The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-12-31
The OLD soLbl{R's NEW YEARS,

-
"Thank GodW said the car driver, earn
estly, as the great church bell, three or
four blocks away, struck the midnight
hour on New Years Ave., ..
what forf" asked the passenger who
stood muff1ed up. oM tho front platform,
putting at shor Hipe. There had been
no conversation, anil the drivers pious
ejaculation seemed Ahaye startled him.
The driver looked Iaround, doubtfully.
It seemed as If be wanted to speak, and
yet hesitated TO talk Ito Ia stranger The
other smoked on in siknde.
"It always makes mel glad" said the
driver after u long pu5e, when another
year goes by. dom now but what I'd
fight as hard as the ngt Anan for my life If
I had to. It's natura, r suppose. Every
body hates the notiot OF dying when it
comes to the pinch} but after all it's
mighty comforting I'll know that you've
got one less year O. thA to go through"
Then he stopped, and the passenger wait
ed a little. Finding ths driver had stopped
he said between puffs, "Don't find it worth
while, eh?" ...E.. s....-
eyes, 1 do" retorted tie driver half an
grily. T don't rightly know how to ex
plain it, but maybe you'll know what |
mean if you were in ltb army Did y
ever 90 through big Hatle'" 81.
The passenger nodded and the driver
continued: "WeH, therl, 'raps you've felt
like you'd be glad wheI twas over. You
warn't afraid exactly, YOU, thought II
was worth while to kee n fghtin' under
orders, and you had no ught o. runnin',
but all the time you c>t thinkin' how
hard it was and how yot ated to keep on
And when you noticed now the sun was
goin' down in the AFTERNOON you thought
how pleasant 'twould !, to wrap yourself
up in your old blanket and lie down on
the ground and sleep aid dream about the
folks at home"
Another nod and another pause.
Things is a good deal like that with
me-" continued the dr yer, in q voice that
was not exactly sad, aid yet had no ring
Of hope or gladness int. "I'm q drivin'
up and down this bless ,told road thirteen
hours day, and nin' just enough
money to keep tn old han and me from
bein' hungry or cold. Iere don't seem to
be anything in it, doesRtrei And yet 1t
Is worth while IN one Wy aln't exactly
religious You would think was to
hear me cuss sometin ;but I learned In
the army that nothii siVes feller 30
much satisfaction as hd bSomebody else
that's in trouble, and come to be a
sort o. religion with m uH jog along,
getting what satisfact plean out Of 1t
all, but desperate tired ] whole bust
ness. az
"And when look aro land see other
men it's like the army a. The officers
get more pay and better lions and better
clothes, and some of q :ide horseback.
instead o. carryin' spsack and gun;
but after all they're jdoin' about the
same work, and there's tbghty few of 'em
that would be missed puch If they was
killed. -...
"Of course, there vi IA time when
didn't feel that way. mt natural for q
young man to feel the 81 ne as an old fel-
low like me, and W as spirited and
lively as any o. the ot7 r boys. but I've
had my day.
"I Is'pose man feels d srent, too, when
he's got children Of bid 3sYn CROWN up
around him. Me and r5id woman are
all there Is left now, and Ye hain't neither
of us goin' to. last much longer. I'd be
sorry to 60 and leave her i'll thought she'd
have much longer to wait before we'd be
all together again, but l kiow she'd foller
me pretty soon If it comd my time, and,
stranger, have powerful longin' once in
q while to see my boy an girl again.
don't think that's cowardce, is it' You
know an old soldier would hate to be q
coward. no matter what might come to
him We've all got to stay under orders
as long as the Command,r-in-chief wants
us, an Pm willin' to say here and peg
away the best I know as long as he says.
All the same I'll be gAd enough when
my time comes. !;
"As said, it's the Children, after al,
that makes all the diffeence. If you've
ever had children Of your own, stranger,
and known what it was ttlose 'em"-
The driver looked arotnd, but all he
saw was his passenger Jumping off the car.
DAVID A CURTIa