Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-04
TIE RAGeRp soLDIRR.
A STORY or TIE REVOLUTION.

there was seen somewhere IN one OF the |
small towns of Central Massachusetts, a rag |
ped and forlorn-looking soldier coming up
the dusty street. He looked about on the |
cornfelds tasseling for the harvest, on
the rich, bright patches Of wheat for the
sickle, and on the green potato field with
curious eyes; so at least thought Mr.. Towne,
who walked leisurely behind him, going
from reaping to his supper. The latter was
q stout farmer, dressed in home made brown
linen trowsers, without suspenders, vest or
coat. The ragged soldier stopped under the
shade of q great sugar maple, and Mr.. Towne,
overtaking him, stopped also.
Home from the warsP he asked.
"Just:out of the itish.cutches," replied
the man; I've been q prisoner for years."
He rejoined suddenly: "Can you tell me
who lives in the next house, Is it yours ?"
NO." replied Towne; "Tompkins lives
there That house and lot used to belong to
a 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 a man ls he2 l mean what
kind of people are they? Would they be
likely to let poor soldier have something
to eat2P
"If Tompkins is out you'd be treated first
rate there. Mrs. Tompkins is nice woman,
bat he the snarlest cur that ever gnswed a
| bone. He is a terrible surly neighbor, and
he leads her a dogs life. She missed it in
marrying the fellow; but you see she had a
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 10 death on the battle-6 eld-she
broke right down, and this Tompkins came
| along and got into work for her, aud ne laid
| himself out to do first rate. He somehow
| got on the blind side of all of US, and, when
| he offered himself to her, l advised her to
H. hss,o ND Il Won haA
better come home with me. | always have
bite for a poor fellow that's fought for his
| country"
"Tb6nk YOU" kindly returned the soldier;
| "but Mrs. Tompkins is q distant-a sort of
old acquaintance. The fact is, 1 used to
know her first husband, and l guess l will
| call there"
Mr.. Towne watched him as he went up to
the door and knocked, and saw that he was
admitted by Mrs. TompkinS.
"Some old sweetheart of hers, may be-"
said Mr.. Towne, nodding to himself "hs
comes too late; poor woman, she has hard
row to hoe now"
Then Mr.. Towae went home to supper, and
we will in with the soldier.
"Could you give poor soldier mouthful
to eaR" he asked of the pale, nervous woman
who opened the door.
"My husband does not allow me to give
any thing to travellers" she said; "but l al
ways feel for the soldiers coming back, and
I'll give you some supper if you won't be
long eating ii" and she wiped her eyes with
her white and blue checkered apron, and set
with alaracity about providing refreshments
for the poor man, who had thrown himself
into the 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 wouldn't
hurry you for any thing" she said, in a
frightened way; "but you will eat quick,
won't your for l 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 be-
longed to the societE of Friends but that
could not be, for the Friends" do not go to
war; He ate heartily of the bread and but
ter and cold meat-and how long he was
about it.
Mrs. Tompkins fidgeted.
"Dear me-" she said to herself; 'ff he only
knew, he would not 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 mea
coming to an end. "Now he is pouring vine
, gar on the cold cabbage and potatoes.
, can't ask him to take those away in his hand
8 Oh, dear, how slow he is hasn't the mar
any teeth" AT last she said mildly: 81 an
, very sorry to hurry you; but couldn't yol
let me spread some bread and butter, anC
cut you some slices of meat to take away
, with you. My husband will use abusive Ian
, guage to you if he finds you here"
, Before the soldier could reply footsteps
were heard on the door stone at the bach
, door, and man entered. He stopped short
and looked at the soldier as a savage dos
might look. Then he broke out 10 tom
between a growl and a roar.
! Hey. day, Mollie; a pretty nice piece o
; business. What have l told you time au
again, MADAME You'll find you had bette
!, mind your master. And you, you lazJ
thievipg vagabond, let me see you clear ou
> of my house and off of my land good des
: quicker than you came on the premises"
, "Your house and your land u exclaime
= the soldier, starting suddenly up, erect an
! tall, and dashing off his hat with quick
. fiery gesture. His eyes flashed like light
= ming, and his lips quivered with indignation
as he confronted the astouished Tompkin
The latter was afraid of him; and his viii
had given a sudden nervous shrek when th
soldier first started to his feet and flung O
his hat, and had sunk trembling and ha
- fainting in a chair, for she had recognize
% him.
"a "You haint any business to interfere b
* tween me and my wife," said Tompkin
81 sulkily, cowed by the attitude of the soldie
1T "YOur wife" exclaimed the soldier, wit
D. the very concentration of contempt 81
< pressed in his voice, and pointing to hi
" with an indignant finger.
le "Who are your asked Tompkins, with g
10 air of effrontery.
IA 81 am Harry Jones, since you ask" repli'
" the soldier, 'the owner of this house and th
ie land, which you will leave this very hou
IS AS for Molly" softening his tone as
,s, turned to the woman, now sobbing histel
or caly, "she shall choose between us"
II "Oh, Harry !" said she, while Tompki
stood dumb with astonishment, "take n
ye save mel"
n- With one step he was at her side, holdil
80 her in his arms. "What did you mean trea
= ing this poor child 500 Did you think, b
cause she had no earthly protector, tn
there was not a God in heaven against you
eT No man who is cruel TO a woman is ev
Id truly brave, and Tompkins skunk away lii
te beaten spaniel.
The next day had not passed away befo
IS, everybody in the town knew that Har
a. Jones had come home alive and well, to n
rk cue his much-enduring, patient wife from
no worse constrsint than that Of British prise
~ but what they all said, and what Harry sa
~ and what Molly said, and what Molly fl
IS | must leave you to imagine, for here I
ne legend ends.