True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1845-09-10
THE OLD SOLDIER.
By n. HASTINGS WELD.

enjoyment of it--or justice; ifjustice con-
sist in Withholding the veterans dues till
he is ready to go down TO the grave, gene
rosity or jnstice-calIit what you will, we
can call it neither,) had at last awarded
with pension, an infirm old man! The
burden of old age deferred, had made him
sick of life. The death film was even now
measurably drawn over the eye, once
sparkling; the pace, which was once firm
and confident in the strength of youth and
the pride Of patriotism, had become iTreg-
ular and tottering; and the manly form,
once erect and commanding, was bowed
down--age and suffering had done it. He
was stranger in the metropolis; in6rml-
ty and neglect han broken down his body,
but his spirit could better sustain itself; and
bitter sense of neglect he had suffered
from those who should have remembered
him, had kept him in solitude. He would
not offer living comparison between the
men who achieved and the men who pro-
flied by the achievement, without exertion
of their own. The conscious victim of
cruel neglect and ingratitude, he consider
ed the tardy justice ofhs country mock.
cry, and nought but his abject poverty, and
a wish to die square with the world, had
induced him to apply for it.
And now said he, 4 will pay my debts
and de-
The change of objects in the city Devil
dered him. He gazed upon the spacious
and elegant edfices which had in his alb
sence superseded old and familiar objects
but he gazed with hurried and uncertain
chances, as if doubling his senses. The
busting forms off generation who have
forgotten the Revolution, fitted past him
without needing him, the pensioner was
alone in the city! Amazed that the lapse
of time had wrought such wonders, he felt
like stranger in strange land, and that
too on the very soil he had defended.
His venerable appearance attracted the
notice of passer by, who perceived the
old man was bewildered rendered his ser
vices to conduct him home.
Home! have no home. Twas at home
here in '76-but am forgotten nowp
A transient CLEAN ofanger flashed from
the veterans eye-but in o moment it pas
Sed away, and the vacancy of his counte-
nance returned.
"Where am /? Oh! have been to take
The gift of Congress-let me 60 and pay
my debts before die
The gifti--here again his eye was light
ed-and his bearing spoke the proud and
spirit broken, but not subdued.
An honest feeling ofindignation mastered
him; striving, as if strong in the pride OF
youth, to avoid the unfeeling and imperti.
nent curiosity ofthe crowd who surround
ed him, he sunk exhausted on the pave
ment.
+. Take him TO police officer for a rG-
gTGntP said one Of the crowd.
Take yourself off for an unfeeling brute!
said the honest fellow whohad first address
Sed the veteran. But catching him by
the collar as he eSsayed to walk away
stop first, and give me the old mans pock-
ct book! saw you take it--hand over, or
I'll tear you limb from limbp
"ThrottIe him. cried one of the crowd,
"a scoundrell rob pensionerP
Take him to the police' and the old mans
wallet fell from the culprit in the scuffle.
The pensioner was recognized by some one
ia the crowd, and he passively suffered himself /
10 be put into coach. He was conveyed TO
shelter, and having happily fallen into good
hands, attention for a couple Of days partially |
restored his exhausted energies. An indistinct
ofthe events we have narrated /
fitted occasionally across his mind, but he re-
the events f'79 better than those Of |
and the countenance of those who |
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 hostage to be conveyed home,
his mind again wandered.
That's Tight-carry me to Congress-giye
me my due. / have fought for ID Congress
said 1 should have it, Theod mans wallet
was put into his hand
oh yes, knew should getir they could
not so soon forget the old soldier; but so late
let me pay my debts and diel ] can live no
Iongeri But somebody stole i-they got It away
from me; they couldn't dot fifty years ago. but
I've got hnow, hayn'tI r. No, they didn't keep
it-lhey would steal the old mans money!
They could not keep 1.-THE God Of battles
would bas them foi it-have mercy on them
they didn't fight for III Let me pay my detis
and die My children are all dead--my wife
died INN the poor house-and mel don't
want 10 live any lOnger--nobody knows me
now-lei me diel
The stage stopped at =. Hitherto
during the ride the old man had been sill
eut. ForgeIful ofIhe present, inattentive
- 4 L l. l.