The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-07-01
THE BOYS WHO NEVER GOT HOME.

At recent campfire, given by w.
II. Sargent Post, No. 20, G. A. R., of
GAINESVILLE, Wis, Comrade Thomas +.
Croft read letter OF regret from one Of
the invited guests, George M. Peck, who
was unable to attend. II is an amusing
production. Says the writer: '.I don't
know what it is, but there is something
in beans that makes men sociable and
reckless. Beware of beans, Tom, as you
value your future happiness. Look not
upon the bean when il is baked and
giveth its color in the pan, for at last IL
swelleth like an accordian and biteth
like cucumber. But | would like to
be there, Thomas, and take the old
soldiers by the hands and look into the
eyes that are becoming dim, and notice
the effect of Father Times penciling on
the face Of the boys who twenty years
ago were full of vitality and rs kitteny
as any man that ever kept step to the
rattling of a canteen against a cartridge
box. Boys, do you realize that you are
growing old9 II is hard to realize Il,
but If another war were TO break out
your little baby that you left in mothers
arms twenty years ago, Growing at the
"hand me down" blue uniform in which
you are disguised, would be the chap
the Government would want. Boys,
you are rapidly becoming "old back
numbers" though you feel young
enough TO stub round home, you are
exempt" now. Do you realize that
the little baby girl that clung to you as
you said goodbye twenty years ago,
with tears in your eyes as big as glass
paper weight, or an editors diamond
pin, is now a woman married, and that
another baby is trying to utter the word
grandpa" when you come in putting
on your youthful airs9 II is pleasant
now to chase the festive bean around
the home campfire and talk Of the
nights when you slept on the ground in
a pup tent, or on some battle field, with
your wet and muddy pantaloon legs
frozen stiff as dried Goldfish, while you
dream that every star that was looking
down from above was the eye OF dear
one at home beckoning you to "Hold
the Fort" and hurry up and get through
WIN tiC iOOllSuuGoS dll COlilC uOnlc.-
You can laugh now as you think how
you got up in the morning after such a
nights rest, looking as though you had
been drawn through 4 brush fence
You who are left have a right to be
happy, but in the midst Of your bean
banquet let me ask you to stand up with
your tin cup OF black coffee, and drink
to "The boys who never got home"
the brave fellows who returned not to
meet the loved ones they parted with
twenty years ago. Let US hope that the
great Congress above removed the dis
abilities" Of the boys who left vacancies
in their regiments, and that the few
chickens they took in the way of busi-
ness from the enemy will not be entered
up against them on the Big Book, but
that the provost guard on duty at the
gates OF the New Jerusalem will "pre.
sent arms" to them and tell the boys
that they are welcome to the best there
is, and that when we all get in our work
here, and are ready to join our regiment
in Heaven, that the fellows that We
buried years ago may stand on the par
apet as we come struggling in, and give
us the old soldiers welcome with a
"three times three" with tiger. And
we shall say to them, ''all right, CON-
rades we should have been here before,
only we were detained by business"