The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-11-16
s'TE1E BOYS WHO NEVER
GOT ROME,

At a recent campfire, given by W.
H. Sargent post, No. 20, G. A. R., cf
Janesville, Wis, Comrade Thomas T.
Croft read a letter of regret from one
of the invited guests, George ".
Peck, who was unable to attend. It
is an amusing production. Says the
writer: I don't know what it is, but
there is something in beans that
makes uen sociable and reckless. Be-
ware of beaus, Tom, as you value
your future happiness. Lock not
upon the bean when it is baked and
giVeth its color in the pan, for at last
it swelleth like an ACCORDION 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
pencilings on the faces of the boys
who twenty years ago were full Of
vitality and as kitteny as any man
that ever kept step to the rafting of
a can.een against a csrtridge-box.
Boys, do you realize that you are
growing old? It is hard to realize it,
but if another war were to break out
your little baby that you left in its
mothers arms twenty years ago,
Growing at the 'band-me.down' blue
uniform in which you we're disguised,
would be the chap the government t
would want. Boys, you are rapidly
becoming 'old back numbers : though
you feel young enough to stub round
home, you are exempt now. Do
yon realize that the little baby girl
that cluug to you as you said good.
BY, twenty years ago, with tears in
your eyes ss big as glass paper
weight, or an editors diamond pin
is now a woman married, aod that
another baby is trying to utter the
word grandpa when you come in
putting on your youthful airs? 1t il
pleasant DOW to chase the festive bear
around the home camp fire and tall
of the nights when you slept on th L
ground in pup tent, or on some bat
| tle.6eld, with your vet and muddy
paptaloon legs frozen as stiff as :
dried Goldfish, while you dreamed tina
every star that was looking dowr
from above was the eye of a dear on
at home beckoDing you to Hold th'
Fort and hurry up and get through
with the foolishness and come home
You can laugh now as you think how
you got up in the uoruing after sucl
a nights rest, looking as though yol
had boen drawn through a brusl
fence. You who are left have righ
to be happy, but in the midst Of you
bean banquet let me ask you to ssau'
up with your tin cup of black coffee
and drink to The boys who never 60
bome,' the brave fellows who returnet
not to meet the loved ones they parte'
with twenty years ago Let US hop
that the great congress above ire
moved the disabilities of the boy
who left vacancies in their regiments
and that the few chickens they tool
in the way Of business from the enc
my will not be entered up agains
them on the Big Book, but that th
provost-guard on duty at the gate
of the New Jerusalem will 'presen
arms to them and tell the boys tha
when We all get in our work here, an
are ready to join our regiment il
Heaven, that the fellows buried year
ago may stand on the parapet as VI
come. struggling in, and give US th
old soldiers welcome with 'thre
times three with tiger. And "
shall say to them, all right, comrades
we should have been here before, or
" we were detained by business