The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-01-22
The Had Boy.

veteran frod1 lie Soldiers Home who
went up TO The coal Sstove and rubbed
his hands, and turn,ng to the oil veter.
en-, the groces9 man sdded, mo, sir,
you can't have any plug tobacco, unless
you have got o. money to plank right
down on the counter, and l had rather
you wosldn't come here to trade any
way, because ron look hard, and smell
frovy, and M cuatomers don't like to
mix up with yorP
The old yetarsh warmed bis hands
and went out, Nth tear in his eve, and
the grocery took the bad boy in the
back cpd ot q t5fe safd said, g You
want to let those Old soldiefs aione.-
Your pa was in.here last night, and he
said he was ashamed sof you. He said
he and your ma we're out riding, and be
saw you walking up toward the Home,
with soldiers on cash side Of you, hold
ing on your arms, and your pa thinks
they were drunk. Now you ought to be
ashamed Let those old soldiers alone.
They are bad lot," and the grocery
man looked as though he bad been the
means of saving the boy from terrible
fate.
/ The boy was so mad he couldn't speak
for minute, and then he said: "You
and pa are pretty crowd to GO back on
soldiers, ain't you2 How long is it
since you were humping yourself around
this town trying to hire a substitute to
go to the war for yoaP Then soldier
who volunteered. was the nobIest work
of God, and you helped pass resolutions
to the effect that the country owed a
debt of gratitude to them that never
could be paid. Every dollar pa has got
except what he won playing poker be
fore he reformed, he got out OF soldiers,
when he was sutler 10 a regiment
Every mouthful eat now is the price
of soldiers wages, who spent his mon
ey for pas brandy. peaches and sardines
Pa wasn't ashamed OF soldiers then,
when they got drunk on brandy peaches
he sold to them, and at that time SOL
dier would have been welcome to plug
OF tobacco out Of your store, and now
you turn sn old wounded veteran out
doors because he hasn't got Ave cents
to buy tobacco"
There, there" said the grocery man,
becoming ashamed OF himself. "You
don't understand your pas situation, or
mine, you see"
"Yes, I see," said the bad boy, / see
1t all just as plain as can be, and it is nv !
turn to talk and I am gong to talk
The time is passed when you need the |
soldier. When you wanted him to stand |
between you and the bayonets OF the
enemy, he was thoroughbred, and you
smiled when be came in the store and
asked him 10 have cigar. When he
was wounded you hustled around and
got together sanitary stores, such as
sauerkraut, and playing cards, and sent
them TO him by the fastest express, and
you prayed for him, and when be had
whipped the enemy you welcomed him
home With open arms and said there was
nothing too good for him forever after.
he should always be remembered, his
children should be cared for and educa.
ed. and all that. Now he is old, his
children have died or grown up and gone
Vest, and you do not welcome him any
more. He comes in here on his wooden
eg and all you think of is whether be
las got any OF his pension money left. ,
His old eyes are SO weak he cannot see
he sneer with which you drafted pat- !, !,
lots, who sent substitutes to war, look
t him as he asks yol for plug OF to- !
'acco and agrees to pay you when he
raws his next pension. and he goes out
nth pain In bis great big heart such
9 you never feel unless you have some
od6sh spoil on your hands. Bah!-
.ou patriots make me tired"
"You are pretty hard on u.s." and the :
rocery man acted hurt. 1.-THE govern.
,ent paid the soldiers. and gives them T.
ensions, and all that, and they ought .
know better than to got drunk " o
"Paid then" said the bad boy indig-
antly, "What is four dollars q month, !
ension to q man who has lost his arm, !,
r who has bullet holes all over him : r
q trainsruns over mans LEG, the
abroad is 10 luck il it does not have to
ay ten thousand dollars. What does
le soldier getr He gets left half the
me. ! am opposed to, people getting !.
runk. but as long as pa and lots OF the :,
est people in town get drunk when they : :
'el like it, why is, lit worse for an old :
,ldier, who has no other way to have . :.
IN and feel rich, TO get drunk II you !
nd to live at the Soldiers Home, and : :
ork on tine road, and do farm work, = =
y your board, you would get full as q . :
bose when you came 10 town. Out. -
de OF the home grounds the old sol. >,
er feels free He looks at the bright :. :.
lnshine, inhales Gods free air, walks =, +,
bright towards town, and just as his .
d wound begins to ache, be sees beer
gn, and instead OF the words man that
born of woman is OF few days, and
II of woe,' coming to bis mind, he IA
inks of the words of the Constitution, vi
! men are born free and equal, endow. y
with certain inalienable rights, among NJ
,ich are life, liberty, and the pursuit IN
happiness and he goes in aud or by
!s q schooner of beer The saloon is II
E only place on Gods green earth hl
lere the old wounded veteran is free se
d equal, and he makes most OF it, mi
" can class me with barn burners, sh
d cruel sons OF rich peopla who have Co
hearts, but the smile of pleasure on
, face OF an old veteran when speak
IDLY to him, and the tear Of ioy that oil
mes from the broken heart and plows to
way down the burrows OF bis cheek thi
be searches in his pocket for red
ndapa handkerchief makes me feel as se,
,ugh ! owned . brewery" II,
"Say hold on Hennery," said the gro be
y man, as his eyes became dim th
'ou 60 out and call the soldier back th
tell him he Is friend OF mine. By iol
m, | never felt SO much like pirate vi
my life. You have learned me q les. wi
D. and shall be proud hereafter to uI
You kind to an old soldier. even II
is drunk, and il your pa says any mi
IRE about your bringing disgrace on M,
family by being seen with old SOL m
RS, will bit him in the ear and twit We
n OF being sutler in the army v" ul
''Well, that is all right" said the bad hs
y "a he atarted IN no Gprt d..,lr