The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-08-30
THE OLD SOLDIER.
By n. HASTINGS WELD.

The genefoelty--li geheTosiy tons's'
10 defenpg benefit until the recipien
is past the enjoyment Of tor justice,
if Justice consists in withholding The vet
eran's dues lill he is ready TO 60 dowr
10 the grave, generosity orjuslice---caIl
il wha. you will, we can call il neither,
had at last awarded with pension, su
infirm old man! The burden Of old ag'
and hope deferred, had made him sick
Of life. The death film was even now
.messurably drawn over the eye, once
sparkling; the pace, which was once
firm and con6deni in the strength o.
youth snd the pride Of patriotism, had
become irregular and tolIering; and the
manly form, once eject and command
ipg, was bowed down-age and suHer-
iua had done il. He was stranger in
the metropolis; in6rmity and neglect
had broken down his body, but his spir
il could better sustain itself; and a bit
ter sense Of neglect had KEEP, him 10
solitude. He would not offer q living
comparison between the men who have
pfited by the achievement, without ex
.er,ion of their own. The conscious vic :.
tim of cruel ocglect and ingra,tude, he
considered the tardy justice Of hi, coun-
try mockery, and nought but his ab-
ject poverty, and a wish TO die
square with the world,' had induced
him to apply for it.
And now said he,T will pay my
.debis--and die
The change OF objects in the city be-
,wi'dered him. He gazed upon the
sspacons and elegant edlfces which had
in his absence superseded old and fam
ilisr objects but he gszed with hurried
uncertain glances, as if doubling his
senses. The bus,ling forms of gener.
alton who have forgotten the Revolu,
lion, fitted past him without needing
him; The pensioner was alone in the ci
Ayl Amazed that the laspe Of time had
wrought such wonders, he felt like a
Stranger in strange land, and that, loo
on The very soil he had defended.
His venerable appearance attracted
the notice Of a passer by, who perceiv-
ed the old man was bewldered tender.
ed his services 10 conduct him home.
'Home! have no home. l was al,
home here in '76--bui | am forgotten
.nowi'
A transient gleam OF anger H,shed
from The veterans eye-bu, in a mo-
.nen, i, passed away, and the vacancy
sof his countenance returned.
w Where am i? Oh! have been TO
take the gf, Of Congress--let me 20 and
pay my Debts before l die
The gis'!-here again his eye was
lighled--snd his bearing spoke the proud
and wounded spirit-troken, but MOI
subdued. An honest feeling of indg-
nation mastered him; striving, as il
strong in The pride OF youth, TO avoid
the unieeliag and impertinent curiousty
of the crowd who surrounded him, ht
SINK exhausted on the pavement.
Take him 10 The police office for q
Dagrdntp said one of the crowd.
take yourself off for an unfeeling
brue!' said the honest fellow who had
addressed the veteran. 'Bu' icatching
him by the collar as he esssyed 10 walk
,away--'sop first and give the old man,
pocket book | saw you take ii-hand
over, or III tear you limb from
.limbv
Throttle him. cried one of the
ecrowd--'s .coundrel! rob pensoner!'
'Iske him to the poice!' and the ole
mans vale, fell from the culpril in tht
,scuffie.
The pensioner was rec ognized BY
some one IN The crowd, and he passive
ly suffered himself to be put into coach
He was conveyed 10 a shelter. and hav
ing happily fallen into good hands at
5teniion for a couple Of days partially re
stored bis exhausted energies. An in
distinct remembrance of the events W,
have narrated fitted occasionally scros
his mind, bur he remembered the even
~oi '76 better than those Of yesterday
and the countensnce Of those who hs,
been his companions in arms were NOR
distinctly marked in his memory, thai
the new ones he had seen the day be
4iore. When about TO be pu, on boar
The stage to be convey ed home his min
again wandered.
'That's righl--csrry me TO Congre.
give me my due. have fought fo
n! Congress said | should have it!' Th
old man's wallet was put into his hand
'Oh, yes, | knew | should get the
could mol so soon forge, The old soldier