Fair play., 1881-01-29
Old Lion.

There was a crowd of men seated on
the steps of the Custom House ye>ter-
dav, talking about the wars of the
country, and about the time they Inen-
toned the battles Of Bucna Vista and
Monterey an old veteran. "whO fit
in 40" and who had 4 plum culored
nose and look about him which plsin-
" told that he could out-Iic light
ning-rOd man, got up. and brushing
the dust from the seat OF his pants.
said: well. it kinder amuSes me.
then again ii makes me feel sad when
| read the history OF the Mexican war.
aud see the alI-iircd lies them history
fellows tell. They speak OF the old
army officers jest as intimate ike a
they'd slept together and scratched
each others backs. Ill just be c>sen-
tally gol darncd if Ia have my name
stuck in an old history. cause my
comrads who fit with me know what
| did. but il raises my dander when
these here history chaps git I" talking
about what WAS done when they wern't
thar. and YOU coul,!n'; have pulled EN-
thar with Il woke of Arkansas >ieer-,
neither. Why, at M"niercv-hi>tor!
speaks about Monterey. What was
Monterey? Merciy Il little skirmish.
which didn't amount to 4 bar-IoOin
row. | recolirct Monterey. ! was
thar and commanded tine Kentucky
Volunteers. 800 of the hrarcSt boys
from the Bluegrass District. and they
used to call me Old Lion Why? Not
because | was Drawer than any one
else. but because they loved me. Dang
il. they used to try ami keep me from
the front, but | couldn't leave EN-
when knew they were liable 10 he
cleaned out. Nv place was thar and
+. thar staid. At Monterey Gen. Tay.
lor ordered Us ill., We'll. sir. YOU jc>!
ou@hter seed them boys how they lii
in To the "reasers and took two forts
and 5000 prisoners fore You could
wink your eve. But only did what
was their duty. What's the Use al
loafing around Dragging about what
Won did. and irving I" sneak vonr
name into history? Dang :; man.
say. who will de- il. lis true | got
shot four times while lcadin" the right
wing over the parapet. bu, yen don't
see me hanYin" arouud asking for a
pension. Not much.
The crowd gazcd Il; Kim silently.
and. after rcacliin" down fora fresh
chew of tobacco. liz continued: Il
rccollcct ut Bucna Vista -aI on my
horse with my left !eg rc-'in" on the
pommcl. IL pi-iol-wonnd i'll il i.adn I
healed. and Gen. fa lor WAS standing
al my side. ,aiHiu" jas! a. calmly As
/ if no ti"hi w"rs .so.n:c on. tOni"iIn'i
il. his cuolnc>S under FIRE discounted
an ice bill. \ bG!iy! came w.listling
alon~ and struck his horse in !ht
shoulder. cau-in. the animal To rcai
and plunge forward with n snort -,
pain. Zach-I always called Him Zach
turned to me - III never forget hi'
h wori>-and said: Major. those ID
e ,grca>ers are shooting pretty close
: and we had better ret down Al tli,
Il time | was bu>ilv engaged -uryo VIM
h III, fight through my .ield-"ia>>. an,
e Zaca. seeing that didn't move. Said
: Major. You're the most Obstinate an'
4 reckl,>S old war-hor~c ever met. bu
' | ncver had time 10 hear the rest. rs
:. ordered the volunteers 70 waltz int,
' the fight. When the victory had hcCi
II gained | rode up to old Zach. and h
had one Of those pleasant smile on hi
) ia ia.e-darued if ever saw a man wli'
/. could throw more soul into his smile
= and all he said was: Major. i CUES
/. YOU had better wear this. and he hel,
II out Il >word-the very one he wore Il
Il Monterey. P>haw. what does then
n history fellows know about thcSr
things. Id like 10 know" And III,
: old veteran limre,i down the stree
|. with proud air of disgust and lcf
, the crowd TO wonder if they could lii
= that way when they cot old and la,