The native American., 1839-06-29
From The LoueH Times.
THE OLD SOLDIER.

nerosity, il generosity consists in deferring be-
neft till the recipient is past the enjoyment of it,
or the justice, if Justice consists in Withholding
the veterans due till he is ready to go down to
the grave-(generosity or justice, call It what
you will, we can call it nclther)--had at last
awarded to him his pension. An infirm old man!
The burden of old age and hope deferred, had
made him sick at heart, and sick OF life The
death film was even now measurably drawn over
the eve, once sparkling; the pace which once
firm and confident in the strength of youth, and
the pride of patriotism, had become irregular and
tottering; and the manly form, once erect and
commanding, was bowed down; age and suffering
had done it. He was stranger Ill the Metro
polis-inirmity and neglect could break down
his body-but his spirit had better sustained It
self; and bitter sense of the neglect he suffered
from those who should have remembered him,
had kept him in solitude. He would not offer 3
living comparison between the condition of men
who had achieved, and the men who have proht-
ed by the achievement, without eXertion OF their
own. he conscious victim OF cruel neglect and
ingratitude, he considered the tardy justice OF
his country mockery, and nought but his alb
iect poverty and wish to die square with the
world had induced him to apply for it. He had
applied and received-and now said he, 4 will
pay my debts, and die The change of objects
in the city b,wildered him. He gazed1upon the
spacious and elegant edfces which had in his
absence superseded old and familiar obects-but
he gazed with hurried and irregular glances, as if
doubling his senses. The bustling forms Of ge-
neration who have forgotten the revolution, fitted
past the old man without needing him; the pen-
sioner was alone in city, Amazed that the
lapse of time had wrought such wonders, he felt
like stranger in a strange land, and that too, on
the very soil he had defended.
| His venerable appearance attracted the notice
of a passer-by, who perceving the old man was
| bewildered, rendered his services to conduct the
soldier home. Home! have no home! was
at home here in '76, but am forgotten now!'
transient glance Of anger flashed in the veterans
eye; but in moment it passed away, and the va
cancy of his countenance returned.
where am L. soh I've been to take the gift Of
Congress- let me 90 pay my debts before die.
can't live long; and don't wish to. The 'gifi!"
here again his eye was lighted; and his bearing
spoke the proud and wounded spirit, broken
but not subdued. An honest feeling Of indgna-
ton mastered him; striving as if strong in the
pride of youth to avoid the impertinent and I'M
feeling curiosity of the crowd who surrounded
| him, he sank exhausted to the pavement.
Take him to the Police Office for vagrant!'
said one of the crowd
take yourself to the devil, for one of his
limbs!' retorted the honest fellow who had first
addressed the veteran.
But Catching him by the collar, as he essayed
to walk of) stop first and give me the old mans
pocket book! | saw you take it-hand over, or
by Cd I'll tear you limb from limb!' 'Trotte
him. cried one of the crowd, "a scoundrel rob
pensioner!' Down with him! Strip him! Take
him to the Police' And the old mans wallet
fell from the culprit in the scuffle.
The pensioner was recognised by some one in
the crowd and he passively suffered him to be
put in coach. He was conveyed to shelter,
and having happily fallen into good hands, atten-
on for couple of days partially restored his ex-
hausted energies. An indstinct remembrance of
the events we have narrated fitted occasionally
across his mind, but he remembered the events Of
'76 better than those Of yesterday, and the coun-
tenances of those who had been his companions in
arms, were more distinctly marked on his memo
ry than the new ones he had seen day before.
When about to be put OH board the stage which
was to convey him home, the old mans mind
again wandered.
That's right, carry me TO Congress-give me
my due-I have fought for it!-Congress said
should have it, The old mans wallet was put
into his hand. 'Oh yes, knew | should get it.
They could not so soon forget the old soldier
but so late-et me pay my debts, and die! |
can live no longer! But somebody stole it-they
got it away from me-they couldn't do it fifty
years ago-but I've got it now, have'ntn No,
they didn't keep it-they would steal the old
mans money! They could not keep it, the God
of battles would blast them for it; God have mer
cy on them; they didn't fight for it; let me pay
my debts, and die; my children are all dead; my
wife died in--in the poorhouse; and mel don't
want to live any longer--nobody knows me now;
let me die!'
The stage stopped at -. Hitherto during
the ride the old man had been silent. Forgelful
of the present, inattentive to things about him,
his mind was back among other scenes. A long,
long, reverie; and one from which he was never
to awaken! His lips moved rapidly, though no
sound was audible, involuntary, and spasmodic
motions evinced the activity of his mind; he was
busily communing with the friends, and review
ing the events of his youth. Poor old man! fifty
years since seemed to him but as yesterday One
Of the lone and isolated survivors OF another and
better race, he had no communion with those
about him. Dwelling upon the hardships, the
privaons, the dangers, the escapes, the victories
of another age, his frame infrm and old, could
not support the recollection, as once in the day