Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-03-20
Il Legend.

u
site legend, from the Macon Telegraph. Its
maoy years siuce American literature had any
thing contributed 10 it which contained more
OF genuine pathos and singing sarcasm than
the piecs We copy bsow:
The city l5 quiet agslo. Grant has depart.
cd. The crowd that met to celebrate the
Coming OF Arthur" has dispersed, and the
only figure in sight as | rassed down Broad
| street last night was tho marble Cott .derGtes
| upon the monument, four generals on the CDR
ners of it, and perchcd above, on the shaft. our
| old friend, tho private. 1t had cot been
| field. day for Confeds. and, not feeling 10 mood
for slumber, went over to keep them c,m
pauy awhile. Sitting down on the terrace, |
| fell to musug on the day, and the silant man
who so lately had hell the dis'inies Of our
country in his gasp. How long sat there |
cannot tell, but il must have been somo time,
as busy memory Wovs many tc,ue into the
moonlight around me. Suddenly, however. l
hoard slight cJugh, seemingly above me, yet
when | glanced upward only the white marble
met my gsze-the four generals and the pri'
vato high above, with rigid facs and limbs and
eyes sot straight ahead. Thinking | had been
mistakeu, resumed my rtVery, Only to be
disturbed sgain by distinct "ahem |" long
drawn out. This time | sress aad made
careful survey CT the spot. No living Eody met
| my view, aud was about to resume NY scat
when tho sound was repeated. Ganciag up
ward remarked 10 jest to the private, This
! night cir appears TO choke you somewhat, my
friend ?" Locking down at me- to my aston.
ijhment. he replied distinctly, No | am
used to it. Slept round tho bills Of Virginia
four or two yeals, aud don't hi: it tho least"
| could only STARE at him in siltrc:. PR S ,ntly
bu asked
| Been in town all day y"
| Yes," | stammcrej. 'bcen hero nil day"
"Secu Grant?"
| "Oh, yes; saw HIN distinctly. Locks q little
moro bloated, perhaps than When saw him
last hut the Aainu old Grant. Have ynu seen
him 7"
''Iet; h" caino aloDg this way. Herd him
ask what vas up there for, but Houoiy sce Ill
I'd to ka1@,. std cant tX.c,iy rtcoIltc: M
sell. They ought 10 have put All Interrogation
point over NE, and thou he people would know
| was d oOnupdrum."
This lko appeared to toxic The gentleman
ex,cedluply, for he chucklcd away for Il minute
and half over it. | did not laugh. The point
of the ilkc was probably bunled ia tho fall, IS
| could not see it., Alter no had laughed oil
the fun out OF his ref ,ciops. he said
Il lhitk it downright shame. they dido't
give mo o chance to whoop with tho patriots TO
day, II little forethoueh,a little Invention on the
part OF tho council. nnd tho day woud have
passed off with the utmost ccat | wanted
awiuIly TO cheer; tIiod to work my right hand
up to my hat, but it was no use, couldn't budgo
it. and my cap is jammqd down az tight Ms
blazes; couldn't say word, and was afraid to
smile, bcclusc | knew how rhastly | would
look Hero | have stood all dry, sort OF
Barquo's ghost ut tho reception, aud waud
have assisted 40 willingly; would ohecrtuly have
subnittci to being paWnod for funds enough
to have Cotton up barqlat. But Nc, every.
body was too busy to nutco me. Too hnsy
too busy !"
felt right sorry for tho fellow. and, to break
tho silence that followed his declaration, ro
marked:
Then you aro 40 adnirer OF Grant p
"Admi1cr2 Well. should smile. Why,
slept out on tho ground for years, eating hard
tack, wearing cid clothes, nod drinking mud
and water, just to be near him. Those woro
good old days. however, snd full of fun. You
SEQ Grant aud his boys would como down to
our quarters now and then, and VIC would got
up tho liTelicss entertainment you Cvor saw.
Sometimes fellows would get killed and wound
Cd, but that didn't mako any difference. We
were obliged to entertain him at any cost. My
own brother was maDgled, and they clrriod
him off to take care off him. lie never came
back, DOR did o lot Of the fellows thoy took care
of. learned afterwards that in tho rush and
excitement OF those old days they wcro allowed
to 20 without food too long, or experiments on
their particular cases failed, aud they peggcd
out. But that was nothing; and when atcl.
dentalIy our guests burned down house, run
| Ovpr child Or nfovoknh ouar oopa;t;,o
woman by harmless Joke, we passed it by, for
Grant is great man. Any man must be great
who can capture Lee.
There Was something cruel in tho fellows
language, 1t struck me, and | was SURPRISED
that one of the generals did not stop him. They,
however, appeared to be locked in dreamess
sleep, and spoke not. Tho Confed. continued
ut used to be said that the man who
whipped should treat. | never could upd,r-
stand that. Why should ho treat? Ho has
nothing to cxpeot-nothing to gain. 1t strikes
mo thut tho fellow that gets cleaned up should
treat, and tho faster he docs it the better. lilo
has everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Lois OF fellows treated to day on that prinsi-
| pie"
| | did not like the chuckle which acc ompanied
this remark. Ii mado tho joint of my back.
bouo ratio like string of buttons; | could not
collect my thoughts for 40 answer. but it was
all tho same; he appeared to be bont on doing
all the talking. lilo started cus in q reckless
tonc again:
81 want to get on sDrco tonight. would
give pretty just to como down off this DOS;
aud take 10 the town. | want 10 raise hi
ouoo moro, only once, aud this appears 10 be
| the correct season to do it,"
This aroused my Indignation. | spoke to him
sharply, moving off little, however. you
had botter stay where you arc. How would
you look on burl loaling over bars and calling
for strap hts and 'smashe5' or punching biz
IiaId-? You ought to be ashamed Of yourself"
| Yes, | know ii. krow," he replied little
sadly, but what's The uso Of my ataudipg? Why.
to day heard is|los say. lie. bggqnes be b.
Rones; hGrrah for Graut; the sooner We forget
tho better. My ctond IL u more. The boys
arc al! s.I>ep ond their bivontc ess never
be broken, pesc1 has COME Why DOT 10; tho
senlnel lie Gown and rest wheu mis- pregeuce
bat reminds YOU Of what is bygoue? am tired