The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-17
General Sherman and the Lost Boy.

Last summer, when the Grand Army
of the Republic had their reunion in
Boston, a Connecticut boy enjoyed a
rare experience. Excursion trains
were run from all points, furnishing
transportation at greatly reduced rates;
so our boy determined to "see the
sights" He was fifteen years old, a
bright, Independent young fellow, and
his parents were not of the worrying
kind" so he started off with party of
his city people, though none of them
were special friends. | am not as
familiar with the details of his trip as
l should like to be, having heard the
story from his mother, and not wishing
to interrupt her at the time with ques-
tions. But since General Sherman's
death, feel that the little known will
be learned with pleasure, as another
instance of the kindly character of one
so loved by his friends, and admired by
those who knew him only by repute.
Our boy lost his friends, think,
soon after reaching Boston, and in
passing through a train of vestibuled
cars, he was accosted by a gentleman,
to whom he told his situation. The
gentleman said:
You can not find any one now, once
lost in Boston. You had better stay
with us, and we will take care of you.h
But the boy said he would get along
all right. Meantime other members of
the party began to talk to him and with
each other, and he heard some strange
names-strange, at least, to be adj
dressed to persons in his hearing. His
first questioner they called General
Sherman. Finally they quite insisted
that he should remain with them, and
they took him to the Vendome."
They called him the lost boy" and
adopted him pro tenlpore. President
Harrison was one of the number,
and gave the "lost boy" some me-
mento of the occasion when they
parted. But General Sherman took the
about his famous march to the sea-
what a treat for boy!-rehearse many
incidents of army life, and showed him
how they made whisk brooms to brush
their clothes with. He took stick and
splintered it and the "lost boy"
brought it home with him.
The general wanted him to ride in
the carriage with him in the procession :;
but our boy, who had keen sense of
humor, said, in relating the story, that
he must draw the line somewhere, -
and so refused to ride in the process
sion.
After two days, 1 think it was, at the
Vendome, the "lost boy" began to
talk about going home. General Sher-
man said:
"Oh, know what is the trouble
you think the money is playing out :;
but there is enough left to keep you
another day."
The boy realized he was having a
fine time, but not until he reached
home and told his friends his expert
ence had he any true conception of his
great privilege.
One gentleman said:
'' | would give thousand dollars to
have been in your shoes"
Before finishing this story ] want to
tell the boys who read this that the
lost boy" was little gentleman. If
he had not been, of course it is not
likely that he would have had such in.
terest taken in him, or such attention
shown him. He was a boy who had
read and studied, and could talk about
the civil war even with General Sher-
man. He knew how TO appear to ad
vantage in whatever situation he was
placed. His parents had given hin
wise instruction, and, what was better
he had needed it,
1t always pays for -" little men and
women" to make the most of their ad
vantages, for no one knows into whose
presence their next step may lead them
One boy, among his happiest recollec
tons, will ever cherish that story Of
{" the march to the sea-" as told him by
the brave, grand man and soldier whose
soul is now " marching on. VI. W. A.
IN Country Gentleman.