The Little Match Man

heir swords and placed them near the window, seated themselves and lighted their cigarettes. There was a perfect slaughter of mat

ommands, the rattle of cartridges in their boxes at the belts of the [76] soldiers, and the guns dropping to the ground all at once sounded like falling iron. In the distance

icers in my co

e we wai

g the cars of guns

guns needed in this w

test war of our country,” a

m under the button, climb along the waistcoat and crawl into his little box, which was in an inside pocket. The box had b

mly lighted by a covered lamp. I was awakened by his little voice. He had climbed up on my shoulder near my ear and was calling

said. “I am

rning. Aren’

sleep. I am

cuse me, allow me to

rsation I have overheard I ju

erfectl

we goin

displea

at you haven’t been frank wi

lieve

anywhere with you. They talked of war in [78] my countr

laughing. “Then a

othing but fire; and

of c

always tell

omise

all. Goo

s a match. He disappeared. At that moment some one shoo

awake?” h

replied,

he army surgeon; my name is T

m perfec

self, and must have somethin

ou I am per

e your

7

myself,” I re

are armed. I think it would be best for you to give me yo

ot in the l

le yellow face wrinkled up

myself,” I said in

m were yo

for I remembered my promise not t

“Quiet yourself, and don’t think anything more a

the train, and changed cars in order t

ome out during the day, as I was [80] never alone. But at night he

d all about the leather, explored [81] the little pockets, and came out with amazing dexterity. He had a passion for putting on postage stamps after I had wet them. He walked over them, carefully pressing the edges flat with his feet to