The Cecil Whig., 1882-11-25
NOT IN THE RANKS.

The old army coat that used to 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 often cruel memories.
! The other day an Old man wearing a
coat of this kind, which reached to his
heels. stopped at cottage little way
out of town and asked leave to rest
awhile on the porch
" IN a bit tired" he said to the wo-
man who opened the door, Ian if you
| don't mind I'll sit hero and rest myself
| for spell.
"You're welcome,'' said the woman
| kindly. with a glance ut the martial blue
Then she left him alone, but after awhile
returned wit bowl of coffee and Il plate
of white biscuit.
" Eat she said. gently, II had a boy
who was soldier
. But m not a SO. .Gier," answered the
old man, u never was a soldier: my
| boy went to the war and was killed. He
seems like he's near me when have it
on. | gave him to his 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
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
"Gh. no." answered the old man,
checriiy: I've got Il sister, but shes
old and lame, and sue has a daughter
that is sickly and ailing. You see
have them to work for and they are a
| sight of comfort to me. Many's the
time I'd have broken down since Mary
died but for them poor critters. Mary
was my wife, ma am: she was II master
| hand to nuss sick folks, and she thought
after Tim died as it were her duty to 90
into the hospital service and nuss the
soldiers. and she died these sixteen years
ago: but she did a heap of good work
| first. Many soldier has kissed her
shadow on the wall. Mary, darlin', God
wanted We in the ranks up there. I've
often wished that | had been soldier.
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 pieces of old worn silver,
bnt the woman shook her head.
Put back your money. My boy was
G soldier" she said.
:" But am not soldier-well-well,
as he looked into her face. :" thank you
and take it for his sake
He wished good night to his kind en-
tertainer and turned away. As he walk
ed off, slow aud iimping, bent by infirm-
ity, the long skirt of his army overcoat
struck bright and blue against the splen-
| dor of the sunset: he shaded his eyes
with one trembling hand and looked
wistiully at the rose and amethyst door
that seemed to open in the west. What
saw he there :? 4 little, round shoulder
ed woman with small, homeIy face; a
lank, overgrown boy. with sparse red
hair. Aye, and of such as these are
the angels made, So, watching, he pass
ed down into the shadows and disappear
ed.
The woman at the gate looked after
him.
" No soldiera' she said gently, "but
| wonder if the boy who died on his first
battlefield ever fought as he has, or sac
rificed as much to his country? All the
soldiers didn't 90 into the war with fly
ing ilags and rolling drums. Some of
them stayed at home and fought harder
battles. I'm glad l gave him a bite and
a sup He is soldier. and "a brave one,
too, and one day he will know it,
And think she was right.