The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-02
Selected Story.
THE OLD VOLUNTEER.

The old Granite State had already sert
more than seventeen thousand oil her emit
dren to danger and to su 4on Not t sne
less deeds. of their patient endurance, born
Of natriotism that where it truly and I'M
sel6shJv exists, is a divine enthusiasm.
One evening we were gathered round the
Preside. talking OF the efforts being made to
apprehend number OF jeserters at that time
in the State, when loud rapping at the door
interrupted us: An old man, dressed as
soldier in full rig, his cap on and large
leather bar swinging from his hands, came
into the room-not with the upr1Sht Dearn%
and military salute OF a regular, but WIN the
familiar and genial Kindness OF an ora irlend.
He came close up to General Blank, the mili-
tary commander oftbe otaVe
Here am Gineral, says he, in Jolly
manner-Hcome to jine the army
A MECH king, lat old lady followed the
soldier into tue room. She wore brown
cloak, a 5reat tur cape, blue yarn mittens
and red quilted hood. She took her stand
behind the old soldier, and she in turn was
followed by youth about seventeen years OF
a9e-a delicate, mild looking fellow. =.
'Hele am-come to jine," said the soldier
again.
Where do you come from?" said the Gen
eral.
from home"
How long have you been there?"
swell a little over year, | guess"
''Who gave you leave OF absence?"
NOBODY" afrtr
"How did you get home then?"
u went in the cars"
What did you 90 home for?"
81 wanted to see my old woman"
The General turned himself and his chair
round, stared at the man, and said quietly,
"Then you are deserter.'
The soldier retreated step, and said, "Am
deserter. Gineral!
L should think So. You enlisted as a SOL
der. and from your own account. you have
served your country by going home to see
your vile"
"Thats so. Bat did serve with the army
for spell"
!" OF you have been South, then ?
Where? H
ii didn't exactly 90 South, GineIal /
served with the army in Boston,"
there?"
II flied for The Eighth regiment 4"
did; and when your regiment went
South you deserted. l am looking up desert
erS now. Iii have you arrested as one"
The soldier looked back at his wiie How
her eyes flashed! She had something to say,
but not just then. She was the forlorn hope !;
Don't be too hard on me. Gneral," said
the soldier, midi.
'You will be treated as a deserter.'
Il won't be SEM down South?" said he,
with a look of horror. ag
Probably. That is what we want soldiers
for just now"
He came nearer to the General and said
coaNin9y, I'D look pretty, wouldn't 1, going
anywhere to fight? Why, I'm seventy years
old"
How did you get into the army?" asked
the General. "Who mustered you mp
You did"
Then you did not tell ne your age"
eyes did, GineTal.'
"lou did not,' said the General, .and you
you know you did not"
Look here" sad the soldier, touching him
on the shoulder with his fore finger. Is There's
no use in Citing in passion. he quiet, and
III tell you how 1t all came. 1 flies tor every-
thing in our town. Whenever we have iol-
LITIGATION up there, Old John and file must be
on nand. Now, when the uss was raised
abou' sending down soldiers, and tue Eighth
reg was a-9itting up, all the boys said
Now, Uncle Jack, you must 90 to the war
TOO. fney all call me Uncie Jack" he con-
tInued, laughing-'they are fond of me and
my hte at home. Why says /, whats the
use of my carrying my Old bones down South /?
ia rather be buried at home.' Oh you
must HE Tor us they all said; and they coax
ed me and coaXed me, and flied for 'em un-
III the regiment was mostly got up, and then
they said [ must list aud go down South, for
they couldn't go into Rattle without my tiie:
mi says, Boys, I'm seventy years old > and
they says, X Oh go to Concord and tell the
Glneral you are only forty -four, and keep
your hat on. There's such hurry and con
fusion there now, he won't notice; besides
you look younger nor any OF u.s. He'll list
| IN va o,,1 4 !.
go and serve my country and you looked
kinder started, and asked me how old i was
ana sad, 'Forty-four,' and you mustered me
In. lou see, he continued with benevolent
smile, you was SO hurried and so bothered
thai you didn't notice my gray head, and you
took me-
And you deserted. Well, you must take
the consequences How long did you stas
with your regiment?'
Inc Old fellow Strengthened himself. "Gin-
eral, staJ ed till the regiment went South
AS long as Chs boys stayed ia Boston. STAY
Gu; anu, when they went oil, / teit so bad /
went home, Because, what was the use O,
my gong South? lcouldn't Kill anybody. /
nate 70 see mouse caught in trap"
WHAT is tue use OF any soldier coinc
ooutn then?D said the General. Suppose
they ALI take it into their heads to 90 home /.
ny your own statement you deceived me
ABOUT yodr age, ana you have deserted. You
must oe punished as desc rter"
Don't De bard on me, Gineral. Pm an
gu man. You wonidn't send an old man
South, would you?7
Certainly. That's where we want all our
soldiers % be-"
fine old lady stepped forward and the sol
der stepped back. Her time had come
"she, then, no longer he this chaml ion call
She looked very much excited as she drew
Ior
with a Viiia2e OF red brick color represented
upon 1t The houses trees and pump were
all very red; also the ch 4rch, and large
rooster IN the act OF growing suppose, judg-
ing by his triumphant attitude. The pers pee
i've OF the scene was fine: the ROSTERS tai
was exactly parallel to the extreme point OF
the church sttepe. The old lady took a chair
near the General, smOothed this handkerchie,
across her lap, moved her chair closer and
looked resolutely in his lace.
"Gineral," said she, slook here: Pre po
something to say about tbs A his man is
my husband; I've lived with him fifty wears.
and had fourteen children by him, and can't
and won't hear to his going South, no how
Don't be getting riLed now. [ amt afeard OF
you. don't owe you nor the government
nothln9' Johns been soldier more than
year, and has been home a living on me most
OF that time, and [ amt had a cent for his
board. And don't ask nothing. But he's
going home with me Saturday morning.
That's to morrow | rode all day, to-day, in
the cars, and Pm tired as can be. iii be
right thankful TO get John home, too; he's
self" wy y nm
Yes" said the old volunteer, smiling and
tWlrlinS his thumbs, I" I'm foolish old teI-
low"
-" Hush up" she said to him, authorita-
lively.
The general took advantage of this monleut
to say: " Your husband, by his own acknowl-
edgment is u deserter; but l am ad he has
given himself up rather than t. have been
arrested. He will have to join his regiment
join the soldiers in the field at once. and by
his good conduct make up for this fault"
"Gineral," said the old lady, she can. 90
South he-he-" and she bust into a lond
iii Of CRYING. ILncle John ininod L.. n -.