The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-31
REGRETS.
Peck, of the Milwaukee Sun, in n Charac-
teristic Letter.


teristic Letter.
At recent campfire given W. II. Sargent
Post, No. 20, q. A. r.. of Janesyille Wis
Comrade Thomas I. Croft read the following
letter of regrets from one of the invited
guests who was unable to attend. Though
written in humorous vein, there is yet a
pathos in the sentiments expressed. that can
but touch the heart of every soldier of twenty
years ago:
ToNUEL CROFT, EsQ.-My Beautiful Dreamer:
Your invitation to me 10 be present at Your bean
yi0us engagement will prevent me from taking
you by the hand on that occasion. and leading
you through green pastures and beside still
in the country? | am not a hog, Tom. / know
when got enough beans. That last painful OF
beans a. the Milwaukee campfire fixed me, and
don't know what IL is, but there is something in
beans that makes men socisbe and reckless
Beware Of beans. Tom, as You value your future
baked and gveth It's color in the pau for at last il
swelleth ike an aecordeon and biteth like ci:-
cumber.
But would like to be thers, Thomas, and take
the old soldiers by the hand and look into the
eyes that are becoming dim and notice the effect
boys who, twenty years sg1, were full OF vitality
anQ as kltteny as any man that ever kept step to
the rafting of canteens against a cartridge box
Boys, 90 you realize that you are setting ola ?
When you enlisied. twenty years ago, the Gov
ern3ent was glad TO welcome you TO the ranks:
but If you should go TO recruiting officer to-day
he would cay: "Ay friend. you too old I"
You feel ike kicking the recruiting officer. but
ne would be right. You could not stand the
marching. the lying under fences sleepisg in the
mud and living ON army rations- IL is hard 10
realize IL, but If another war was to preak out
your little baby that you left in his mothers
arms twenty years ago. croning al the blue uni
forms in which you were disguised, would be the
chap the Government would want.
Boys, you are rapidly becoming old back num-
bers," though you feel young enough 70 stub
realize that the little baby girl that chung to you
as you said g00dbye twenty years ago. with Tears
In your eyes as big as glass paper weight or an
editors diamond, Is now a woman. married and
that another baby Is trying TO utter the word
grandpa" when you come in putting on youth
ul airs?
1t 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
aloons legs frozen stiff as a dried ced FISH,
while you dreamed that every star that Was look
ing down from above was the eye of dear one at
hurry up and get through with the confounded
foolishness anu come home. You can laugh now
asyou think how you got up in the morning afier
such a nights rest looking though you had
been drawn through n brush feuee, and swearing
because the niger was afraid To come up with
the camp-kettle Of coffee; You who are LETT have
a right 70 be happy; but in the midst of your bean
banquet let me ask you 10 sand up with your
III tin cgP rns of nbss black coffee and drink
Home" the brave fellows who never returned TO
the loved ones they parted from twenty years ago.
Let US hope that the great Congress above ''re-
moved the disabilities" of the boys who left va
eaneies In their regiments, and that the few
chickens they took from the enemy by way of
business will not be entered up against them in
tho Big Book. but thai the provost guard on duty
at the gates of the New Jerusalem will present
arms" 70 them and tell the boys they are well
come 10 the best there is; and tnst when we all
get In our work hera and are ready 10 join our
regiment in Heaven, the fellows that were buried