Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1882-11-18
Not in the Ranks.

be such familiar sight on our streets
is one of the rarest now; indeed it is so
seldom seen that we involuntarilY turn
and gaze after it, as something that
brings sad and cruel memories. The
other day an old man wearing a coat
of this kind, which reached to his heels,
stopped at a cottage little way out Of
town and asked leave to rest a while
on the porch.
"Tm a bit tired" he said to the
woman who opened the door, "and if
you don't mind I'll sit here and rest
myself SPELL"
"You're welcome" said the woman,
kindly, with glance at the martial
blue. Then left him alone, but after
little returned with bowl of coffee
and plate of white biscuit.
Eat" she said gently; II had
boy who was a soldier"
"But Pm not a soldier" answered
the old man. IL never was a soldier;
my boy went to the war and was
killed. He was all | had, too. This
coat was his; seems like he's near me
when ! have it on. ! gave him to this
country the handsomest and bravest
boy he was, too, in the whole regiment.
God bless him. He did his duty, died
on the field, and this coat was all that
came back to his poor old dad. No: |
never was soldier
The woman went in and brought
out some cake, and the whitest honey
and added it to the coffee and biscuit.
"Are you alone in the world?" she
asked
ooh, no." answered the old man,
cheerfully; "Ive got sister, but she
is old and lame, and she has daughter
that is sickly and ailing. You see, l
= have them TO work for, and they are a
sight of comfort for me. Many times
I'd have broke down since Mary died
but for them two critters. Mary was
my wife mama she was master hand
to nuss sick folks, and she thought
after Tim died as it were her duty to
go into the hospitle service and nuss
the soldiers, and she died these sixteen
years ago, but she did a heap of good
first. Many soldier has kissed her
shadow on the wall! Mary darlin'
God wanted you in the ranks up there
I've often wished that / had been a sol
dier, if only to be fit for the little
mother and Tim; but | never was"
He drank the coffee, ate the good
food thankfully and offered to pay for
it with some boarded peices Of old worn
silver, but the woman shook her head
"Put back your money. My boy was
a soldier" she said
"But am not soldier-well-
well, " as he looked her in the face
4 thank you and | take it for his sake !!
He wished goodnight to his kind en-
tertaner and turned away. As h,
walked off slow and limping, bent b,
infrmity, the long skirt of his army
overcoat struck bright and blue agains
the splendor of the sunset: he shaded
his eyes with one trembling hand anC
looked wistfully at the rose and anne
& thyst door that seemed to open in thu
west. What saw he there? A little
round-shou woman with small
homely face lank, overgrown boy
with sparse, red hair. Aye! and o
such as these are angels made s.
watching, he passed down into thu
shadows and disappeared.
The woman at the gate looked aftel
him.
mo soldier!" she said, gently, "bu
wonder if the boy who died on hi
first battlefield ever fought as he has
or sacrificed as much to his country
All the soldiers didn't 60 into the wa
with flying flags and rolling drums
some of them stayed at home ant
fought harder battles. I'm glad
gave him bite and a sup! He is
soldier and brave one, too, and one
day he will know i'll"
And | think she was right.-De
hOt Free Press.