The French Hospital's Greeting To the American Colonel
But perhaps no one was more rejoiced over the fact of America's entrance into the war than was Penfield Butler. From the moment when he heard the news of the President's message he seemed to take on new life. And as each day's paper recorded the developing movements, and the almost universal sentiment of the American people in sustaining the government at Washington, his pulses thrilled, color came into his blanched face, and new light into eyes that not long before had looked for many weeks at material things and had seen them not.
He was sitting up in his bed that morning, and had seen his grandfather come up the aisle amid the forest of little flags and the sound of cheering voices.
Grouped around him were' his mother, his Aunt Millicent, the médecin-chef, and his devoted nurse, the American girl, Miss Byron. She was waving a small, silk American flag that had long been one of her cherished possessions.
"We are so proud of America to-day, Colonel Butler," she exclaimed, "that we can't help cheering and waving flags."
And the médecin-chef shouted joyously:
"À la bonne heure, mon Colonel!"
Pen, looking on with glowing eyes and cheeks flushed with enthusiasm, called out: