote you such sob stuff, blit, hottest, mamma, being a Son 01 Freedom” doesn’t necessarily mean that one is a free son. I’m not. 1 m confined to barracks for three weeks and assigned to k. I', duty for the remainder of tin’s one. Let me tell you why they are administering a little discipline—1 assure you I am entirely blameless. Yesterday was Wednesday, the afternoon we “get off” to go to town, and 1 had a dale with a nice little girl. She's one of these blue-eyed, golden-haired kids who hasn t much sense, hut who can play Joan of Arc” and “Over There on the ukalele and who admires the tit of your uniform and the -dick of your pompadour all the time you are there. Naturally. I stayed so late I had to hire a taxi to get me back to camp in time—and at that 1 just did make it. So. of course when I go to bed so much earlier every Other night. I was so sleepy this morning that at the sound of the reveille I just couldn't get up, and so I was right in the midst of my shaving when the officer yelled, “Fall in!” But I dashed the soap off my face and ran, you had letter believe. We were drilling about ten o’clock and I thought I was doing splendidly for a recruit of two months (1 really can tell my right from my left and that's more than most of them can do) when along came Colonel Stone and with him— whom do you suppose?—Mary. Now. mamma. I ask you, what is a fellow standing at attention to do when a pretty girl, whom he has known all his life smiles at him but drop his gun and smile and tip his hat? That’s what 1 did—but evidently that isn’t the thing in army circles. Colonel Stone gave me an icy glare that would have frozen the Panama Canal and the sergeant who was drilling us turned purple with fury. the fellows roared, and Mary—kept on smiling. I picked up my gun and looked about the color I was when I was getting over measles, and tried to stand at attention, but the guy on my right was laughing so he shook my gun out of my hand. After they had passed on we went on drillingand all went well until time to wash. Then, when every mother’s darling was bending over a tub. scrubbing his khaki breeches till they attained that sickening molasses color. Colonel Stone led little Mary around to inspect the model laundry. This time I didn’t 7cant to speak. Honest Injun. I was so embarrassed I wished I could have fallen hind j art before into the tub. but I couldn’t, so I reached for the Octagon soap and went on with my socks. Ye had pork and beans and molasses and com bread and bacon and corn for dinner. There were some good-looking visitors for dinner and afterward we went over to the V M. C. A. and danced. I was almost sorry I wasn't sick when we took a peep at the non-contagious ward of the hospital because the girls raved over the lucky fellows there and promised to come again and read to them. Still, it isn’t necessary to be a sick soldier—I haven’t seen a girl yet who wouldn’t fall for a healthy one’s uniform. W hen I was going back to the Y. to write this letter, after the girls had gone. l toe tu'ruly-thrrt

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1 met a seedy old major—a“ regular armv chap who thinks he knows it all. 11c is about as bow-legged as papa, so you know how funny he must look in uniform and officers hoots. Well. 1 saluted, and after I thought he was out of hearing distance I said to one of the boys with me, ‘‘Golly Moses! How docs he nrr get out of those boots?” Really, mamma, it is the hardest thing in the world to get the things off. I helped a lieutenant get his off once and I put my foot in his stomach and pulled and pulled and he kicked and kicked and I tugged and grunted for an hour, and the lieutenant wasn't even how-lcggcd, so no wonder I marveled how this fellow ever got out of his. But he heard me and the low-down thing sent me immediately to headquarters and there—I was assigned to K. I’, duty for the remainder of the week and “confined to barracks for three whole weeks! nd 1 had a date with that little blue-eved girl for Sunday night! And take it from me, K. 1 . duty isn’t much fun. picking up folks old cigarette boxes with some good-looking girls watching you and laughing at you; and j ccling potatoes for a cross old cook and cutting your finger with a jagged knife. And to think I’ll have to send one of the boys over to Alice’s and have him tell her I can’t come to see her for three weeks because I told the truth—I called an obviously bow-legged major bow-legged. Sometimes it’s not much fun I eing one of “Democracy’s Vanguard.’ As ever, your devoted son. Sammie. LT. S. A. f S — I he candy was fine. Tell Sis to make some more and be quick about it. Sara McCarty, ’IS. THE HEART OK THE HILLS Far away from the noisy city A wonderful country lies, Where the wind-flower swings And the oriole sings All day under azure skies. Tis a land of rest and beauty. And peace all this valley fills. There skies are blue And friends are true. Tis the happy heart of the hills. 1 long to dwell in this country; To rest by its rippling rills. To banish dull care. With all doubt and fear. There, in the heart of the hills. —Eva Quirk, T8. Paqt Ixrrnty-five