儿童英语读物《神奇树屋》第二十一册 Civil War on Sunday 08 A Light in the Woods

Clara Barton had turned the wagon around. She helped Jackand Annie lift the drummer boy into the back.

"The soldiers said he has heat stroke," Annie told Clara. "Hisname is John."The boy lay down next to the sleeping Confederate soldier.

"He does have heat stroke," Clara said. "The other boy alsohas a high fever. We must get them to the hospital at once. Canyou two stay in the back of the wagon and do as I tell you?""Sure," said Jack and Annie.

Clara dampened two clean cloths with water from Jack'scanteen.

"Gently press these cloths against their faces to help cool themoff," she said.

She gave the cloths to Jack and Annie.

Then she went to the front of the wagon and climbed in. Thewagon started forward.

Jack and Annie gently patted the soldiers' faces with the dampcloths. Jack looked at the young men lying side by side. The twoseemed far more alike than different.

In another time and place, they might have been friends, Jackthought.

Finally, the wagon arrived at the field hospital. TheConfederate soldier was put on a stretcher and carried to a tent.

Two soldiers wearing bandages put the drummer boy on astretcher.

"Could you stay with John awhile?" Clara Barton asked Jackand Annie.

"Sure," said Jack.

"Try to bring down his fever," Clara said. "A nurse will giveyou ice packs to press against his skin. Find me when his fever is lower."The drummer boy was carried into an empty tent. Jack andAnnie followed.

John was put on a cot. Then a nurse brought some rags and abucket filled with ice. Jack and Annie were left alone with theboy.

Jack wrapped some ice in a rag. lie pressed the ice packagainst the boy's head and neck and arms. Annie fanned the airto cool John off and to keep away the flies.

Jack felt so hot he pressed an ice pack against his own face fora moment. Then he looked up drummer boys in his Civil Warbook. He read:

The Civil War was the last war to use drummer boys. Thedrumbeat was used to give orders to soldiers. Different beats toldthem when to eat, how to march, and even how to fight. Onsmoky battlefields, the boy's drumming helped soldiers find oneanother and keep together.

"Wow," said Jack. He closed the book, pulled out his notebook,and wrote:

drummer boy do a very important jobSuddenly, John shouted. Jack looked up from his notebook.

The drummer boy was still asleep, but he was waving his armsas if he were having a nightmare.

Annie shook the boy's arm.

"Wake up, John," she said. "You're okay. Wake up."The drummer boy opened his eyes.

"You were having a bad dream," said Annie. "You're safe now.

You'll see your family again soon.""No! No!" the boy said. He sounded frantic. "I have to go backto the battlefield.""No, you don't have to fight anymore," said Annie. "You cango home and be safe.""No!" the boy said. "They need me! They need my drum!" Hesounded more and more upset.

Jack thought about their list.

Put aside your own feelings, he remembered.

"Okay, John," said Jack. "You can go back as soon as you feelbetter." "Jack!" said Annie. "He'll get hurt or killed! I'm afraid for him!""Me too," Jack said softly. "But we have to put our ownfeelings aside. That's one of the things on our list."Annie sighed.

"Okay," she said sadly. She looked at John. "If you want tofight again in the Civil War, you can. If that's what you reallywant.""Thank you," the boy whispered.

"You know, you're the bravest kid I've ever met," Jack said.

The drummer boy smiled at Jack.

"You look just like my little brother," he said hoarsely.

"You look just like my big brother," said Jack, "except I don'thave a big brother. I don't have any brothers."The three of them laughed. The drummer boy's laugh wasvery soft.

The boy laid his head back on his pillow and closed his eyesagain.

In a moment, he was sleeping peacefully. A smile was on hislips.

Annie felt his forehead.

"His fever's gone down," she said. "We should go tell Clara."Annie left the tent.

Jack got up and slowly followed her.

When he reached the entrance of the tent, he turned andlooked back. The shadows of twilight fell across the boy's calm,sleeping face.

It was strange. Jack hardly knew the drummer boy. But he feltthey could be brothers.

Listening to the cannon fire in the distance, Jack was afraidfor the boy.

Will he live to see his family again? Jack wondered.

"Good luck, John," Jack said softly.

With a heavy heart, Jack stepped out into the warm eveningair.