Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-10-18
A STORY OF THE REVOLUTION.

OF central Massachusetts, a ragged forlorn
looking soldier coming up the dusty read.
lie looked about on cornhelds tasseling
tor the harvest, on the rich, bright patches
OF wheat read y for the scle, and on the
green potat" fields, with curious eyes-so
at least thou2 ht Mr. Towne, who was
walking leisureIy behind him, going from
the reaping to his supper. The latter was
a stout farmer, dressed in home. made
hrown linen trowsers, without suspenders,
vest or coat. The ragged soldier stopped
under the shade oi great sugar maple,
and MIR. Towne overtahing him stopped
! also
Home from the war; be asked
just out of the British clu.ches,' re-
piled the man; I've been prisoner for
! y ars. He re DICED suddenly. lean you
tel me who lives in the next house Is it
| yours p
"No,' replied Mr.. Towne, "Tompkins
! lives there. That house a3d farm used to
belong to IA com'ad Of yours, as suppose;
! his name was Jones, but he was shot at
Banker Hill, and lis widow married
| again.
! The soldier ltaned against the tree
"What kind Of a mau is be? meant
what ki"d cf people are they there? Would
they be likely to lie, a poor soldier have
! something to eat 2
| !" Ii Iompkins is out. you'd be treated
! Il srate there. Mrs Tompkns is d nice
woman, but h. is the >nari-st cur that
! ever krn~ei bone He IS terrible sur
| Iy neigh Dor. AMI he leads her a Digs life
She MISSED it marrying the fellow, bat ,ou
ste she had a hard time Of it win the
tarm. aft ar Jones went of soldering and
when my son came back and said he was
| deud-he saw him bl ling 20 death on
he battle field she broke right down. and
This TOmpkius came al rug an! got il to
work for her, and he laid himself out do
first rate. He somehow got on the blind
side Of al f us, aud when be offered
himself TO her | advised her to have hin,
and I'm sorry cId it. You had better
come with me- | always have bite Tor
any poor fellow that's fought for his coun
Try.
Thank you kindly" returned the SOL
dier, but Mrs. Tnmpkins is dstant-a
sort Of old aequainan ance. The fact.
used to know her first husband, and
guess will call there
Mr.. Towne watched him as he went up
to The dor and knocked, ard saw that he
was admitted hy Mrs. Tumpk in;.
s. me old sweehart of hers may be-
s.il Mr. Towne, holding to him,et -
lie comes 10 late poor woman. she has
hard row to hoe now Then NJ lo~ue
went home to bis supper, and we viii 90
IN with the solGier.
Can ,"u give poor soldier mouth
tul TO ,at 2 he asked of The pale, nervous
Woman VITO opened the door.
Ny husband Goes not allow me TO give
ANYTHING to 'rtvters," he said bat |
always teeI for the soldiers coming back.
aud | ii give you SOM ,upper ii You WON
tie long ratiug it, and she wiped har eyes
with her whlte aud blue checked apron,
and ct with aiacrity about providlng re-
ireshmenls tor the poor man, who had
thrown himself into the nearest chair. ana
with his lead leaning IN his breast,
seemed too tired even to remove his hat
from his face.
II am glad to have you eat, and !
woudnt t hurry you for an hing" she said
in IA frightened way. but YOU l1W eat
quick, won't YOU for l expect every min
ute he will oe IN
The man drew lis chair to the table,
keeping his bat on hi, head as though he
belonged to the Society of Friends, but be
could not be, for the " Friends" do not 90
to the war. He ate hartiiy Of the bread
aud butter and cold meat and how long
he was about it
Mrs Tempkins fdge,led. "Dear me-"
she said 10 herself, if he ouly knew, he
wouldn't be SO cruel as to let Tompkins
/ come in aud catch him bere' She wen.
ani looked from the window uneasily bu,
he soldier gave no token OF bis meal com
ing to an end. Now he is pouring vim
rgar on the cold cabbage aud potatoes |
cant ask him t. take those away in his
hand Oh dear, how slow he IS, hasn't
the man any teeth p At last she said
mildly, am very sorry 70 harry you, sir,
but coul1u't you let me spread some bread
and butter to take away with YOU? Nv
husband will use abusive language to you
| if be finds you here"
Before the soldier could reply, footsteps
were heard on the doorstone at the back
| door, and man entered. He stopped
| short and looked at the soldier as savage
Or dog might look. Tlen he broke cut
| in tuue between n crowl and a roar:
" Hey day. Molly, pretty piece OF bus.
mess; what have told you time and
again. madam? You'll find you had bet.
| ter mind your master. And you, you lazy,
theving vagahond, let me see you clear
out Of my house and off If my land n good
denl quicker then you came on my prem.
| isrsl'
| Your house and yonr land = said the
SCI lier, starring sud- en- up, erect and
til, AID da, hing oft his | At with quick,
fiery gesture. His eyes flash d like light
ming, and bis lips qnived with Indignation
As he conft.nted Tomrkins. The latter
was eviden;ly airain of him, end his wife
had given sudden, nervous shrek when
| the soldier first started to his feet and
half fointiug in the chair for she re,og.
| nized him.