Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-04-11
THE CoLONEL'S STORY.
A War Incident That Taught Him
a Lesson.

A War Incident That Taught Him
a Lesson.
"a man was with Solomon one day when
Axrael passed by the King In a visible shape.
Frightened by the look cast upon him by the
torriblo stranger he asked who he was; and
upon Soiomon's acquainung him that IL vas
the angel OF Death: He seems 70 want me-
said he, wherefore order the wind TO carry mo
hence 70 India Which, being done vs. angel
said 10 Solomon: 4 looked 30 earnestly at this
man out Of wonder, because was commanded
70 take his soul In India and found him with
thee In Palestine IA Legend from the Tai
mud.
In tho latter part Of the summer Of
1868 I went up into Northern Ohio, re-
cruiting. had heard OF a town where
quite a number Of young fellows we're
ready 10 enlist and thought might as
well have them az another. They came
Hooking in, as soon as tho news that
was In the place got out Fine, stall.
wart men, full OF enthusiasm, longing
10 lay down their lives for their coun-
try. Most OF them were unmarried,
with no home ties 70 break. but among
them was a man named jackson, much
older than the others. He was mar
ried. had several children and owned a
little farm not far from the center Of
the town.
Jackson" said /, as he presented
himself, 'you let this business alone.
There are plenty OF young fellows to
go to war, your place is with your
family"
The mans face fell, evidently he
was bound TO be a soldier 30, that
will be all right" he said. Owe can't
go without jackson, anyway" said
one OF the boys.
The neighbors are going TO have a
bee and get ia his crops" said an
other.
There didn't seem much good In my
objecting jackson passed a good ex-
animation, and was speedily enrolled
In Company X, --th Ohio. l confess
II worried me. hated to take that
man away from his family, and / sup
pose thought more about II than was
really worth my while.
Well, the day came when / must
take the boys away. had engaged
some wagons TO carry them a few
miles across the country, TO a point
whore we would strike the railroad.
AZ we would pass by Jackson's place
on our way. We agreed TO talxS AZ,
frennshera sSBAe6 w6 stopped Tor
him II was q bright. bcautiful morning
l remember, the children were hang
ing about the door. crying aud taking
on Ike a pack Of looms. Mrs. Jack
gon chung TO her husbands neck and
sobbed aloud, and when the babies
saw the wagons coming they caught
him by the legs and cried out that he
should not go. Some OF the neighbors,
half a dozen women or so, who had
como 10 see the thing through, after
the manner of neighbors in the rural
districts, fell to crying, too. and can
tell you II was an uncommonly un-
pleasant place 10 be in.
jackson made several attempts 10
get away, and each time the wife and
babies clung the closer and the crying
went on louder than ever Suddenly
he made break, ran across the gar
den, lcaped over the fence and into the
nearest wagon and was of without
final goodbye. The wife fell down. all
In heap, on the doorstep. the children
cried and shrieked, the friendly women
pressed up TO sympathize and console
while the band struck up a martial air
and the wagons moved on.
1 dismounted and tied my horse.
Somehow couldn't bear to 90 on
without word OF comfort TO that poor
woman. The children came crowding
around me 10 look at my UNIFORM and
one little white-haired chap hit me
with his chubby fist. calling me "a bad
man TO take his paw off,"
The women had gotten Mrs. jackson
into the house and presently one Of
them cane 10 the door and called
sharply TO the children TO ''Come away
and leave the gentleman alone" Now
was my time. i stepped up and ac-
costing the woman asked II could see
Mrs. jackson for moment She
''thought not, " she said, sourly. Mrs
jackson was in great trouble. She
would not feel like seeing strangers.
urged II a little; said thought she
would feel better IL she were to see
me, 80, finally, after much Whispering |
and consulting aud running in and out,
they concluded that might see Mrs.
jackson and l was ushered into her
prescace. She was In her bedroom,
sitting on the side OF her bed upon
which she had evidently been lying.
Her dress was much disordered, her
hair had fallen down and her fee was
red and swollen with weeping. took \
her hand. which was cold and limp,
and tried 10 say something to comfort
her. Sho turned her head away and
remained sullonly silent At last
sald. In kind OF desperation;
Mrs. jackson, promise you that
win bring your husband safely back
70 you. ] wiz make hin my especial
,harfe will watch over him and
protect hiia' He shall not 90 into bat
|e 1 win keep him out Of harms
way.
She looked az me now for the hrst
limo and seemed frlAe mollined
"lpail Ipfgek sha said, presently.
NNo radamo. win not forget "I
'ntfefsa ~ dc can not answer