The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-03-16

His venerable appearance attracted the
notice of a passer-by, who, perceiving
the old mar was bewildered, rendered his
services to conduct him home. ..Home!
| have no home. !, was at home here in
20 but am forgotten now!" A tram
sient CLEAN of anger flashed in the veterans
eye-but in moment it passed away, and
, the vacancy of his countenance returned.
"Where am - Oh !! / have been to take
the gil, Of Congress-let me go pay my
debts before | die" The glft-here again
his eye was lighled-and his bearing spoke
the proud and wounded sprit-hroken,
but not subdued. An honest feeling of
indignation mastered him; striving, as if
strong in the pride of youth, to avoid the
unfeelng and impertiuenl curiosity of the
crowd who surrounded him, he sunk ex..
hausled to the pavement.
Take him to the police office for
vagrant - said one of the crowd.
'Take yourself off, for an unteeling
brute!' said the honest fellow who had
first addressed the veteran. "But''-
catching him by the collar as he essayed
TO walk away stop first, and give me
the old mans pocket book | saw you
take n-hand over, or I'll tear you limb
from limb!'' '.Trotlle him." cried one of
the crowd-''a scoundrel! roba pensionern
"DoNu with him" Strip him." Take
nm I" the policen'-and the old mans
Wallet fell from the culprit in the seattle.
The prnsionar was recognised bv some
one in the crowd, and he passively suffer
ed himself to be put into "A coach. tie
was conveyed to a shelter, and having
happily fallen into good hands, attention
for couple OF days partially restored his
exhausted energies. An lndistlnct re-
! m"mbrance of the events we have narrated
! flt,cd occasionally across his mind, he re-
melnbered the events of rs better than
those OF Yesterday. and the counlenances
OF hose VINO had been his companions in
arms were more distinctly marked in his
memory, than the new ones he had seen
The day before. When about to be put on
board the stage to be conveyed home,
the old man's mind again wandered
THAT'S right-carry me to Congress
give me my due, 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-let me pay my debts and die?
can live no longer2 But somebody
stole it-they go. it away from me they
couldn't do it fifty years ago? But Eve
got it now, havn't !? No, they didn't
keep 1.-THE God of battles would blast
them for it. God have mercy on them
they didn't fight for it? Lei me pay my
debts and die? My children are all dead
my wife died in-ln-the poor-house
and me- don'1 want to live any longer
nobody knows me now-Iet me die?''
The stage stopped at. Hitherto
durlnglhe ride the old man had been silent
Forgelul Of the present, inattentive to
things about him, his mind was back "a
mong other scenes. A long, long revere
and one from which he was never to a.
waken2 His lips moved rapidly, though
no sound was audible; involuntary and
spasmodlc emotions evinced the activity
of his mind He was busily communing
! WIN wv iiiCiiISs dHu itSleW Jug TIE events
of his youth. Poor old man fifty years
since seemed to him but as Yesterday.
One ofthe lone isolated survivors ofanoth-
err and a better race, he had no communion
with those around him. Dwelling upon
the hardships, the privations, the dangers,
The escapes, the victories of another age,
hls frame, infirm, and old, could not sup
port the recollection, as once, in the day
of his strength, he withs.ood the reality {?
"Hark ~ murmured the old man. All
eyes turned towards him. He raised HIM
self on his staff and leaned forward. His
eyes beamed with supernatural animation,
and conIrasted fearlully with his .hrunk-
en- counIenance his hat had fallen, and
his silver locks moved on the light air
his lips compressed-hi posture firm?
Oh God was it his death struggle? The
roll of a distant drum fell on his ear-he
grasped his staff, firmly as once he had held
his hrelock. A bugIe sounded clear and
full beside the coach-s'For Congress and
The People, cha-?" His voice ceased,
he He'll back to his seat, husky railing
IN his throat succeeded-
The spirit of the Revolutionary palrio,
had departed