Notwithstanding that this is a
work day, I am fortunate enough
to have a half day at leisure, so
I shall practice "jabbing at the
lines'' with a pen instead of a
bayonet.
I wrote the News-Herald a few
lines while in Kansas, but doubt
less they fell into the waste bas
ket, as I am a poor writer. I
was once told that I was cut out
for a writer,, but have long since
found out that If I were I was
not sewed up right.
When we boys reached Kansas
we found it to be a great coun
try, but it was too cold for us.
Of course, at that time the camp
was poorly equipped to take care
of so many men. The heating
system had not been installed
and the cold hurt worse than the
high, dry climate of New Mexico.
We lived in daily expectation of
getting orders to pack up our
duds and change for a new cli
mate, as we heard some rumor
to that effect.
We had begun to despair of get
ting a change. Finally one even
ing about four o'clock our captain
walked into the hall and posted a
list of names of those that were
to leave on the following day for
California. Everyone was hap
py except those who had to stay.
We all regretted to leave our cap
tain and lieutenant, but as they
walked down the line as we were
preparing to leave and took each
private by the hand and bade
him Godspeed, we felt that they
were our friends and were glad
that we had the opportunity of
going to a better place, or rather
one that would suit us better.
