Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-01-21
A True story Of the Revolutions.
BY JULIA GILL.

wart ilfef6 was seen somewhere IN enc OF
the small towns of central Massachusetts,
ragged and fOrl0rn looking sUllier coming
up the dusty street. He booked about on
the eprn fields tasseling for the harvest, on
the fzeh, bright patches Of wheat ready fer
the slekle, and on the green poiatoe fields,
wnbenrious eycs-so at least thought Mr.
rowte. who was walking leisurely behind
him going home from the reaping to his
SUPPER. The latter was stout farmer,
dressed IN homemade brown linen trowsers,
withtpt srsrenders, vest or coat The rag
ged s,idier stopped under the shade of a
great sugar maple, and Mr.. Towne over
taxing bin. stopped also.
Iisime from the wars ?" be asked
sJuft out of the British clutches ?'' re-
piled Do man; sI'ue been prisoner for
years"
He rejoined suddenly, Can Won tell
me who lives in the next house? Is it
yours %
No" replied Mr.. Towne, "Tom2kins
lives there. That house and farm used to
belong to a comrade of yours, Is suppose;
his name was Jones, but he was shot at
Bunker Hill, aud his widow married
again"
The soldier leaned against a tree
"What kind of a man is he? Would
they let poor slider have anything to
eat ?"
IF Thompkins is out you'd be treated
fret rate there. Mrs. ThOmpkius is a nice
woman but he is the snarlest cur that ever
gnawed bore. He is terrible surly
neighbOr, ana he leads her a dogs life
She missed 1t marrying the fellow, but you
see she had q hard time of ii after Jones
went of soldering, and when my son came
back and said he was dead-he saw him
bleeding to death on the battle fied-she
broke right down and this Tompkins came
along and got into work for her He some
how got on the blind side of all Of us, and
when he offered himself to her, | advised
her to have him aud | am sorry did it.
You had better come home with me, al
! ways have bite for any poor fellow that's
fought for his country"
Thank you kindly" returned the SOL
dier, but Mrs. Thompkins is distant
sort of old acquaintance. The fact is,
used to know her first husband, and guess
will call there"
Mr.. TuwDe watched him as he went up
to the door and knocked, and saw that be
was admitted by Mrs. Tompkins.
Some old sweetheart of hers maybe.
said Mr.. Towne, nOdding to himself Gle
cumes too late; poor woman, she has a
hard row to hCe now" Then Mr.. TOwne
went home to supper, and we will 60 with
the soldier.
could you give poor soldier a mouth
full to eat ?" 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
always feel for the soldiers coming back
and I'll give you some supper if you wOn't
be long eating it," and she wiped her eyes
with her white and blue checked apron
and set with alacrty about providing re-
| freshments for the poor fellow, who had
| thrown himself IN chair, and with his
head iesningaoa zbis7 breast-~seemed -tec
! tired even to remove his hat from bis face
Il am glad to have you eat, and would
not hurry you for any thing," she said in a
! frightened way, but you VII eat quick
won't you for l expect every minute be
| will re in"
The man drew his chair to the tai le
keeping his hat on his head as though h,
! belonged to the Society of Friends, but that
could net be. for the Friends do not gn t,
the wars He ate heartily of the bread
|
was about it
Mr.. Tompkins fdgeted Dear me,
she said to her,elf, "if he only knew, be
wouldn't be So cruel as to let Tnmpkin n.
come in and catch him here" She wen
and looked from the window uneasily; TN
the soldier gave no token of his meal com
ing to an end. Snow he is pouring vine
gar on the III cabhage and potatoes
J b htt, fol,
hand Oh, dear. how slow he is j.. hasn'
the man any teeth" AT last she sale
mildly. Il em very sorry to hurry YOU, sir
but couldn't you let me spread some breaC
and butter, and cut you some slices OF inca
t. take away with you. My husband vii
use abusive language TO you if he finds yoI
here.
Before the soldier could reply. footster
were heard on the door stone at the bari
do II, and q man entered lie stopped
short and looked at the soldier as savag'
dog might look. Then be broke out in 1
tone between groWl and a roar.
Hey dey, Molly, a pretty piece of bus
mess What have told you time ant
again, madam? You'll find you had bet
ter mind your master. And you, you lazy
thiesing vagabond, let me see you clea
out of my house and off from my land ;
good deal quicker than you come on thu
| premises?"
Your house. and your land !" exclaimed
the soldier, starting suddenly up, erect ant
tall, and dashing off his hat with quick
fiery gesture His eyes flashed like l,ghtn
ing, and his lips quivered with indignation
as he confronted the astonished Tcmpkin
The latter was evidently afraid of him
| nd is 70 hud
shrek when the soldier first started to hi
feet and flung off his hat, and had sunl
trembling and half fainting in chair, fo
she recognized him.
You hain't any business to interior
between me and my wife," said Tompkins
sulkIly, cowed by the attitude of the 81 |
der.
your wife !" exclaimed the soldier. witt
frey contempt expressed in his vuice, an,
pointing to him with AN indignant finger.
Who are your" asked TompkIns wit
an air of effrontery.
Il am Harry Jones, since you ask, re
piled the soldier, "the owner of tbs hons
and this land, which you will leave thi
very hour As for Molly :" s0ftening hi
tone as he turned 20 the woman now sob
bing Historically "she shall choose betwee
us"
"Oh, Harry ' sobbed she, While Tomp
kins stood dumb with establishment, TAX
me, save me u
With one step he was at her side, hold
ing her in bis arms What did you mea
treating this poor child So? Did you thin
because she had no earthly protector thu
there was not a God IL heaven to take be
part against your"
No man who is cruel to a woman is eve
truly brave, and Tumpkius .lunked ava
like beaten spaniel.
The next day had 10, passed away bt
fore everybody in the town knew that Tia
ry Jones had come hcme alive and we'll
rescue his much enduring. patient wi
from q worse cOnstraint than that nl a Brl
ish prison but what they ali said, ar
what Harry said, and what Molly felt,
must leave you to imagine, for here the l.