The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1884-01-12
THE BAD BOY.
From PECK's SrN.

AN RfAA -
YOU a piece of advice" said the
grocery man to the bad boy, as the
youth entered the grocery oUe cold
morning. with an old veteran from
the Soldiers home. who went mp
to the coal stove and rubbed his
hands, and turning to the old vet
eran. the grocery mln added. NO,
sir, You can't have any plug tobac
co, unless Won have got the money
to plank right down on the coun-
ter, and ! rather Won wouldn't come
here to trade anyway, because YOU
look hard. and smell irowv. and
nv customers don't ike TO mlN mp
NTH YOU The old veteran
warmed his hands and went out,
with a tear in his eve, and the cro-
Gerry man took the bad boy in the
back end Of the store, and said.
''Iou want to let those old soldiers
clone. Your pa was in here Last
night, and he said he was ashamed
of YOU He said he and your ma
were out riding, and he saw you
walking up towards the Home. with
soldiers on each side of YOU, hold
ing on your arms, and vour pa
thinks they were drunk. Now. YOU
ought to be ashamed. Lei those
old soldiers alone. They aIe a bad
lot" and the grocery mar acted as
he had been the mems of saving
the boy from a terrible ta.e. The
boy was so mad he couldn't speak
for q minute. and then he said :"
~ GU and pa are Il pretty crowd
to 90 back on soldiers, amt You
How long is it since you were
humping yourself around this town
trying TO hire a substitute to 90 to
war for you. Then a soldier who
volunteered was the noblest work
of God, and you helped pass reso-
lutions to the effect that the coun-
try owed a debt of gratitude to
them hat could never be paid.
Every dollar that pa has got eX-
cept what he won playing poker.
before he reformed, he got out Of
soldiers, wnen lie was sutler of a
regiment. Every mouthful | eat
now Is the price of a soldiers wa
ges, who spent his money with pa
for brandy-pedchcs or sdrdincs.
Pa wasn't ashamed of soldiers then.
when they got drunk on brandy
peaches he sold to them. and at
that time a soldier would have
been welcome TO Il plug OF tobacco
out of your store, and now you
turn an old wounded veteran ont
doors because he hasn't got five cts.
TO buy Tobacco
''There, there" said the grocery
man, becoming ashamed OF him
self. "You don't understand
your pas situation. or mine, you
SEC
'.Ycs, i See" said the boy. II
see it all Just as plain as can bc,and
it is my turn 70 talk, and am 60
ing to talk. The time is pHsscd
when YOU need the soldier. When
YOU wanted him TO stand between
YOU and the bayonet5 OF the enemy.
he was a thoroughbred, and YOU
smiled when he came III the store,
and asked him to have 4 cigar,
When he WAS Woundcd lie hustled
around and got together sanitary
stores. such as |saurkrou, and play
ing cards. anG sent them to him by
the fastest express, and You urayod
tor him. and when he 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 re
membered, his children should be
cared for and educated, and all
that. Now he is old, his children
have died or grown up and gone
west, and you do not welcome him
any more. He comes in here on
his wooden leg and all you think
of is whether lie has got any of his
pension money left. His old eyes
r so weak he cannot see the
sneer with which YOU drafted pa
triot, who sent a substitute to war.
looks at him as he asks you for a
plug of tobacco and agrees to pay
YOU when he draws his next pen
sion, ond goes ont with a pain in
his great big heart such as YOU will
never feel unless You have some
Goldfish spoil on your hands. Bah
You patriots make me tired"
you are pretty hard on u.s."
and the grocery man acted hurt.
"The government paid the soldiers,
and gives them pensions, and all
that, and they ought to know bet
ter than to get drunk
''Paid Them said the hoy in