Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-01-25
A TRUE STORY.
What the Writer and Others
Think It Shows.

tThe following story Is better than most sto-
ries are because it Is exactly true, excepting
me names given to the parties and places. The
gentleman whom have called General Glow
er"has permitted me to put it in writing, that
it may give the same courage to other persons
which It has given to him and to me. But, ut
bis request have changed every name in the
story from those which he gave me; and I as
sure the most curious reader or critic that he
will find it impossible to ascertain by any con-
lecture who are the parties described. No in
cident, however, in the story, is drawn in the
slightest degree from Imagination. tell the
tale as it was told to me- and print it after it has
had the revision of General Glovor"-E. E.
HALE" II q s.E - H
was riding across the country to Duluth
when my old friend General Glover came
into the palace car. We two were born at
very nearly the same time; we like each
other and respect each other. We have
knocked about the world good deal, and
do not meet each other as often as we wish
we did, but when we NEE, we begin where
we left of and enjoy the meeting. At
leastI am sure do, and think he does.
AS soon as the first inquiries were passed
said to him: II want you to tell me AGAIN
your story of the letter you wrote to
stranger. At the time you told me re-
peated it to my wife, and afterward to one
to tell it, il is SO strange, and am always
thinking that my imagination has added
something to it,"
General Glover looked at me with sur
prise not wholly of amusement. It
was quite clear to mo that the story
was serious matter 10 him. as it was to
me; and he told it to me for the second
time. think it is four years ago since
heard it first, and it speaks as we'll for my
memory, as for his, that should recognize
each slightest detail. as a thing which had
impressed itself upon his careful mind, so
that this narrative was identically the
same as the first was. It was as if you had
struck second impression from stereo-
type plate which you had not used for four
years.
81 was sitting at my desk at Xeres," he
said, land working through my daily mail
My custom was to attend to the business of
the firm first, and to leave the personal
letters to be answered in the afternoon,
1t was now afternoon, and turned to the SIX
Or eight letters which had for answer.
Among these was one from man for
whom had secured a place in the navy in
the outset Of the civil war. II you remem-
Der, was then at the head Of the Bunting
Board, and had great deal to do with the
enlargement of the navy. Also, was my.
self connected with the service. l had
been in service on the seaboard all my life,
and knew, naturally enough, great many
sailors in the merchant marine. Hundreds
Of such men came to me, and it was with
my recommendation of them that they re-
ceived their places in that volunteer serv-
ice which was OF such infinite advantage to
The country in the war. Among these
hundreds was good fellow who had been,
[ should say, In the coasting trade; but
do not remember what he had been. He
wanted. to serve the country. and, at my
recommendation, he was appointed, as
other men were appointed, masters
mate. AS q masters mate he did his
duty, rose to be q master, afterward OBJ
tanned = lieutenant's commission, and so
went well-nigh through the war, until, by
an accident-not, ] think, = wound-he
was so far disabled that he could no longer
go to sea. did not know this at the time;
there was no reasoA why should know it;
Ihad nothing to do with him and he had moth
ing to do with me- He was to me no more
than one post in this rail fence which. we
are passing now is as distinct from an other.
I had signed the papers, / suppose, during
the service, of thousands OF men who had
more or less to do with our Bunting Board,
and this man, his name or his affairs, made
no more impression upon me than the rest
Of them did. i.
4 "But, among the letters Of this particu-
lar afternoon, as said, was letter from
this man. It was q gentlemanly letter,
short and to the point, in which he told me
that he received his appointment on my
recommendation, that, after some years of
service, he had been obliged to cease going
to sea, On account of the accident Of which
speak. He now asked me if were willing
to write to the head Of the Pension Bureau
to ask that his clam might be examined
and acted upon Immediately. He said that
neither he nor his counsel had succeeded
in obtaining any letters from the Pension