The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-09-25
THE L SOLDIER.
BY II. WELD.

until The recipient is past the enjoyment OF II
or justice; ii justice consists in withhold
ing the veteran dues ill he is ready to go
down 10 the grave, generosity or Justice
call 1t what you will, we can call it neilher,)
had at last awarded with a pension an infirm
old man! The burden OF old age and hope
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 be-
come irregular and lettering; and the manly
form, once erect and commanding, was bow
ed down-age and Suffering had done it,
lie was a Stranger in the metropolis; lntirm-
lily and neglect had broken down his body,
but his spirit could better sustain Itself; and
a bitter sense Of neglect he had suffered from
those who should have remembered him,
had kept him in solitude. He would not Of
fer a living comparison between the men who
hare pro6tted by The achievement, without
e~xertion of their own. The conscious VIC
lim Of cruel neglect and ingratiiude, he con-
sidered the tardy justice of his county a
mockery, and nought but his abiect poverty,
and a wish 10 die square with The world, had
induced him TO apply for it.
Sand now,' said he, 81 will pay my debts
land die"
The change of objects in the city bewil-
dered him. He gazed upon the spacious
and elegani editices which had in his abb
sence superseded oldand familiar objects
but he gazed with hurried and uncertain
Chances, as il doubling his senses. The bus:-
ling forms of a geneiation who have forgot
ten 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 a stranger
in a strange land, and that too on the very
soil he had defended.
His venerable appearance acifacied the
notice ola passer by, who perceived the old
man was bewildered rendered his services
TO conduct him home.
"Homei ! have no home. ] was al home
Here in '76--but ] am forgotten nowi
A transient CLEAN of anger flashed from
the veterans eye-but in a moment passed
away, and the vacancy of his countenance
returned.
"Where am II OH / have been TO take
the gift of Congress-let me GO and pay my
deDis before ] die"
The gih!-here again his eye was lighted
and his bearing spoke the proud aud wound
ed spirit-broken but not sabdued. An
honest feeling of Indignation mastered him;
striving, as if strong in the pride of youih,i TO
avoid The unfeeling and impairment curiosity
of the crowd who surrounded him, he sunk
exhausted on the pavement.
"Take him 10 the police office for a "a
grant :" said one of the crowd.
"Take yourself off for an unfeeiing brute?'
said the honest fellow who had first address
ed the veteran. "Bul'--calcbing him BY
the collar as he essayed TO walk away
''stop first and give up The old mans pocket
book. saw you take it-hand over or I'll
tear you limb from limb!"
'Throttle him" cried one of the crowd
"a scoundrel TO rob . pensioner!i'
"Take him 10 the policem and the old
mans wallet fell from the culprit in the scuf-
de.
The pensioner was recognized by some
one in the crowd, and he passively suffered
himself to be put MO a coach. He was con-
veyed 10 a shelter, and having happily fallen
into good hands, attention for a couple ofdays
partially restored his exhausted energlcs.-
An indistincl remembrance ofthe events we
have narrated fitted occasionally across his
mind, but he remembered the events of '76
better than those otyesterday, and the coun-
~tenance of those who had been his compan
ions in arms were mole distinctly marked M
his memory, than the new ones he had seen
The day before. When about 10 be put on
board the Stage 10 be conveyed home, his
mind wandered.
"That's right-carry me TO Congress
give me my due. have fought for il! Con
gress said | should have iln' The old mans
wallet was put into his hand.
"Oh, yes, | knew | should get it; they
could not soon forget the old soldier; but so
late-let 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, havn't
|? No, they didn't keepit-they would steal
the cid mans money! They could not keep
1.-THE God of battles would have blasted
them for it-God have mercy on them-they
did not fight for il! Let me pay my debls
and die! My children are all dead-my wife
died in-in-the poor house land me-
don't want to live any longer-nobody knows
me now-let me die!"
The stage stopped al t.. Hitherto dur
ing the ride the old man had been SILENT
Forgeiful Of the present, inatteniive to the
things about him, his mind was back among
other scenes. A long, long reyerle-and
and one from WHICH be was never to awaken!
His lips moved rapidly, though no sound was
audible ;involunlary and spasmodic emolione G.
WINGED the activity OF his mind. He was bus,ly