, 1885-07-04

iOriginai.1
Old Buckley Shelton lived in arugged dis
trict OF Northern Arkansas. He fought dur
lug tho war of 1872, having enlisted in q
Tenacssee regiment. He was a peculiar old
fellow, and his long whit hair, his soidierly
bearing and his enthusiastic de~clamations
were known to every child in the neighbor-
hood. Old Shelton beat a drum at the bat
tic of New Orleans. He took the drum home
with him, and ever afterward, no matter
how often he cha1gel his residence, he
would walk behind the wagon and carry the
drum. He would not allow any one to
touch it, AMI h. himself would not even tap
it except on the Fourth of July. Then,
DIRE sc in his faded uniform, hs would march
throughout the settlement" beating what
he termed ''the e~xultant roll of liberty. ~
When the war Of the rebellion came Shelton
refused to fight against the old flag.
Gentlemen, y said he, when a party of his
neighbors asked him to bent his drum during
a Confederate mu tes, III General Jackson
him elf should arise from the dead aud ask
mo to beat my old drum for the cause which
you have taken up l would tell him to shake
of his dishonor and then lie down again in
his grave OF g.ors, but / would not beat the
drum
'Od man, you are crazy" said Nat Wiki
erson. "You ought to be proud OF the honor
of being called upon"
II woull rather be crazy and be. right than
be san and be wrong
.'Say, II you won't beat the drum, lend 1t
to us"
mo, sir
Suppose we take itfu
well, men, you are my n~eighbors and 1
like you, but the first man that puts his
hands On that drum will, in two minutes, be
us dead as Pnckingham. That drum Is mine.
When the war was over | asked General
jackson IL | might take it homs. What did
hs do. He graspsd my hand and sah:
Buckley, he always called me Buckley
the drum il yours. Take It and beat it
whenever our nations birthday rolls round
Then Ireplied: 'Andrsw,'-I always called
him Andrew because he insisted upon it.
said ], Andrew, l will take it, l did so,
and by the eternal you can't get it,"
The neighbers smiled at the old mans ex-
cusable egotism, and, none OF them desiring
to be as dead as buckingham, but preferring
rather to lead a drumles existence, shock
hands with Jack;on's friend and retired.
During the war, while a regiment of Fed
eral soldiers were encamped in Skeletons
neighborhood. the commander, one morning,
was startled By the roll OF a drum. Think
ing he wa about to be attacked, he formed
bis men in order Of battle and awaited the
coming of the enemy. The colonel had
never seen an engagement and could not
help but tetray anxiety as the
drum came nearer I'M nearer. Pres
emily, from behind a great rock that
jutted gu. into the road, there appeared
an old man, walking with martial tread.
bis long hair streamed out like the fiutter OF
a white scarf. Around his body he wore an
old flag. The soldiers began to laugh, and
the colonel, relieved Of his anxiety, Joined in
the merriment. When within a few rods Of
the colonel, the old man stopped and salutsd
tha soldiers.
What do You mean by this untimsly
~paradef' asked the colonel, advancing.
Il am discharging my duty, sir"
as il your duty to alarm a campfi
at is my duty to beat this drum the
Fourth Of every July, it makes no difference
who is alarmed. Ny name Is Blu Idey Shell
ton, sir, and ! am obeying General Jack
sons orders.n
What Jackson-Stonewallfi
mo. sir, my friend Andrew"
why, old man, your friend is dead"
YES, but am not
Just then a well KNOW Union man came
along. Seeing Shelton, he related the old
fellows history.
''old patriot" said the colonel, spend the
day with US. When you are tired OF calling
the roll that thrilled the British put your
drum in my tent and l will place a guard
around it,
The Fourth Of last July | attended a.
barbecue in the northern part Of Arkan.
sas. Several noted speakers were present,
and thousands OF people had assembled.
Just as one Of The speakers arose TO address
the crowd the roll OF a drum was heard.
Then there went up a mighty shout had
heard OF Shelton, and / eagerly looked In
the direction whence came the aexultant
roll of hbsrty.n Presently he appeared, his
white hair waving above the crest OF a hill
lie wore the faded uniform and an old flag
was wound about his shoulders, His tread
was still martial, though he tottered as he
walked.
Uncle Buckley II shouted one OF tho
speakers come and take a scat on the
stand
Nor he replied, waving his drumsticks
with q majestic flourish, my duty is here
among the cotton bales where l can sec thsr
British. General, The day shall be ours
When you want Buedey's blood, call for it."
He sat down by a tres. When the
speaking had concluded, there was q Wild
rush for tho Inner table.
Come, Mr.. Shelton aid the master OF
ceremonies, approaching the drummer,
'dinner Is ready. COME, y coaching the
ystegan's shoulder, you shall have a dis
~tinguisbsd place, Good Lord gentlemen,
the old man is dead Orm r. PKAp
LITTLE Rock, Ark, July L 20 f