The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-11-18


10 suffering ones Of earth.
800 IrssLgtrridn
In the Times of War.
During the late war there was Il
call made by the government for Il
certain number of ncn to serve nine.
IT, days. In the Iluosirr state, 50
near its busy capital you might
almost hear the shrill whistle of the
train us it steamed out of the Union
Depot going eastward, there dwelt Il
rising young man, six feet in height
and still growing, whose patriotic
soul fired with zeal. and he deter
mined to risk his life Us defender
of his country. Now, this young man
bore Il striking resemblance to II GER
tain someb1dy, ut present resident
of Washington. But we digrcss from
orr pathetic story. Suffice TO say the
tall Hoosier enlisted. One day he
came to the farm where his widowed
mother resided, having just returned
from the Capital. He uniolded Il
new and beautiful uniform, over
which his loving sisters and affections.
ate mother wept such tears rs are
ever shed on such occasions. Yet to
the hero they did not give the blue
the baptism which he imagined other
tears might. He therefore donned
the cloths us quickly rs might be. and,
emptying Il crock Of milk and forti.
flying himself with Il cold apple pie,
he turned his anxious feet toward the
station of 4, one mile distant.
to find certain, or rather, uncertain
young lady, who was to See him for
the last time until they met--well--
met in the same town again. AS he
did not propose Ia join the cavalry.
he undertook the feat of seeing Just
what Il member of the infantry could
accomplish Oh Il forced march of one
mile. All went well enough until
he reached II swollen stream the
Jordon he must pass ere he conld
hope To see the land of promise. As
he ncared the bank he remembered
that the only available bridge was the
one over which the ears passed, and
it was fully half IL mile down stream.
lie was already footsore with his
long march, and his rations had given
out. therefore hungry and weary.
The brayest soldier could not blame
him if he became discouraged. He
determined to build Il pontOOn bridge
across the roaring creek, and set
about il in earnest. 1t was now two
O'Clock in the afternoon, the sun was
scOrching hot. and the eXertion made
in the march was telling upon him.
No sooner did he bind u comfortable
bundle of driftedwOod into Il nucleus
for the rest to be attached to than the
waters would carry it quite out of
sight. AS help is sure to come when
least expected, so it was in this case.
An interesting lad of fourteen years,
who was riding powerful horse,
came to the ford 1T this moment.
He kindly offered the perspiring SOL
der free pass with himself on that
horse. Thanking the lad he sprang
up behind him, glad Of SO happy Il
termination to all his trials. Now
the middle of the stream was reached
when the horse took fright ut some
floating branches, stood on his hind
feet, and instantly the soldier was
undergoing a baptism for which he
had not bargained. But tried and
true To the last he waded out upon
the side farthest from his home. AS
he "feebly foaming' went mp the
bank, huge sycamore tree, hollow
us his hopes, caught his eye. Here
was n refuge, and into il he walked.
Here disrobing, he hung his uniform
upon the low spreading limbs of the
tree, trusting to the kindly sun to res
tore each garment to its normal con-
ditiOn. In his self-imposed exile he
began to grow somewhat philosophic
when the quick tramp of horse was
heard. TO our hero discovery was
feard more than the bullets which he
50 soon expected to face. a halt
was made by the trooper, and who's
in therer brought no response. The
horseman rode nearer and began to
investigate.-A moment later and an
inquest would have been held, as the
rider was physician, if not n corOn-
or. The young man now spoke from
the depth of his retreat acknowledge
ing that he was q soldier i'm undress
uniform. AS the physician was u
trusted friend he swOre eternal secre-
cy as to the personality, at least.
When the cloths were sufficiently dry
the member of the infantry proceeded
to visit his disolate mourning one,
and by the accident of having his
paper collar dissolved in the stream
saved il from being sail unused up
When he returned from the war with
all of himself except dangerous
wound in the back of his pants, he
rushed to hear the congratulations of
his girl, but found her married to
another "feller" who had red hair
with u bald spot on the top of his
head, and complete set of teeth all
double.
As the crushing of flowers but rem.
der their oders the more delightful,
so this severest of all trials, the pres
sare upon the affections. has length.
ened out this six foot soldier until he
stands above all his cOmpeers, physi'
cally, morally, politically and mental
ly.