The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-04
NOT in the Ranks.


The OLD army OvercOat that used
to be such familiar sight on our
streets, is one of the rarest now in-
deed il is so seldom seen that we in
voluntarily 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 down to
his heels, stopped at a cottage little
ways out of town. and asked leave
to rest awhile on the porch.
Ppm a bit tired" he said to the
woman who opened the door, IAN if
you don't mind I'll sit here and rest
myself a spell"
YOU'RE welcome" she said with
a glance at the martial blue. Then
she left him alone, but after a little
returned with bowl of coffee and a
plate of white biscuit.
Eat" she said gently; 81 had a
boy who was soldier"
"But Pm not a soldier" answered
the old man. Il never was a soldier !;
my boy went To the war and was
was killed. He was all | had, too.
This coat was his; 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 old dad. No; | never was a
soldier.
The woman went in and brought
out some cake, and the Whitest honey,
and added it to the coffee and bis
cult,
Are you alone in the world ?" She
asked.
"Oh, no." answered the old man,
cheerfuIIy; "I've got a sister, but
she's oid and lame, and she has a
daughter that's sickly and ailing.
You see, | have them to work for,
and They've sight ul comfort to me,
Many'S the time I'd have broke down
since Mary died, but lur them poor
critters. Mary WAS my wife, ma am;
SHE was II master hand to nuo- sick
folks, and she thought after Tim died
a. il were her duty to 90 into the
hu pltal SCI \ ice, and help t0nuoS the
soldiers, AMI she died there sixteen
years ago, bu' she did d heap "fgood
work first. Many a soldier has kiss
ed her shadow N the wall! Mary,
darlin', God wanted you in the ranks
up there! Pve 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, but the woman shook
her head.
put back your money. My boy
was "A soldier" she said.
But I'm not a soldier-Well-
WELL" as he looked her in the face.
81 thank you and take i: for his
sake !"
He wished goodnight to his kind
entertainer and turned away. AS
he walked off slow and limping, bent
by intirmity, the long .Txirt of his
army Overcoat struck bright and
blue against the splendor of the sun
set; he shaded his eyes with one
trembling hand and looked Wistfully
at the rose amethyst door that seem.
ed to open in the west. What saw
he there? A little round shouldered
woman with small homely face a
lank overgrown boy with sparse red
hair. Aye! and of such as these are
angels made! So watching, ne pass
ed down into the shadows and dis
appeared.
The woman at the gate looked after
him.
mo. soldier >" she said gently.
"but | wonder if the boy who died
on his first battle field ever fought as
he has, or sacrificed as much to his
country? All the soldiers didn't 90
into the war with flying flags and
rolling drums some of them stayed
at home and fought harder battles.
Pm glad gave him bite and sup
He Is soldier and Il brave one, too.
and one day he will know it !"
And | think she was right.-Free
Press.