The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-23
rne rALk or A snlRT.
lGeneral aenry K. Oliver, ia lid Bits

lNcacru taonty N. OuVeH, in ttd 1ttsst
 Governor Andrew, always mindful of the individual soldier, as well as of the soldiers of the state in the aggregate, ar ranged, with 6tting legislation. a method by which the pay of those soldiers who so desired could reach their families at home with certainty and without cost, and by which the pay of those soldiers who 90 desired could oe received into the state treasury as loan on interest, till called tor by themselves. These last would generally be single men, The plan worked well. Its details were, that the United States paymas,ers should mAks out. at times of paying-oh, sepArale rolls for Massachusetts men who desired as above, and transmit them, with the needed funds, to the state treasurer that the latter should, on another set of rolls, classify the men according to the towns to which they severally belonged, and then transmit these rolls. with the needed funds, to the treasurers of such towns i; these treasurers, in their turn, to make payment to the several families con- cerned, There was not little ot gear within gear, but all worked well, with a single exception, and he was soon re- lieved from further duty. We'll, one day not long after the battle of Winch .ster October Io. IS6+), there came into the office a pale, emaciaied, lame and limp ing soldier, just discharged as an invalid. Slowly approaching the counter at which Treasurer Oliver happened to be stand. ing, he said: ' am [name forgotten, say] John Jones, on my way home from the front, discharged for disability, and have lost all my papers, or they have been stolen. But sent some money by the United States paymasseT, to be kep. for me here till l called for it. 1t xas ify-6ve dollars. and should like to take it." Treasurer O.: "To what town do you belong, and to what regiment and what company2' Soldier: "l belong to -, and -th regiment company -" Treasurer O: "Mr. Wilder (,o the clerk charge of that ma,ter) please look up the case" Mir. w.: "Yes. sir, there are fifty.6ve dollars to the credit of John Jones, and two dollars and seventy-fve cents interest-a total of fifty-seven dol lars and seventy-6ve cents." Soldier !; "Yes I'll take it." Treasurer O. But are you the right man We must be sure of that before paying out any money" Soldier: "Yes, sir l am John Jones that sent the money here" Treas. urer O.: But we must, in some way, have you identified. Do you know any body in Boston for whom VIC can send, |, while you rest here and have a lunch ?" Soldier: "No, sir; l know nobody in Boston, nor near here." Treasurer O.: We'll, have you any paper about you, any bill, any envelope, any letter, with your name on it?' Soldier: "No, sir nothing, nothingr' Treasurer 0 : "Have you marked handkerchiefT Soldier l; "l have a handkerchief, but it is not marked" On this he dsplayeda ragged bandanna that looked like "a battle-torn banner, all rent and worn." Treasurer O.: Have you no mark on your coat, or vest, or on your trousers 2" Soldier :: {" No, sir none." Matters began now to look bad for the man, and he to look unhappy, the many clerks in the office listening to see how things would turn out. The mans story appeared right, and the treasurer evidently was in sym pathy with him. A brief pause ensued, when, as if impelled by new thought, Treasurer 0. asked: Look here, my friend, is your shirt marked?' Lighting up with sudden joy, the man shouted: "Yes. sir! it is!' and pulling the ragged end from his waistband, there stood the mark, John Jones'" with name Of his town, in clear feminine hand. "Pay him, MT. Clerk pay him" said the treasurer
 "''Tis confirmation strong
 As proofs of holy writ.'h