The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-08-21

5sSsSN$iBEM eringsand noble deeds
f$SsMN Illustrate the feeling Of
S'W\1l \ brotherhood among
fy&@g men; but it must be
conceded that there is
one of them whose members are
bound together by stronger and
dearer ties than are the members Of
any other fraternity. | refer to the
Grand Army Of the Republic. At a
G. A. r. campfire men meet who
shoulder to houlderhave more than
once faced the chances OF death on
the field of BATTLE, have end ured pri-
walton and defeat together, and to-
gether have cheered in the hour of
victory. Consequently they have a
mutual knowledge and mu tual feel
ing that men cannot have who have
moved entirely in thepaths of peace.
At recent campfire / heard a ro-
mantle story told by a gallant cap
tain who carried an empty sleeve.
His reputation as a story teller was
first class, and 'sthe boys knew that
he could tell some thing unco only
good. After the warm applause
that greeted him when he arose to
his feet had subsidized, he said:
81 shall not tell a funny story to-
night. But do not be disappointed.
/ have something better, something
new and uncommon, which, know
will interest you. tits pretty little
romance connected with G.. A. r..
button, such as the one / wear
(pointing to little button attach
ed to the lapel OF his coat, a we'll
known badge Of the Grand Army of
the Republic) ], such as some Of you
wear. L take the more pleasure in
relating the story because it con
spicuously illustrates the much good
of which human nature is capable,
in spite OF the talk Of cynics. 1t will
do my heart good to relate it, and,
[ trust, it will do your hearts good
to hear it..
1.-TWO years ago, while I was
journeying toward Chicago, / had
most interesting conversation
with a good hearted and social w est
ern man who sat beside me in the
smoker; and it was he who told me
the greater part Of what shall re-
late. He said that in his neighbour
hood there lived a certain Col. Fifer,
a veteran of the late war, who was a
millionaire. Although he had the
means to surround himself with every
comfort and every pleasure, he had
for several years lived in the plainest
manner, and had cared nothing for.
the gayeties of the world. But it
was not surprising that he lived as
he did, for fate had dealt him cruel
blows. In one year not only his wife
to whom he was most tenderly at
tached, but also two idolized chill
dren, a daughter sixteen years ofage
and a son twenty, were swept from
his side by death. At the age Of
fifty years he was left alone. The
chief object of his life had been
to promote the comfort and hap
piness of his family, and they we're
gone. he had his great riches, but
there was no one near and dear to
him with whom he could enjoy them.
Some men, visited by a similar mis-
fortune, would have yielded to des-
pondency, but he was a man too
much resolution and good sense to
allow himselfto become morbid and
to let his life 60 to waste. He en-
deavored to regain his cheerfulness
by engaging in business that made
it necessary for him to travel and to
new scenes. The result was that he
finally began to be like himself once
more; but there we're hours when he
could not help feeling sad and lonely.
One day, in the course Of his trav-
els, he visited a small Western city
for the purpose ofexamining the in
ducement toinvest in real estate. He
had been told that the location Of the
city was SO good and the railroad
facilities so excellent that it was des-
tined to become large place, and
that the land in it's outskirts must
rapidly rise in value. While he was
making his inquiries in the city he
CHANGED to see standing in the door
way Of grocery store q man who
hada pleasant, intelligent face. The
appearance OF the man impressed
him SO favorably that he obeyed q
sudden impulse to make his acquaint-
ance. Accordingly Col. + iferi intro uced
himself to the man, who proved to be
the proprietor of the store, and, find
ing him very polite and friendly soon
told him what his business was. The
man j oseph Decker was his name
said that, although he was not pc