The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-10-21
General Sherman and the Lost Boy.

AZ Ine tlfne Wnen the Grand Army
Of the Republic held their reunion in
Boston. Connecticut boy enjoyed a
rAle experience. Excursion traius ran
from all points, furnishing Transports
ii n 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
| should like to be, having heard the
story from his mother, and not wishing
to interrupt her at the time with ques-
tons. But since General Sherman's
death, l feel that the little known will
be learned with pleasure, as another
instance of the kindly character of one
81 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 train of vestibuled cars, he
was accosted by gentleman, to whom
he told his situation. Then the gentle
man said:
"You cannot find any one now, once
lost in Boston. You had better stay
with US, and we will take care of you"
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
addressed 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 tempore. President Harris On
was one of the number, and gave the
"lost boy" some memento of the oc-
casion when they parted. But Gen
eral Sherman took the most interest in
him. He told him all about his famous
march to the sea--what treat for a
boy!-rehearsed many incidents OF
army life, and showed him how they
made whisk brooms to brush their
clothes with. He took a stick and
sp,intered 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 has a
keen sense of humor, said, in relating
the story, that he must draw the line
somewhere" and so refused to ride in
the procession. After two days, l
think it was, at the Vendome, the
lost boy " began to talk about going
home. General Sherman said:
"Oh, know what is the trouble
you think the money is playing out I;
out 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 !:
81 would give a thousand dollars to
have been in your Shoes" Before
finishing this story l 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 an inter
est taken in him, or such attention
read and studied, and could talk about
the civil war even with General Sher-
man. He knew how TO appear to adj
vantage in whatever situation he was
placed. His parents had given him
wise instruction, and, what was better,
he had needed it. 1t always pays for
little men and women" to make the
most of their advantages, for no one
knows into whose presence their next
step may lead them. One boy, among
his happiest recollections, 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. "-EGchange.