Page 16 - LIfesOuttakes5
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            That day in the field hospital, when the doctor     told him he would never see again, he quickly fell into     the world of self pity that engulfed so many of his     fellow soldiers.  Everyone there had lost a leg, an arm,     their hearing, their vision, or similar things.  The     hospital was filled with despair and gloom as each     soldier faced a life of continual challenge.            One day, in the midst of all of this, a soldier     started singing.  He sang songs of joy and thanksgiving,     songs of happiness and praise, songs of the good things     life had to offer.  The man had a beautiful voice, and     his cheerfulness lifted the spirits of almost everyone.     But in his state of self misery, the happy singing ate at     Tommy.  Finally, after a few days of this, he could     stand it no longer.  He called over one of the nurses and     demanded she tell the young man to stop.            The nurse laughed.  “I’m not sure how I can do     that.  He has lost both arms, both legs, his eye sight,     and his hearing.  It is almost impossible to     communicate with him.  He says all he has left to offer     is his voice to cheer others.  And though he doesn’t                                       10
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