The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-07-01
miscellaneous.
THE RAGGED SOLDIERS,
The bravest are the tendereSt-
The loving are the daring.
[Bayard Taylor.


Just at the close OF the war was seer
somewhere in a small town, a ragged
and forlorn looking soldier coming up
the dusty street. He looked round with
curious eyes-so at least thought Mr..
ToWne, who was walking behind him,
The latter was a stout farmer, dressed
in homemade brown linen trousers
without s%uspenders, vest or coat. The
ragged soldier stopped, and Mr.. Towne
overtaking him stopped also.
Home from the warp he asked.
Yes l have been a prisoner for years.
Can you tell me who lives in the next
house p
'Tompkins lives there. That farm and
house used to belong to a comrade of
yours, as l suppose. His name was
Jones but he was shot, and his widow
married again.
The soldier leaned against a tree.
What kind of a man is he? I mean,
what kind of people are they there p he
asked somewhat family, Would they
be likely to let a poor soldier have some
thing to eat?'
If Tompkins is out you'd be treated
frst-rate there. Mrs. Tompkins is a
nice woman, but he is a snarly cur, and
leads her a dogs life. She missed it mar.
rying that fellow, but she has had a
hard time oft with the farm when Jones
went off soldering and when my son
came back and said he was dead-he
saw him bleeding to death on the battle
feld-she broke right down, and this
Tompkins came along and got to work
for Ter, and he laid himself out to first.
rate
He somehow got on the blind side Of
all of us, and when he offered himself to
her l advised her to have him, and I'm
sorry I did it. You had better como
home with me I always have a bite for
any poor fellow that has fought for his
country
Thank you kindly returned the SOL
der but Mrs. Tompkins is a sort of old
acquaintance. 1 used to know her hus.
band, and l guess l will call there
MI. Towne watched him as be went
up to the door and knocked, and saw
that he was admitted by Mrs. Tompkins.
Then Mr.. Towne went home for supper,
and we will 60 in with the soldier.
Gould you give a poor soldier a
mouthful to eat?' he asked of the pale,
nervous woman who opened the door,
My husband does not allow me to
give anything to Travellers she said, but
l always feel for the soldiers coming
back, and I'll give you some supper if
you won't be long
I am glad to have you eat, and I wo'd
not hurry you for anything she said in
a frightened way, but you will eat
quickly, won't you, for l expect every
minute he will be imp
The man drew his chair to the table,
keeping his hat on his head, as though
he belonged to the Society of Friends,
but that could not be for Friends do not
60 to war.
He ate heartily Of the bread and but.
ter, and cold meat, and how long he was
about it!
Mrs. Tompkins fdgeted. "Dear me,
she said to herself, "if he only knew, he
wouldn't be 80 cruel as to let Tompkins
come in and catch him here She went
and looked from the window ~uneasily
but the soldier gave no token of his
meal coming to an end.
Now he is pouring vinegar on the
cold cabbage and potatoes. l can't ask
him to take those away in his hand.
Oh, dear! how slow he is! Hasn't he
any teeth?'
at last she said, mildly:
Il am very sorry to hurry you, sir, but
couldn't you let me spread some bread
and butter, and cut you some slices Of
meat to take with you? My husband
will use abusive language to you if he
fuds you here
Before the soldier could reply foot
steps were heard on the door nes and
Immediately a man entered. He stopped
short and looked at the soldier as savage
as a dog might look. Then he broke out
in a tone between a growl and a roar.
Hey, day, Molly, What have l told
you time and again. You had better
mind your master And you, you lazy,
thieving v%agabold, you clear out of my
house and off my lands
Your house and your landP exclaim-
ed the soldier, starting suddenly up,
erect and tall and dashing off his hal
with quite a fiery gesture. His eyes were
flashing lightning and his lips quivered
with indignation as he confronted the
astonished Tompkins. The latter was
evidently afraid of him, and his wife
had given a sudden nervous shrek
when the soldier first started to his feel
and flung off his hat, and had sunk trem'
bling and half fainting in a chair, for she
recognized him.
You have no business to interfere be-
tween mi and my wife, said Tompkins
sulkily, Cowed by the attitude o the sol
der.
Your wife, exclaimed the soldier
with the very concentration Of Contempt
expressed in his voice, and pointing al
him with an indignant finger.
Who are you? p asked Tompkins.
4 am Harry Jones, since you ask re-
piled the soldier, the owner of this lane
and this house, which you will lea We this
very hour. As for Molly sottening hi
tone as he turned to the woman, now
sobbing h~ysteriCally, "she shall choose
between u.s.
'OA, Harry sobbed she, while Temp
kins stood dumb with establishment
take me, save me-
With one step he vas at her side
holding her in his arms.
What do you mean, treating this poo
child so? Did you think because she haC
no earthly. protector there was not
God in heaven to take her part agains
your