The War Romance of the Salvation ArmyHill, Grace Livingston
History
The War Romance of the Salvation Army
Hill, Grace Livingston
World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Salvation Army
The next day, when he was free and on a few days leave from camp, he
started out with his crutch to see the city, but the thought of her
kept him from some of the places where his feet might have strayed. Yet
she had not said a word of warning. Her smile and the look in her eyes
had placed perfect confidence in him, and he could remember the prayer
she had uttered in a low tone back there at the dressing station behind
the trenches in the ear of a companion who was not going to live to get
to the Base Hospital, and who had begged her to pray with him before he
went. Somehow it lingered with him all day and changed his ideas of
what he wanted to see in New York.
But it was a long hard tramp he had set for himself to see the town
with that one foot. He hadn’t much money for cars, even if he had known
which cars to take, so he hobbled along and saw what he could. He was
all alone, for the fellows he started with went so fast and wanted to
do so many things that he could not do, that he had made an excuse to
shake them off. They were kind. They would not have left him if they
had known; but he wasn’t going to begin his new life having everybody
put out on his account, so he was alone. And it was toward evening. He
was very tired. It seemed to him that he couldn’t go another block. If
only there were a place somewhere where he could sit down a little
while and rest; even a doorstep would do if there were only one near at
hand. Of course, there were saloons, and there would always be soldiers
in them. He would likely be treated, and there would be good cheer, and
a chance to forget for a little while; but somehow the thought of that
Salvation lassie and the cheery way she had made him send that telegram
kept him back. When a girl with painted cheeks stopped and smiled in
his face he passed her by, and half wondered why he did it. He must go
somewhere presently and get a bite to eat, but it couldn’t be much for
he wanted to save money enough and hunt up that lodging house where
there were nice beds. How much he wanted that bed!
[Illustration: Right in the midst of the busy hurrying throng of Union
Square]
[Illustration: “Smiling Billy” “One Game Little Guy”]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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