Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-06-27
AN INCIDENT

In an obscure village in the State Of Yer
mont there lived an aged man, friendless
and without connections, for he was one OF
the early settlers and came here alone.
During the revolution he took arms with
the rebels and gave his property for the
benefi, Of the revolutionary army. HEe en-
dured all the privations which character
lied that struggle for liberty, he signiiized
himself in several battles, and after the eff
forts of the friends Of freedom were crown
ed with success. he returned to private life.
He became very poor, and was compelled
to earn his bread by working one day here
and the next there. His wife died; child
rem he had none. In this state, alone in
the world, Invested Of property, aged and
infirm, creditor seized the few little effects
he had land committed his body to prison.
Some of his acquaintances baied him out
the ''lberty of the yard" He remained
within "the limits" 81 years, sometimes
working for one person, and sometimes for
another, at such work as he could perform.
Gardening in the summer, and doing chores
in the winter, were his usual occupations.
Finally he made bargain with the village
tavern keeper, and bound himself out dur
ing life, for his board and clothes He
used to take care of horses, make lires.&c.
At this period of his life, there was con-
spcuous character travelling through the
country, receiving the congratulations and
attention OF all classes of our citizens. As
he FASTENED through our villages, his fame
went before him, and the people turned out
en- masse to bid him hearty welcome. lie
arrived at the yillage'where the "old soldier"
lived and stopped over night In the same
house.
The old man knew him, and often tried
to get access to his apartments, but with
out success-The aristocracy of the place,
the rufied shirts, the silk gowns, the little
master and pretty misses must first greet
the stranger. However, the old man made
interest with one of his village acquantan-
ces to request an interview with the stran'
ger, "TelI him." said he THAT Capt 3.
ofthe-Regiment of Infantry, wishes to
see him at his leisure" The stranger was
electrified. "What," said he, els he alive;
Where is he2" at the same time leaving his
ruffle-shirt company, he went into the bar
room in search of the cold soldier" He
found him. sis Il possible" said the s,ran-
ger, that you are awe! 1ney eh'o' dc"u
each other, and were 80 affected that meth
err could give utterenee 70 one syllable.
The spectators wondered, gazed, and were
confoundtd. The best feelings of human
nature gained the mastery of the whole as
semblv. AT last said the stranger TO the
cold soldier" come with me. They
retired to a room alone, and conversed
about by-gone times; ebout the battles
they had fought together, and the hard
ships they had encountered. Each gave
a particular narration of his life since
their separation, and that ofthe old soldier
was heart rendng to the illusrous stran-
ger.
He told him his poverty, his troubles, and
his incarceration in prison, his present
means of Substance, SC. "How much
do you owe," said, the stranger. 81 have
been on the limits TWENTY SEVEN
YEARS FOR NINETEEN DOL
LARS The cost and interest may now
amount to one hundrt d. - There are two
one hundred dollar bills, said the stranger,
pay what thou owest: I shalllea de-
posite in the 49, bank, where you Gun