Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-11-28
TIE RAGGED SOLDIER.
A STORY or the REVOLUTION
BY JULIA GILL.

just at the close OF the Revolutionary
war, there was seen somewhere in one Of
the small towns in central Massachusetts
a ragged and forlorn looking soldier com
ing up the dusty street. lie looked about
on the corn-felds tasseling for the har-
vest, on the rich, bright patches Of wheat
ready for the sickle, and on the green po-
tato fields, with curious eyes, at least
thought Mr.. Towne, who was walking
leisurly behind him, going home from the
reaping to his supper. . be latter was a
stout farmer, dressed in homemade brown
linen trousers, without suspendcrs, vest
or coat. The ragged soldier stopped un-
der the shade Of great maple, and Mr.
Towne overtaking him stopped also.
"Home from the wars 90 he asked.
'Just out Of til British clutches 90 re-
| piled the man "lve been prisoner for
years. He rcjoined suddenly. Can
you tell me who lives in the next house {?
Is it yours"
"No," replied Mr.. Towne, "Tompkins
lives there. That house and farm used
10 belong to comrade of yours, as /
suppose his name was Jones, but he
was shot at Bunker Hill, and his widow
married again"
The soldier leaned against the tree
What kind of man is he Would
they be likely to let poor soldier have
something to eat %
'If Tompkins is out, you'd lie treated
first rate there. Mrs Tompkins is a nice
woman, but he is the smartest cur that
ever gnawed bone. He is terrible
surly neighbor, and lie leads her dogs
life. She missed it marrying the fellow,
but you see She had hard time Of il
with the farm after Jones went off sol
dierng, and when my son came back and
said he was dead-he saw him bleeding
to death on the battlefeld-she broke
right down, and this Tompkins came
along and got into work for her, and he
laid himself ont to do first rate. He
somehow got on the blind side Of all of
us, and whe offered himself to her, l adj
viscd her to have him, and am sorry /
did it.. You had better come home with
me. l always have bite for any poor
feller that's fought for his country"
Thank you kindly" returned the sol
dier, "but Mrs. Tompkins is distant--a
sort Of old acquaintance The fact is, ]
used to know her first husband, and /
guess will call there" ....
i Mr.. Towne watched him as he went up
to the door AMI knocked, and saw that
he was admitted by Mrs. Tompkins.
"Some old sweetheart of hers, maybe,
said Mr.. Towne, nodding to himself
) "He comes too late +; poor woman, sh
has hard row to hoe now" Then Mr.
Towne went home to supper, and we will
go in with the soldier
!, "Could you give poor soldier
moutbful to eat % he asked of the pale
nervous woman who opened the door.
"My husband does not allow me t
give anything to Travellers" she said
"but l always feel for the soldiers com
ing back, and Pll give you some supper
if you won't be long eating it," and
she wiped hcr eyes with her white and
blue checked apron, and set with alacrity
: about providing reireshment for the poor
man, who had brown himself in the near
est chair, and with his head leaning on
his breast, seemed too tired even to re
move his hat from his face.
81 am glad to have you eat, and
wouldn't hurry you for anything" sale
. she in a frightened way, "but you uu
eat quick, won't you, for l expect every
minute he will lie in.
The man drew his chair to the table
f keeping his hat on his head as though he
belonged to the Society of Friends, bu
that could not be, for the "Friends" dc
e not go to the wars. He ate heartily o
A the bread and butter and cold meat, ant
how long he was about it
Mrs. Tompkins 6dgeted. "Dear me,
she said to herself, 81! he only knew, h
f wouldn't be so cruel as to let Tompkin
come in and catch him here" She wen
t AMI looked from the window uneasily
but the soldier gave no token of his mea
; coming to close. 2
"Now he is pouring vinegar on hi
cabbage and potatoes. ! can't ask hin
e to take those away in his hand. Oh
dear, how slow he is hasn't the MAJ
e any teeth" At last she said mildly, :"
{ am very sorry to hnry You, sir, bu
= cOuiuh you let me Sprtal you som
bread and butter and cut you some slice
of meat to take away with you, Nj
S husband will use abusive language to 20
if he finds you here"
. Before the soldier could reply, foot
n steps we've heard'o on the door stone at th
n back door, and man entered. He stop
$ ped short. and looked at the soldier as
h savage dog might look. Then he brok
out in a tone between a growl and roaI
i "'Hey-dey. Molly, a pretty piece o
!, business What have | told you tim
and again, madam? You'll find yo'
had better mind your master And You
!. you lazy, thieving vagabond, let me sc
$ you clear out Of my house and off IN.
laud good deal quicker than you cam
on the premises p
Your house! and your landP exclaim
n ed the soldier, starting suddenly up
e erect and tall. and pushing off his ha
t with quick, fiery gesture. His eye
a flashed like lightning, and his lips quiy
J. cred with Indignation as lie confronte
e the astonshed Tompkins. The latte
e was evidently afraid of him, and his wi
10 had given sudden nervous shrek whe
10 the soldier first started to his feet an
rs flung off his hat, and had sunk tremblin
,e and half faintaing into chair, for 81
E. recognized him. . .'".. 5000.
is "You hain't any business to interfe