Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-05-14
TIE BATTERED TETERAM

''Pore soldier |" exclaimed lone old
widow in East Tennessee, as a battered
veteran in blue appeared at her door and
meekiy asked for n 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
water, not to speak OF little suthin 10
mix with it,"
Thank you, mum, but | belong 10
the Daughters OF Temperance, and can't
drink, unless it's little in the way OF
medicine, and do feel very weak, as l
have marched more than forty miles to.
day"
'r'urty mile I thelaws have massy -
How could yon do it? Why, it would
kill my mule"
at is very hard; but we get used to ii.
| wouldn't have minded it if | had had
any thing to eat"
"Sakcs alive Do come in and sit
down. Pore soldier!"
The good old lady brought out q black
bottle, from which the battered veteran
poured tea-spoonful intoa glass Of wa.
ter, and took vigorous pull at the bot.
tie when her back was turned. Then she
placed before him Il substantial supper
of ham and eggs and corn bread and
coffee, upon which he advanced in Sal'
liant style.
And you are mighty young TO be
soldierin'," she said. looking NJ him be-
nignantly over her spectaclcs.
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 tony Creator"
"Sho ! Why, YOU talk Us pcrrt as
minister"
Il was studying for The ministry when
the war broke out"
II had notion that the soldiers were
all so wicked; but I'm glad TO find ont
that they amt. You have seen power
of fghtln', rcckor?'
"A great deal, mum. II is hard for n
Christian 10 take life, bul the enemies OF
our country must he punished. "
Jess so. Have you ever been wound
Very often. / was once shot through
The heart" 10
"rhrough the heart Lawful salics
DIDN'T 1t Kill you
Not quite. The internal muscle was
penetrated lungitu!inaliy and cXtrava-
stated with varirosc veins but the bullet
ranged across The left lobe of The arach
mold artery, producing a comminuted
fracture OF the anterior process OF the
ccrebellum, and causing lesion of the
spinal viSccra, nId the hypOph0Sphaies
OF the fibula, and that delayed my re-
covery."
You don't mean TO say il!at you ulivcd
through all that ~
IL was spared, mum. 10 he m humble
monument of the mercy of Providence. y
Should think So What was that
noise 1t sounded ike somebody down
The cellar"
"NOthing but rats. Don't be alarmed,
ma'!am. lam here and will protect you.
| once defended the house OF widow
when il was attacked by a dozen guerril.
las. was obliged to kill seven o; them,
and ;herest run away"
do tell Should think you ought TO
be nm officer"
The President hHs tried to persuade
me 10 accepts commission rs general,
but have believed that can serve my
country better in my present sphere.
Thank YOU. don't care if do take
spoonful of that. must DC going now,
with many thanks for your kindness. II
is nearly time for our evening meeting,
md must be there 10 open II. Have you
such thing rs pockel Bible to spare
Mine was destroyed in the last battle, by
being struck by a bullet in my coatpock
rt. 1t was he iaSt gift OF my lc.oved
mother, and it saved my life
lawful sakvS What a blessed thing
il Is To have Bible. There is one that
belonged TO my Matilda jane but
know that you will make good use OF
u. | will remember you in my prayers,
! pore sOl.i'r!'
As the last rays Of the setting sun light
ed up the face 0l that battered veteran,
they slone upon two BIC tear, that slowly
triCklcd down either cheek, making
miniature canals through the dust that
roatcd his cpidcrmis. He walked up The
road until he Was joiued by several more
Jaitorrd yelerans, who came ont of a cor
acT ot The fence Two ofthem bore keg.
others carried tin bucket, others had
heir arms full of bottles.
Haze you got it, boys ?" asked the
veteran to whom the Bible bad been pre-
sented
All right. Ten gallons of peach
brandy, Il keg of apple jack, and ever so
many bottles Of blackberry wine. The
old lady was well fixed"
You made such noise that she would
iave snak.d you if hadn't been there
10 throw hcr of the track. Let's go and
divide. fought 10 have the biggest share,
as lad the hardest part of the work"
1t is thus That patriotism and virtue
are reward, d.