Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-12
@Ortester Daily SPY.
WRITTEN FOR THE D ALLY SPY
TIE SOLDIER OR, A TALE OF THE TIMES
BY "HoME VOICE. u

"Read little louder, Lizzie-did We say we
were beaten g" and the aged speaker drew his
chair nearer the reader, and with an anxious,
throbbing heart he leaned forward to catch
the words as the child read. The old mans
face paled as she continued, but the fire of
youth was kindled in his eye, and grasping
his cane in his one hand, he shouldered it as
he had done in earlier years the musket
40, that was young again." said he-"what
is lite without libertya Where are the men /?
Why don't they rally -? We bought it for them
with our precious blood. Can't they keep it,
the priceless gift OF liberty! o, my God that
should live otsee this time - and the old
man sank into his chair, andwept like a child
There were none to weep with him-the wife
OF his youth-the noble woman was gone and
the companions OF his labOrs were few in nun.
Der now, and scattered far.
The long years of suff-ring and privation
had been followed by time OF prosperity and
plenty. The stars and stripes, So dear 10 him.
had gail ed place among nations, and with
prlde did the old man look upon his country's
prosperity as heritage The had helped secure.
Now was it to peIlsb-tha which had cost
DuSh PiNSiOuS Ilh6S us NdTTeu, N1OnlROI0try,
and Others The thought crushed The noble
heart The arm OF his daughter was thrown
around him, and in atfectionate tones she en-
deaVored 10 cheer her parent. at W. Ill all end
well, said she, "the manly hearts in our
mluSt are r0uSIng to action, and those precious
privileges you and slher patriots perllled ali 10
OBTAIN Will be made secure. Take heart, dear
father liberty, true liberty, will be purchased
for every sOut-lhese are but the death throes
OF slavery" The old mans iace brig htened-
his bent form became erect, and with a look of
pride he began the oft told tale OF "long ago"
"NO, shall never forget how father, john,
anu !, were down in the corner lot, plough
ing, when Abner Morse came riding by,
screaming, 'The Britishers are coming, the
Britishers are coming Father dropped the
plough, and followed up to the old Sun Tav-
ern, as We used 10 cali it ; you know where it
was--up there on the hill where Squire Halls
house ia little TO the north well, there he
found all our neighbOrs talking the matter
over, and when 1t was proposed to turm
company, my father put down his name first
They chose him captain. That night We did
not sleep much, for mother was up fixing tath.
er's things, and the next day the little cumpa-
ny started for Boston. Ii seems but YESTERDAY
when father told me to take care OF his farm,
and, SAID he, Joseph, if | never come back
remember your mother and the little children,
be good to them How pale mother looked
but she brought the old musket, fastened the
belt around him, and, as she kissed him,
heard her say, God keep you We did not
hear very often in those days, and we felt
pretty uneasy when we heard there had been
a battle at Breeds Hill. AT last We had
letter, and it told how hard they worked all
night, throwing up Notifications, and how
they fought the next day but he never said
word about Interchangeable couldn't say that
word-but he said, don't fear for me, God will
will prosper our cause, and # / die it will be
in a noble struggle Two years passed
Father had been home, and we heard he was
ordered to meet Burgoyne, who was advanc
ing from the north. Weeks of anxiety fol-
lowed, when letter from one OF our neigh
bors told the story OF my fathers death He
lived Il few days after the battle, and fellow
soldier wrote for him his dying counsel to his
family and words of affection tor our dear
mother. Like a true patriot he died. Such a
noble man cannot be sire to coward. That
letter is in that little red trunk, Hattie-keep
it, don't lose it, read it to your children often,
and tell them OF their noble ancestor"
Let me read it once more" The little red
trunk was brought, and the trembling hand of
the aged man took from it yellow, worn
paper-but tears blinded those eyes, and al
though memory had every word in its pos
session, he gave 1t to his daughter to read -
my Dear Ones ut Home: We
have had tough time OF it-but ii is over
now, and | am dying. thank God was
spared to hear the glad shout of victory when
Burgoy ne'surrendered. God will prosper our
country. Be true to it, my sons never let
the name OF Green be stained with deed OF
cowardice or treason. Good bye, Sally you
have been good wife to me /; we shall meet
in hoo la al,
and kind to one another Keep the old home
farm, and all live together. Don't forget the
wishes OF your ing father. This is the last
time you will ever hear from me. am grow.
ing weak, and l can hardly see now. Tney
are good to ME, here, but l miss you, Sally
God bless you all. Don't forget your father >"
With this came lew lines from Joe Waite,
telling how quietly he died, with mothers
name on his lips
Carefully the soiled yellow letter was folded
and laid within the little red trunk while in
tremulUus tones the aged man continued
"Yes those were hard times but we had
brave hearts. Mother knew / wanted to 90
with father; and alter she read this letter
OH l remember just how She lOoked-her
eyes were as bright little Lizzie's eyes are
just like hers and Without lear III them, hut
she was pale as death, she sald TO me Co.
Joseph fight tor our country fight till
death, If you must, but never let your lather's
name be tIishonOred. With johns help will
take care of the farm. wish | had u dozen
SONS to send
was but sixteen years old, but was stout
and tail, aud looked as large as could, when
went 10 list.
saw some pretty hard times, but didn't
smell powder much till the battle at York
town. When we heard that CORVALLIS lad
fortified that place, we were ali on fire to rout
him. We were soon glad to hear the order 10
prepare 10 move. IL was there l lost that
arm but didn't mind it, when learned we
had iairly trapped the old general
tell you, the boys now don't know such
trials as We did then, with no money, no credit
nor provision. The sick and wounded didn't
hive any jellies and dainty bits; we were
thankful to have enough 10 keep us from hun
ger. We were without Shoes and blankets
sometimes, and the bloOd would make the
snow red, as we walked. The hope Of victory
would grow faint, sometimes, but we never
meant to yield without a bloody struggle.
Yes, continued he, turning his eye upon
manly form that had entered a few minutes
before yes, Frank, my grandson, those were
darker times than we have now, We had
hearts OF the right metal and Washington
TO lead but we were few in number, and the
enemy had hundreds OF frieuds among us
ready to betray MS, aud then the Indians were
troubles sometimes" "DO you hear anything
about our company" interrupted Me mother
OF Frank. YES" said he, "it is iull and the
regiment will leave to morrow, or next day
and-and, mother, go with it," "Eh?" said
sne aged maa, leaning forward, what did you
IL.