ＷＥＢ絵本『いなか、の、じけん（模範兵士）』

ページ２

They couldn't clearly see her face.
But, she seemed to be about 40 years old.
Her graceful face was so pale that they felt eerie.
They saw Private Westmoreland giving a present to her.
Then, she worshiped it with her hands together and she receved it in tears.
The above information was told by babysitters of the village.
その女の顔はよくわからないが年の頃は４０ばかりで、気味の悪いほど色の白い上品な顔で、西村さんがお土産をさし出すと、両手を合わせて泣きながら受け取っているのを見た・・・と・・・これは村の子守たちの話であった．

After that , his reputation was growing higer and higher.
"Who is the woman for Private Westmoreland?"
Various romors went around.

それから後西村さんの評判は、だんだん高くなるばかりであった．

その女は西村さんの何であろうか・・・と噂が取り取りであったが・・・

In the village, only the household goods store took a newspaper regularly.
It carried a great article of Private Westmoreland with his photograph.
そのうちに、村でたった一軒だけ荒物屋に配達されている新聞に、西村さんの事が大きく写真入りで出た．

Private Westmoreland was born into a wealthy family in the Eastnorth area as an only son.
But, his father died when he was 13 years old.
And, his family was broken up.
西村二等卒は元来、東北の財産家の一人息子であったが、十三の年に父親が死ぬと間もなく一家が分散したので・・・

He and his mother left for Nagasaki prefecture to meet their relatives.
On the way, they lost all their money and became beggars.
After that, they wondered various places for seven years.

母親に連れられて長崎の親類の処へ行くうちに、あわれや乞食にまで零落してしまった．

それから７年の間、方々を流浪していると・・・

Last spring, his mother got tuberculosis.
It was difficult for her to walk.
So, they settled down in the small community "Upstream".
・・・昨年の春から母親が癆症で、腰が抜けたので、とうとうこの川上の部落に落ちつく事になったが・・・

Just then, he reached the age to serve in the armed forces.
He was called to a physical examination for the draft.
He passed it at the highest level.
・・・丁度その時が適齢だったので、呼び出されて検査を受けると、見事に甲種で合格した．