The Van Buren press., 1873-06-10
A WAR REMINIsCENCE.
The Battered Veterans and the Good
Old Woman Of Tennessee
lCarl Bron, in the St, Louis Democrat

| ltarl Hrcnt in the 81, Louis bsmocrHlFI
Pore soldier !" exclaimed lene old
widow in East Tennessee, IS a battered
veteran in blue appesred at her door. and
meskly asked for cup Of cold water.
Pore soldier! | know in reason that
YOU are tired and thirsty and that you
will be powerful glad to get drink of
ter, not to speak of little suthin to
mix with it.
"Thank you, mum but | belong to
the Daughters of Temperance, and cant
drink, unless it 10 q little in the way OF
medicine, and do feel very weak, as
have marched mere than forty miles TO
day.
"Forty mile The laws have mussey
How could you do it? Why, it would
kill my mule y
"It 10 very hard but we get used to
it. l wouldn't have minded 1t, il had
anything to eat.
"Sskcs alive! De come in and sit
down. Poro soldier
The good old lady brought out black
bottle, from which the battered veteran
poured a tsaspeonful into glass Of wa
ter, and took vigorous pull at the bot
tie when her back was turned. Then she
placed before him substantial supper Of
ham, and eggs and corn bread and coffce
upon which he advanced in gallant
style.
"And YOU are mighty young to be a
soldsrin'" she said, looking at him be-
nignantly over her spectacles.
Yes, mum; am the only son OF my
widowed mother, but my country called
me, and my duty to my country is only
second to my duty to my Creator.
"Sho2 Why, you talk rs peert as
minister"
Il was studying for the ministry VIII n
tho war broke out
81 had notion that the soldiers were
all so wicked; but TIN glad to find out
that they amt. You have seen a power
Of fightin', reckon'
! "a great deal, mum. 1t is hard for a
Christian to take lifo but the enemies OF
our country must be punished
jess so. Have you ever been wound J.
sd?"
Every often. was once shot thro
the heart.
Through the heart Lawful sakes J
Didn't it kill your
mot quite. The intcrcostal muscle
was penetrated longitudinally and extra.
vasated with vericose veins; but the bul
let ranged across the left lobe Of the ar
achnoid artery, producing n comminutsd
| fracture OF the anterior process OF the
corcbsllum, and causing n lesion OF the
spinal viscera and the hypophosphates
Of the flbul,, and that delayed my recov-
cry
You don't mean to say that you liv
ed through all thatf'
81 am spared, mum, to bs an humble
monument Of the mercy Of providence. "
"Should think SO. What WAS that
noise? 1t sounded like somebody down
the cellar.
Nothing ba! rats Don't be alarm
ed, madam. am here and will protect
YOU. | once defended the house Of a
widow when it was attacked by n
dozen guerrillas | was obliged TO kill
seven of them, aud the rest ran away. I"
"Do tell Should think you ought
to be an officer.
THE President has tried to persuade
me to accept commission as General,
but | have believed that | can serve my
country better IN my present sphere,
| Thank you, don't care il | do take Il
spoonful Of that must be going now
with many thanks for your kindness. 1t
10 nearly time for eur evening prayer
meeting, and must be thore to open it.
Have you such thing as pocket Bible
to spare2 Mine was destroyed in the
last battle by being struck by bullet in
my coat pocket 1t was the last gift Of
my beloved mother, and 1t saved my
| life. "
Lawful sakes! Which pockst7'
"The behind pocket, mum"
"What a blessed thing IL 10 to have a
Bible. There is one that belonged to
my Matilda Jane; but l knew that you
will make a good use II it. ! will re.
member ysu in my prayers, pore sol
| der"
As tho last rays Of the setting sun
lighted up the face Of that battered vet
eran, they shons upon two big tears, that
slowly trickled down either cheek, max.
ing miniature canals through the dust
that coated his spidermis. lie walked
up tho road ustil he was Joined by sever
al more battered veterans, who came out
from corner oftae fonss. Two Of them
bore ksg, others carried tin buckets,
others had their arms full Of bottles.
"Have you got it, boys?" asked the
veteran to whom the Bible had been pre-.
sentsd.
"All right. my covoy. Ten gallons Of
peach brandy, keg OF apple jack, and
over SO many bottles OF blackberry wine.
The old gal was well fixed. "
You made such ID OF noise that
she would have smoked you If hadn't
been there to throw her off the track.
Let's 90 and divide. | ought to have
the biggest share, as | had the hardest
part OF work.
It's thus that patrie.ism and virtue
are rewarded.