National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-17
A FITTING TOAST
To the Boys who Never Got HOme-An
Amusing Production.


At n recent camp fire, given by w. IT, Sargent
Post No. 20, q. A. r.. Of Janesvllle, Wisconsin,
Comrdde Thomas Y. Croft read letter Of regret
from one of tho invited guests, George NJ. Peck,
who was unable TO attend. II is an amusing pro-
duction. Says the writer 81 don't know what II
Is, but there is something in beans that makes
men sociablc aud reckless. Beware OF beans,
Tom, ms yon value your future happincs'. Look
not upon the bean when It Is baked and giveth It's
color in the PAN for Mt last It swelleth like Gu
cumber. But would like To be there, Thomas,
aud take the old soldiers by the hands and look
into the eyes that are becoming dim, and notice
the effect Of Father Times penclling on the face
of the boys who
TwENrY YEARS AGO
were full Of vitality and as kitteny as any man
that ever kept step TO the rafting of n canteen
against cartrdge.box. Boys, do You realize that
you growing old2 II Is hard to realize IL, but
Il another war were 70 break out your little baby
that you LEFT in mothers arms twenty years ago,
growing Mt the hand me down blue uniform III
which you are disguised, would be the chap the
government would want. Boys, you are rapidly
Becoming old back NUMBER Though you feel
young enough TO stub around home, you are ex-
empt' now Do you realize that the little baby
girl that chung to you as you suid goodbye twenty
WITH TEARS IN YOUR EYES
rs big MS glass paper weight, an editors dia-
mond pin, Is now u woman married, aud that
another baby is trying to utter the word grandpa,
when you come In putting on your youthful airs !?
IL is pleasant now TO chase the festive bean around
the home camp-flre:nnd talk of the nights when
you slept on the ground in pup tent, or on some
battle field when your wet and muddy pantnlOons
legs were frozen stiff rs dried Goldfish, while you
dream that every SUR that was looking down from
above was thc eye of dear one at home beckoning
you to Hold the Forl,' and hurry UP and get
through with the foOlishness aud come home.
YOU CAN LAUGH now
rs you think how you got up in the morning afer
such nights rest, looking as though you had
been drawn through q brush fence. You who are
lett have 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 hone that
the great congress above removed the dsabili-
ties Of the boys who Lett vacancies In their regi-
ments, ami that the
FEW CHICKENS THEY TOOK
In the way of business 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 PRESENT arms to them and
tell the boys TINT they are welcome TO the
best there u.s. aud that when we all get in
our work here, and arc ready to join
our regiment In Heaven that the fellows
that We buried years ago may stand on the para.
pet. MS we come struggling in and give us the old
| S lders' welcome with II three times three with
| a tiger. And we Shall say to them All right
mladcS, we should have been here before only
| we were detained by business PEEK.