Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-11-17
AK kEMllaIoCEAvLo
A WAR tPlaOpE.
i4e joyful Meesi z Vi an old Farms r and
li< ~,laier ~o,t.

The joyful Meesi Vi an old Farmer aae
iai> ~oiaier ION.
II the fall of 1865 | was instructed by
tile house for waich | was working 10
90 to the B. fair ami assist Il green
agent TO lit up AMI exhibit our ma.
chinery ! had served three years ana
got my discharge the fail before, and in
the spring secured an engagement with
a well-lnown agricultural implement
mandatory in an adjacent county.
/ found could reach B. the day |
received orders by topping at sta
ton four miles distant and getting Z
conveyance across: whereas, ii | went
all the way by rail | could not reach
there till next day But when / arrived
at this solitary station there was no
conveyance to be had, and / started
afoot. about two o'clock The day was
hot and the road dusty and by the time
had made two miles I was ready to
seek shade and rest. which found in
little grove surrounding a school
house.
While sitting on a log tanning my
self, and wishing for horse and buggy,
a farm wagon drawn by a team of
horses doomed up on the hill had just
climbed and descended. An old farmer
was driving, and beside him sat a little
boy. four or five years old. On rear
seat was the farmers wife and young
woman of perhaps twenty-five. The
farmer drew up his horses when oppo-
site to my perch and said:
Coin to town."
YES, sir" | replied.
Get in an ride"
lost no time i'm thanking him and
accepting. The farmer made room for
me on the front seat introduced my
self at once and made my business
known
did you say your name was Thaler?'
said the farmer
Yes, John c. Thaler," / replied.
WASN'T you orderly sargent in COM
pany ID. of the 2lst?"
Yes, sir. My time was out last fall.
Then you knowed my son. James
Grayes?s said the old man, in tremu-
lous tone.
! glanced at him. His face was SER
ious. His wife, who sat behind him,
looked at me with kind of strained
piteous expectancy, while the young
woman sat still. pale and with a resign
ed or hopeless look | shall never forget.
30. yes" said II knew him well.
He was brave and noble young man.
Has he returned?"
That's just it, said Mr.. Graves. "IIe
rc-enlisted, | suppose you know, and
last winter he was sent out on a forag-
ing expedition, and never returned"
Have you never heard from him
SINGER
Not a word The regiment came
home month ago, and no word from
him yet. The officers Thought he might
be captured by some guerrillas, and
would be released at the close Of the
war We've kept up in hopes that this
would prove true, but we've about given
up"
was about to reply encouragingly,
when horse and buggy containing
TWO men drove by in cloud of dnst.
lust caught glimpse of pale young
nan in the buggy and his face struck
ne as familiar, and he was in soldiers
lress.
Hold onr' shouted, and could SEE
hat the buggy stopped
Please wait a moment | said Il
want to speak to one Of those men.
| went back and found that the pale
'oung man was really James Graves.
N his way home from H.. need
lot describe the meeting Of father
mother, wife and son with one whom
hey had almost given an for dead 1t
vas one of the joyous episodes of the
among a thousand sad ones.
Two days later | visited the Graves
by invitation, and found
lappv family indeed james had been
Inder Gen. Thomas, after sherman lef.
or the sea, and in foraging expedition
lad been captured and held as prisoner
ntil the war closed, a few months
lter AT that time he was lying sick
With fever, and was not able to start
ONE. lie had written as soon as he !
fas able to sit up. but the postal serv- !
&c was badly demoralized and the let
err never reached its destination. James !
) still living on the old homestead. with
is wife and son and daughter The q
title boy who sat in the seat with me that
honorable day is successful merchant !
4 western city, and daughter is the 1
rife of prominent lawyer at the shire
own of his native county,. c Thaler r
! Ohio Farmer
MuRDEROtS WAp l.