Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-07
dQtottestet 9aiIg Spy,
THE RAGGED SOLDIER.

just at the close of the revolutionary war,
there was seen somewhere in one Of the small
towns of central Massachusetts, Il ragged and
torlorn looking soldier coming up the dusty
street. He looked about on the corn fields
tasscling for the harvest, on the rich, bright
patches of wheat for the sickle, and on the
gre, n potato field with curious eyes-so at
least thought Mr. Towne, who was walking
leisurely behind him, gong home from the
reaping to his supper. The latter was a stout
farmer, dressed in home made linen trowsers,
without suspenders, vest or coat. The ragged
soldier stopped under the shade OF a great
sugar maple, and Mr.. Towne overlook him.
stopped also.
"Home from the wars ?' he asked
Gust out of the British clutches ," replied
the man, Owe been a prisoner for wears F." He
rejoined suddenly, "Can you tell me who
lives in the next house, is it yours 2"
mo-" replied Towne "Toulpkius lives
there. That house and farm used to belong
to a comrade ofyours, as | suppose his name
was Jones, but he was shot at Bunker Hill
and his widow married again"
The soldier leaned against the tree. "}Vhat
kind Of man is he, | mean what kind of
people are they there Would they be likely
to let poor soldier have something to cat?"
"Il Tompkins is out, you'd be treated first
rate there. Mrs Tompkns is a nice woman,
but he is the snarliest cur that ever gnawed
bone. He Is terrible surly neighbor, and he
leads her dogs life. She missed it marrying
the fellow, but you see she had hard time of
it with the farm after Jones went off soldering
and when my son came back and said he was
dead-he saw him bleeding to death on the
battle tield-she broke right down, and this
Tompkins came along and got into work for
her, and he laid himself out to do first rate
He somehow got on the blind side of all of us
nd ,t,o, b,, I,
her to have him, and | am sorry did it, You
had better come home with me- | always
have bite for any poor fellow that's fought
for his country"
"Thank you" kindly returned the soldier,
but Mrs. Tompkns is a dstant-a sort of old
acquaintance. The TACT is ] used to know
her first husband, and guess will call there
Mr. Towne watched him as he went up to
the door and knocked, and saw that lie was
admitted by Mis-. Tompkins
"Some old sweetheart of hers, NAV be. -
said Mr.. Towne, nodding TO himself He
comes too late; poor woman, she has a 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 mouthful
TO eat 2" he asked of the pale, nervous woman
who opened the door.
"My husband does not allow me to give
anything to travellers" she said, "but al
ways feel for the soldiers coming back, and I'll
give you some supper il you won't be long
eating it, and she wiped her eyes with her
white and blue checked apron, and set with
alacrity about providing refreshments for tie
poor man, who had thrown himself in Lhe
nearest chair, and with his head leaning on
his breast, seemed too tired even to remove
his hat from his face.
81 am glad to have you eat, and l would mt
hurry you for anything" she said in fright
ened way, but you ,cW eat quick won't you
for | expect every moment he will be in
The man drew his chair to the table, keep
ing his hat on his head as though he belonged
TO the society OF Friends, but that could not
be, for the friends do not 90 to the wars lie
ale heartily of the bread and butter and cold
meat, and how long he was about it
Mrs. Tompkins fidgeted. "Dear me p' she |
said TO herself, "if lie only knew, he wouldn't |
be so cruel as to let Tompkins come in and |
catch him here" She went and looked from
the window, uneasily; but the soldier gave no
token OF his meal coming TO an end. "NOw |
he is pouring vinegar on the cold cabbage and
potatoes. l can't ask him to take those away
in his hand. Oh, dear, how slow he is has
not the man any teeth 2" AT last she said,
mildly, 81 am very sorry to hurry you, sir,
but couldn't you let me spread some bread
and butter, and cut you some slices of meat |
to take away with you. My husband will
use abusive language to you, il he finds you |
here"
Before the soldier could reply, footsteps |
were heard on the door stone DIT the back door,
and a man entered. He stopped short, and |
looked at the soldier as q savage dog might |
look. Then he broke out in roar between |
growl and a roar -
"Hey day Molly, a pretty piece Of business
What have told you, time and again, madam |
You'll find you had better mind yonr master
And you, you lazy, thieying vagabond, let me
see you clear out Of my house and cut off Of
my land a good deal quicker than you came on
the premises!
"Your house! and your land! exclaimed
the soldier, starting suddenly up, erect and
tall, and dashing off his hat with quick, fiery
gesture. His eyes flashed like lightning, and
his lips quivered with Indignation, as he con |
ironted the astonished Tompkins. The latter
was afraid of him. and his vile had given
sudden nervous shrek when the soldier first
started TO his feet and threw off his hat, and
had sunk trembling and half tainting in
chair, tor she recognized him.
"You haint any business to interfere be |
tween me and my wife, said Tompkins sulk-
lily, cowed by the attitude Of the soldier.
4" Your wife p exclaimed the soldier, with |
the very concentration OF contempt expressed |
in his voice, and pointing to him with an i'll.
dignaut finger.
"Who are yoa2" asked Tonpkins, with an
air of effrontery
81 am Harry Jones, since you ask, replied
the soldier, "tthe owner OF this house and this |
land, which you will leave this very hour 4!
AS for Molly" softening his tone as he turned
to the woman, now sobbing hysterically, "she
shall choose between US"
80 Harry P' sobbed she, while Thompson
stood dumb with astonshment, take me, save
mep
With one step he was at her side, holding
her in has arms "What did you mean, treat.
ing this poor child SO {? Did you think, be.
cause she had no earthly protector, that there
was not God in heaven against you!"
No man who is cruel TO a woman is ever
truly brave, and Tompkins skunk away like a
beaten spaniel
The next day had not passed away before
everybody in the town knew that Harry
Jones had come home alive and well TO rescue
his much enduring, patient wife from a worse
constrant than that of British prison; but
what they all said, and what Harry said, and
what Molly felt, / must leave you to imagine,
for here the legend ends.
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