Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-22
STAR.
THE oLDIER's RETURN.
r An Affecting Storx

1-' An Al ectfng Story.
During our tedious passage to the north
remarked among the steerage passengers a
man who seemed to keep himself apart from
the rest. He wore the uniform of the foot ar
tlllery. and sported q corporal's stripes. In
the course Cf the afternoon / stepped before
the funnel and entered into conversation with
him, learned that he had been an invalid and
was sent home from Canada, had passed the
board in London, obtained o pension of shil-
ing day, and was returning TO q border vii
lage, where he was born to ascertain whether
any of family were living from whom he had
oeen separated for nineteen years. He ca
suaily admitted that during this long interval
ne had held no communications with bis rela-
tions; and I set him down accordingly as
s1Iue wild scapegrace, who had stolen from
home, whose happiness his foliies had ompro-
missed too often. He showed me his discharge
his character was excellent, but il only wen.
TO prove how much meas conduct will depend
upon the circumstances under which they act
lie had been nineteen years a soldier-a man
. under authority''-obedient to auother's
will, subseryient to strict discipline, with
scarcely free agency himself-a contented
and happy man. He returned home his OWE
master, and older by twenty years Alas, il
was fatal free agency for him, for time hal
not brought wisdom. The steward told me he
had run riot while his means allowed il. has
missed bis passage twice, and had, on the pre-
cedlng evening, came on board wh,n not
shilling remained to waste in drunken dissi-
patton. L desired that the poor roue shouli
be supplied with some little comforts during
the voyage, and we landed at Berwick gave
him trifing sum to enable him TO reach his
native village where, he had obtained inteli-
gence, some aged members of the family
might still be found. -.
A few evenings afterwards / was sitting In
the parlor of one Of the many little inns yis-
tied while rambling on the banks of the
Tweed, when the waitress informed me that ::
"soger was spearin after the Colonel He
was directed to attend the presence, and my
fellow voyager, the artilleryman, entered the
chamber, and made his military salute
i thought you were at Jedburgh :"
went there, sir, but there had not been
any of my family for many years resting in
! the place. met an old packman on the road.
ana ne tells me there are sCme persons in this
village of my name. / came here 10 n Ike in
quiries, and hearing that your honor was 10
the house, made bold enough to ask for
you - .-r ..
"Yes, sir"
Its a long walk. 60 down and get some
supper before you commence inuuiries''
The soldier bowed and left the room. and
| presently the host entered t. give me direc.
had contemplated TO take the following day. |
| mentioned the soldiers errand. ~
Sure enough" returned the host, sthere
are an auld dacent couple of the name here.
What is the soger called 20
William" L replied for by that name
his discharge and pension bill were filed up.
"lIl slip across the street to the aud folk. -
SAID Boniface, :" and ask them few ques-
| TONS"
The episode of humble life that followed
was afterwards thus described to me by INV
| host.
| lie found the sncient couple seated at the
| hre, the old man reading a chapter in his
| Bible, as was custom always before he re-
| tired to rest The landlord explained the OBJ
| Jeet of the soldiers visit, and inquired if any
| OF their children answered the description d
| the wandercr. 10
at is our Jack y" exclaimed the old woman
! passionately, land the puir ne 'or-do- weel ha.
came hame to close his mothers eyes
| NO" said the landlord, 1.-The mans u 4me
| is Wolly"
Then he's nae our bairn,n returned the
| old man with heavy sigh.
feel, weel-His will be done - said his
helpmate, turning her blue and faded eyes to
heaven; II thought the prayer I so often
hame and get my blessin' ere died"
. He has, he has 10 exclaimed q broken
voice, and the soldier, who had followed the
land unperceived, and listened at the cottage
door, rushed into the room and dropped kneel-
ing at his mothers feet. For moment she
turned her eyes with Axcd and CLASSY stare
upon the returned wandercr. Her hand was
laid upon his head-her lips parted, as if
about to pronounce the promised blessing
but no sound issued, and she slowly leaned
forward on the bosom of the long lost prodigal,
who clasped her in his arms
"Mither. mither. speak and bless me-"
Alas the power Of speech was gone forever,
JOY, like grief, is often fatal to a worn out
frame. -
The spirit had calmly passed away-the
parent had lived 20 see and bless her lost son,
and expire in the arms of one, who. with ali
his faults, appeared to have been her earthly
favorite.'