Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1886-07-01
Written for the Ledger.
THE CAMPAIGN LIE.

In this time of excitement the huge
lie starts on it's mission,
and as itgoes it grows until it assumes
wonderful proportions--so much so
That its father disowns it in its infancy,
saying unto himself lit has somewhat
the appearance OF my child, but too
big for me to own, and l dare not
father it; wont do it," l am remind
ed in this of a little story that came
out in paper called the Golden Circle
during our late ''unpleasantness."
1t was usual in those days, after
battle, for both contestants to tell how
many were killed and wounded, and,
il were true, the pest fighting men OF
the South and the armies of the North |
would have been annihilated, for
there wouldn't have been men, women
and children enough to represent the
numbers. Then, if l remember cor
reetly, the author of this story said
to himself, 1T is somewhat exaggerat-
ed" like this:
An old soldier had served about
forty years in the service of king,
and at last for some trivial offence
had been courtmartialed and dis
missed. For a time he lived in a
small village On the border of the
kingdom, in disgrace and poverty.
Had dream one night and the next
morning rose early, bade bis friends
farewell, land said he was going to the
seat of government to see the king
and put in plea for pension, vim
dlcate his honor as faithful soldier,
or die at the gibbet. The first man
he saw on the way was on the road
side, pulling up large oak trees. He
stood amazed at the herculean
strength of the man, and asked him
what he was doing. "Oh, just gath
ering an armful Of wood for my
poor mother" He said to the strong
man, take your load of wood to
your mother, then come and go with
me; l have great place for you i'll
the world. l am O soldier in the
kings royal army Ceiling his griev-
anees.) Then the man pulled up six
of the largest oaks, threw them in a
pile, took few hickory saplings and
twisted them into withs, bound the
bundle of trees, shouldered them
and walked up to the house, laid
the load at the door, then returned
to the road, breaking down trees like
a cyclone on the way, saying, Il think
that will make plenty of wood for
mother till we get back A short
distance from there they met third
party-a kind of idiot, in that coun'
try known as the Regulator. The
old soldier asked why he wore bis
hat on the side of his head. ''To reg.
ulate the seasons" was the reply
"You see now we have fine weather
everything is putting on the lovely
garments of spring, and by to-mor
$40 Ioro I'll xuo "hof
l adjust my hat perpendicular w
have the coldest of weather. II
, convince the old soldier and hi
friend he changed his hat slightly
when the whole atmosphere was chill
ed, and the old soldier began shiver
, ing. "That will do; give us mill
, weather again. And instantly
was done. "Wonderful mani" sal
the soldier. "Will you join me an
my friend I have great mission fo
you to perform in the world that wi
1 rebound to glory, riches, honor an
fame to yourself and to US. Their
as usual, the old soldier told his stor
> and this Regulator joined the part,
These three iourneyed few mile
i when they saw man sitting on th
roadside, with surgeons instrument
: and in the act of amputatine one {
his legs. My friend,' said the ol
e soldier, sswhat is the matter! Al
you going to inflict on yourself SON
: great bodily harm? Who are yo'
and what is your occupation!"
II am known in this part Of the kin;
e, down as the Runner, and foot-raciI
is my occupation. can run fast
d than the wind, and have had son
a narrow escapes from killing myse
Ie of late, besides / can't get anoth
et bet, and l was just going to take C
IS this limb to hold myself down wi
IN the average runner. It's safer al
~ better, you know" Then to show b
Is activity he walked on with the par
III to an open field, when he jumped Il
III fence and run one-half mile and r
peat in 3 IA seconds, the old soldi
timing him. Wonderful man! The
y after the usual explanation on Il
b. mart of the old soldier, and acquair
ing him with the other parties,
willingly joined them. The TO
started on their way toward t
capitol. When near a prairie sor
three miles in width, they came |
r. with man having a long rifle al
was just in the act of shooting
e. something in the prairie. "What q
al you going to shoot, my friend" IS
ne the old soldier. 20, nothing; 1 "
he just drawing bead on a fy's Il
eye. You see that old elm!' "Wh
that tree across the prairie yonder
;os "Yes." "Why, that's two or tn,
:. miles from here.'' 'Yes, about th
N I