The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-21
A TRUE STORY.
What the Writer and Others
Think 1t Shows.

iTile following story is better than most sto-
RIGS are because it is exactly true, excepting
ihe names given to the parties and places. The
gcntieman whom J have called General GLOW
O. has permitted me TO put it in writing that
1t may give the same courage TO other persons
which it has given to him and to mo- But at
his request. have changed every name in the
story from those which he gave me; and 1 as
sure the most curious reader or critic that he
WIZ find il impossible TO ascertain by any con-
leCture who are the parties described. No in
tident, however, in the story, is drawn in the
slightest degree from lima gination. l tell the
tale as 1t was told to me, and print it after it has
Tad The revision Of General Glover.'-E. E.
HALE."t
was riding across the country TO Duluth
JThcn my old friend General Glover came
sHto the palace car. We two were born at
very nearly the same time; we like each
a0tAer aud respect each other. We have
knocked about the world a good deal, and
do not meet each other as often as we wish
we did, but when we meet we begin where
we left off and enjoy the meeting At
least am sure do, and think he does.
AS soon as the first inquiries were passed
said TO him: IL want you to tell me AGAIN
your story of the letter you wrote to a
stranger. Al the time you told me l re-
F1eated it to my wife, and afterward to one
oc two other persons; but now l am afraid
TO Gell ii, it is so strange, and l am always
thinking that my Imagination has added
something to it."
General Glover looked al me with a sur
prise not wholly of amusement II
was quite clear to me that the story
was a serious matter TO him, as it was to
me; and he told it to me for the second
Lilac. | think it is four years ago since |
IL lie,
memory, as for his, that l should recognize
each slightest detail, as thing which had
impressed itself upon his careful mind, so
Faat this narrative was identcally the
same ss the first was 1t was as if you had
struck a second impression from stereo-
%ypc plate which you mao not used for four
Years.
Il was Sitting at my desk at Xeres," he
said, land working through my daily mail.
AT custom was to attend to the business of
the firm first, and to leave the personal
letters to be answered in the afternoon,
Et was now afternoon, and turned TO the SIX
or eight letters which had for answer.
Among these was one from a man for
whom l had secured place in the navy in
Gae outset Of the civil war. If you remem-
her, Twas then at the head of the Bunting
board, aud had a great deal to do With the
enlargement of the navy. Also, l was my
geSf connected with the service. l had
&ceu in service on the seaboard all my life,
AID knew, naturally enough, great many
sailors in the merchant marine. Hundreds
Of such men came to me, and it was with
Eny recommendation of them that they re-
ceiyed their places in that volunteer serv.
ice which was Of such infinite advantage to
Che country in the war. Among these
hundreds was good fellow who had been,
I should say, in the coasting trade; but
DO not remember what he had been. He
TaSted to serve the country, and, at my
recommendation, he was appointed, as
other men We're appointed, master s
mate. AS a masters mate he did his
duty,.rose to be master, afterward OBJ
GAINED lieutenant's commission, and so
went well-nigh through the war, until, by
aan accident-not, ] think, wound-he
was so far disabled that he could no longer
so 10 sea. did not know this at the time /;
ahere was no reason why should know it /;
ahad nothing to do with him and he had moth
sag TO do with me. He was to me no more
chan one post in this rail fence which we
are passing now is as distinct from another.
had signed the papers, suppose, during
ahs service, Of thousands of men who had
more or less to do with our Bunting Board,
aud this man, his name or his affairs, made
ao more impression upon me than the rest
% them did.
"But, among the letters of this particu-
FAR afternoon, as said was a letter from
ehis man. 1t was a gentlemanly letter,
short and to the point, in which he told me
ehat ho received his appointment on my
recommendation, that, after some years of
service, he had been obliged to cease going
10 sea, gu account Of the accident of which
speak. He now asked me if were willing
~ write to the head Of the Pension Bureau
70 ask that his claim might be examined
ind acted upon Immediately. He said that
s,csSher he nor his counsel had succeeded
VA obtaining any letters FROM the Pension