Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-01-15
AN INCIDENT.

man would co his duty.
AN INCIDENT.
ln an obss ure village, 10 the Stale 81
Vermont, there lived an aged man, friend
less and ~ltnont connexions, Eor he was
one 0I the earliest settlers Of the country
and came here alone. During the reyo.
luton he took up arms with the rebels 4.
gave his property for the benefit cf lhe
revolutionary army. Hs endured all the
prlvallons which characterized that slrug
gle for liberty; he signalized himself in
several battles; and, after the efforts OF
the country for freedom were crowned
with success, he retired 10 private life.-.
tie became very poor and vas compel
led 10 earn his daily bread by working
one day here and the next there. Hls
wife died, Chi dren he had noae. 10 tai.
state, alone in ihe world, divested Of prop
erty, aged and in6rm, a credUor seized
the lew lilIe efGc's he had, and cchImit
led his bod TO prison. Some of his ac.
quaintances baiIed him out 10 the ''hber
ty of The yard" lie remaInad within
'the limits twenty seven years. Ia5orirg
al such work as be could perform. Gar
dcaiag IN the summer, and doing chores
inthe W inter were his usual occupations.
Finally, he mace bargain with the
village tavern keeper, and bound himself
out during life, for his board aud clothes
He used 10 take care Of horses, make
fires, &c. At this period ofhis life, there
was conspicuous character travelling
through the country, receiving the con
CALCULATIONS and attention OF all classe.
Of cur citizens. As he FASTENED through
our villages, his fame went before him
and the people turned cut en- Tas2e 10 bid
him hearty welcome. He arrived al
the village where Ihe 'old soldier lived,
and stopped over night In the same house
The man hAew him, and often tried to
get access 10 his apartments, but without
success. The aristocracy of the place,
the rutfled shirts, the silk gowns, tae lit-
tie masters, and pretty misses must fist
greet The stranger. However, the old
man made interest with one ofhis village
acqua!diances 10 request an interview
with the sIranger--'TaII him. said be,
that Capt. B of the - Regiment
ofinfantry, wishes 10 see him al his leis
ure.' The stranger was electrified -
what said he, sis he alive! Where is
he?' at the same time leaving his ruflsd
shirt company, he went into The bar room
IN search Of the 'old soIdior.' He found
him. IS it pOssible,' said the stranger,
shat you are alIveP
They embraced each other, and were
SO affected that neither could give utter.
ance 10 one syllable, Tho spectators
wondered, g Zad, and were conlounded'
The best feelings ofhuman nature gain,
ed the mastery Of the whole assembly. 80
At last, said The stranger TO the Old Sol.
der "come with mel They retired TO a
room alone, and conversed about by gone
tImes-abOut lhe battles they had fought
together and the bardshPs they had en
cOunered. Each gave particular mar
ration ofhis life since their separation, &
that of The OLD Soldier was heart rendine
to the illuslEious stranger, He told HIN
Of his poverty, his troubles, and his incal
ceration 10 prison his present means
subsistence, &c. "How much do you nop
oweg" said the stranger, 81 have been OF
the limits tDenty sepea gears for aiaeteer
dollars. The costs and interests ma,
now amount 10 ons hundred" =" "Thert
are two one hundred dollar bills," said tht
stranger, ''pay what thou oWest-l shal
leave deposit in The -- bank wher
you can draw for tEo hundred dollars
year as long as you live"
Bv this time, The people without wer
impatient aud could not divine the caus
of The privacy between our two heloos,-
They went out took some refreshmen
The stranger returned TO his company an
the Old Soldier wentto the lawyers offiC
and paid his debt. lie then went 10 to Il
tailOr's and procured suit of clothos.-
The next day the Old Soldier and Il
stranger departed together, leaving Il
people to conjecture the cause of the m
amOrphose oflhe one, aud the strange c,
duct Of The other. The Old Soldier he