The National tribune., 1886-08-19
AGENTS WANTED.
ANOTHER POSTUM.
How SOlIier AnsIed for His Discharge

HOW u soidteT At-ttN iDf MS discharge.
To THE EDITOR: The little sketch in THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE of July %, headed " He
Played Postum" reminds me OF an incident
which happened-if my memory serves meat
Hampton Hospital. Va, in the Summer of 1864
A member of an Indiana regiment was brought
to the ward very sick. In the course of a fort
night his body regained its health and vigor,
but his mind had become almost perfect
blank. Young, strong and handsome his un-
fortunate condition won the sympathy Of every
one in the ward.
Day after day he repaired to the side of an
old barrel sunk in the ground and half full of
water, and with a cane for fishing pole. bit
of cord for line, and a bent pin for a hook,
would sit all day long fishing
Id was so pitiful to see how patiently and
earnestly he tried to catch the fish in that bar
REL Never looking up or speaking a word to
any one, staying there through sun and rain,
unless when kindly led away to his cot by the
nurse or some other cOmrade he passed week
after week engaged in fishing. The Surgeons
examined him and found his mind completely
gone, and decided he would never again be fit
for any occupation or place but in an insane
asylum.
Sometimes when his hook would catch in the
side of the barrel and he thought he had bite
it was wonderful to see his countenance light
up, aud with childish joy he would tug away
at it until his line broke, but vain were his
efforts To mend it again, and he would patiently
try to put its ends together again, until some
eomrade passing by would kindly mend it for
him. And then the same silent, patient wait
ing for another bite would last for hours. To-
wards night the nurse would come out, wind
up his line for him, and gently lead him back
into the ward. He never refused to 90 where
he was led or take what was given him. food,
drink or medicine, but always with that down
east, pitiiGl look that Oftentimes brought the
tears 10 his comrades eyes.
1t was hard to see strong man. once so full
of life and hope and courage. now almost a
helpless, imbecile wreck. All reason, all life's
occupations and pleasures gone forever, except
the one little comfort of fishing by the side of
that old barrel. Finally his papers were made
out, his relatives notified and his father came
from the far West to take him home. The
heart-broken grief of the old man when he saw
the pitiful object that was once his brave and
handsome boy was painful to witness. There
was no glad look of recognition on the poor
boys part. His comrades went to work to dress
him and pack up bis little belongings Every
one seemed to be glad that be was at last going
home, where, perhaps amid the scenes of his
boyhOod, his gift OF reason might be restored
to him again. Instinctively he grasped his
little fishing rod and was led away out of camp
to the ambulance, taking no notice whatever of
his comrades gOod-bys. etc, but slowly unreel-
ing his line he stopped beside the road, turned
to the crowd of comrades who had gathered to
see him OF, and. holding his discharge papers
in one hand, while with the other he managed
his hook and line, he exclaimed, Boys, this is
just what I've been fishing for" and before they
could recover from their astOnishment he eaped
into the ambulance and was gone.-GEo. II.
ALLEN, 4th Il. l., Providence, r. I.