The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-15
A BOY HERO.
An Incident at tie Nebraska G.I.R. Eneampmeut.
---- IErcIlnnnr1

lRrohange.l
In the shade Of the grand stand at the En-
campment in Grand Island stood half dozen
aged warriors. The sands Of life Of sOmo had
nearly run, and others showed in CHASTITY faces
the effects OF neradieable disease contracted in
the swamps aHd prison-pens of the South.
Suddenly there stood in their midst m
elderly lady, tail and stately. with pale face
and nervousness which was readily noticed
even by the veterans. The light had almost
vanished from her eyes and what seemed pre-
maturely gray hair set of a set of features
which, in other days, had unquestiOnably been
beautiful.
Addressing the eldest hero in the gathering,
in feeble voice. the lady said:
"NhCro is my sOn?"
Thus aec0sted, tho soldier looked at the
woman but did not speak There was some
thing in the latters features which caused him
TO stare in establishment at them. The eyes
seemed 10 be looking at him. yet beyond him
and away out toward the green fields and shady
woods near the Soldiers Home.
. She Is asking you where her son is ;" said
comrade To the man addressed, suppOsing the
latter had not heard what the woman had said
TO him.
What is your sons manner" inquired the
soldier first addressed.
Eddie, little Eddie, I want him 70 90 to
school"
" Eddie who? What is his other manor"
Eddie; that's all. Don't you know Eddie /?
He's n drummer. He says he will 90 10 the
war because his father was soldier and gave
him q drum"
Where is his fatherP"
=" II Is father died many years ago, and Eddie
can't leave me alone in the world"
Those old men looked sharply at tho woman
and then at one another. These looks betrayed
the fact that ell Of the veterans suspected some
thing was wrong.
!" How old is EddioP' inquired the eldest
veteran.
lie is II. but he is tall and handsome
like his fathor, aud he is almost as big as a mau
See read this"
without looking at the instrument or even
at the soldier addressed, she extended her
hand. IN which WAS a letter and on which
Elistened valuable diamond in n very old set
ting.
The old veteran shook his head. 81 haysu't
read bit OF writing since left the hospital a.
Corinth. Rebel powder did that" As he
spoke tears slowly trickled from his eyes and
sympathetic tears started in those of the sur
rounding comrades as the old man handed tho
cracked aud figured paper to the youngest man
in the group.
The writing has almost been efTaced. and it
was only by still younger eyes that its purpOrt
could be ascertained. IL was dated /" Cairo
III, August, 1862" aud was addressed to
AAtHAs NalAlHnF lsuNtli, 1ldS& Inc words
were few aud the meaning unmistalCable.
" Tell Mrs. Harvey that Eddie died like hero
We buried him with a soldiers hOnors. Will
write particulars"
This letter told the story. The mother,
widow, was wandering in her mind. She did
not believe her son to deal She imagined
That the Reunion was the mastering in Of some
regiment.' and that her Eddie was about to
start for the war. aud that she could dissuade
him from his purpose by her eutreaty and her
fears. As this fact dawned upon the minds
ol the veterans. several Of them turned away
aud wept
Tho tell-tale document was returned 10 the
woman, and one Of the veterans said:
No, mann. We do not know where little
Eddie is, but he is not here. If that letter
speaks just true. | expect we'll all find him in
heaven"
The woman received the letter from the
trembling hands Of tho soldier, and mechani-
cally turned away.
She continued to make inquiries for the little
boy who was filing heros grave. only to find
everywhere sympathetic aud sOTrOWful answers
IN the negative.
Finally the attention Of n couple of ladies'
Of the Woman's Relief Corps was directed 70
the poor woman. They kindly took her in
charge.
Later IL was ascertained that for years the
lady has been wandering in her mind, and
that no year passes that sh0 does not visit
spule soldiers Reunion in search Of little Eddie
one veteran said ihat he had seen her eight
wears ago an Hastings. and another that he
had met her IL yoaH ago in Dayton. The poor
woman was finally cscprted % the CITY. where
she was placed upon the train Tor Omaha
having shown the address in that city Of a
prominent family 10 which she desired to DO
directed.