The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-11
MISCELLANEOUS,
The Ragged Soldier.
A True story Of the RevOlutlos.

Just al the close Of the Revolutionary Wal
there was seen somewhere In one OF the small
towns Of central Massachusetts, ragged and
forlorn. looking soldier coming up the dusty
street lie looked about on the corn-felds tas-
s.lling for the harvest on tho rich, bright
natchce a wheat for the sickle, and on the
erecn potatoe field with curious eycs--so at
least u ught NJ. Towne, who was walking
loisuroly behind him, going home from the
reaping 10 his supper. The latter was a stout
farmer, dressed in home made brown linen
trowsors, without suspcnders, vest or coat.
Tho ragged soldier stopped under the shade Of
sugar maple, and Mr.. Towne, oyertaking him.
stopped lso. ,.,r,,
xuus out 81 the Blush cute .es, replied
the mar I've been prisoner Tor years. lie
reioinci Suddenly, Cav YOU u mc who livts
in the n, vt house ? l. ysur z"
mo" replied 1owne, Tom pkirs lives there.
That house and barn ustd to uclong Ia a COM
radc Of yours as suppose his name was
Jonas but he was shot At Bunker Hail. ana his
widow married aga lin. lad,
Tie sol iicr lraucd agans' tree. w aht
kind OF a man d. lac | mean what kind Of
peorle are they there wouli they bc likely to
let a poor sol Ter have sjmcilint TO eat
III TomIkius is out, you'd DO treated frsi
rate there. Mrs. Tompkins is a nice woman,
but he is the suarlic.' cur that ever gntwed 3
hone, lie Is terrible sutly rcighbor, and loads
her adoc's life. She missed it ia m 1rrying that
fellow, but YOU see she had a hard time OF II
with tho fam after Jones went of soldering,
and when my son came back aud said no was
dead--he saw him bleeding to death on me bat
Tie ield-she broke right dCwn, and TINS lomp,
kris came along and got in to work for her, anu
he Laid himself out To dc first rate. lie some
how got on the blind side Of all Of ne, and when
be offered himself 10 her. advised her TO have
him and am sorry DID IL. You hal better
come homo with me. always have a bite for
any poor fellow that's fought for his country.
i1hatk YOU" kindly returned the soldier, but
Mrs. Tompkins is distan'-a sort OF old ac-
auaintarcc The fact u, | used 80 know her
first husband, ami guess viii all there
Nr. Towue watched him, Us he went to tho
door and knocked aud saw that he wa, admitted
bv Mrs. Tompkins.
Some old sweetheart Of hers may be, said
Mr.. ToWnc, holding TO himself H. comes too
late; poor woman, she has a hard row to hoe
now. Then Mr.. Tuwne went home 10 supper,
aud We will 20 in with the solder
Gould YOU give d POOR soldier mouthiul to
ea'i' he asked Of the pale ard nervous woman
who opened The door.
'My husband does not allow me 20 give any
thing 70 travellers, she said, "but al says feel
for the soldiers coming back, ami Ill give you,
some supper II you won't be long eating II =.
and she wiped her eyes with her white and blue
checked apron aud sct with alicrity ah1u. pro.
viding refreshments inI the poor man, who had
throw himself in the nearest chair, and, with
his head leaning on his breast, seemed too tircl
even to remove his hat from his face. -
IL am glad to have you eat and | wouldn't
hurry YOU for ANYTHING, The salt in a fright
ened way, "but YOU will eat quick, won't you
for | expect every moment he will be in
Tho man drew his chair to the table, keeping
his hat on his head "a though he belonged to
the society Of Friends but that could not be,
for the Friends 10 not so 10 the wars. lilo ate
heartily of the bread aud butter and cold meat,
and how long he was about it,
Mrs. Tom kins idgctcd. "Doir mo- abe
said to herself III ho only knew, he wouldn't
be 20 cruel az 10 let TOm,k Ins come 10 O.
catch him here" She went aud look from
the window uEcasily; lut tho soldier gave o..
token Of his meal coming to an END. ''NrN lie
spsufiug Vinegar On The cold clbbAs iul zoe
taioes. | can't ak him to take tlo,s away ir
his hand. On dCar, how tloW he Is. hI,u.t tlD
man any teeth At last she SAID, Mal,, Il
am very sorry 10 hurry you, SIR De. cpaldbt
you lie, me spread some bead aai .yci, and
cut some slices Of meat to ta. pyrN
with YOU. NY husband will use abusive Ian
lago to you ii h. iinl. you hsre.
Before tho solder colli reply, FOO steps We c
hoard on the door-stone at the hack door. and O
man entered. lie stopped short, and hooked AZ
the soldier as a savage dog might look. Then
he broke out in a tone between sayage grow
and q rear IN
"Hey-dAy, Molly, a pretty piece Of business
What have | told you, time and again, mad
am You'll aud yoI had better mind you
master. And you, you lazy, theying ya-,i
bend LET me see YOU clear out OF my house an,
of my land a good deal quicker thai you cam,
on the premises
the soldier, starting suddenly up erect and tall
and dashing off he hat with a quick, fiery ges.
ture He ewes flashed lLe lightning. anu h.s
lips quiyerod with indig lation as be confronted
the asionished 1ompAins The latte Wa afraid
Of him, and his wife had given sudden shrek
when the soldier ire -artcd 70 his to.t AMI
flung vi Ms hat. ard hsl sunk trembling anl
half islrtinr, IN a lair for sLe recognized him.
you haiu any bu ines. 90 i-teriere between
me and nv viy. EaI Tompkls, ,-lhly, COW.
ed by the Aiii'ude o. The .ol'er.
Your wife .' exclaimed the sol Ter, with the
very concentration Of contem expo ed in nj.
voice, Ind pointing 70 him With an indignant
finger.
Who are you ?" asked Tompkins, with an
air OF efifOnttry.
Il am Harry Jones. since ycu asked, replied
the soldiers, "ihe owner Of ihi. house and this
land, which you leave this very hour as for
Molly, sOiteling his tene a. he tuned 90 the
woman nov sobtiny hysterically "rao shall
choose between US.
80 Harry sobbed she. while Tomrkin-
stood dumb with astonishmcnt, take me, ave
me 80
With one step he was at her side, holding her
in his arms. "WhAt do you moln. treating
this poor child soi Did you think, because she
had ne earthly protector that there was not a
Ged ia heaven against you 7"
No man who is cruel TO 4 woman is ever truly
brave, ard Tompkins skunk away like beaten
spaniel.
The next day had not passed away before
everybody in the town knew that Harry Jones
had come home alive and we'll, 20 rescue hs
much-enduring, patient wife from worse con-
straint than that of British prison but what
they all said, and what Harry said, and what
Molly felt, must leave you to i'm ,gire, for
here tho legend onds.-.Student and School
mate