Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-09
THE OLD REGIMENTALS.
BY l. MITCHELL.


known as the manor of White Plains,
An old and extensive tract Of farm land
in the State OF Maryland. The manor
house, as IL is called, however, was not
al the time In existence; part OF the
ground il covers was occupied by
plsiu old colonial farm house.
John Jackson, the brother-in-laW OF
Smith, lived at Pegs Hollow, a ten
acre lot about five miles distant on the
county road. John was a wheelright,
and had q shop at Pegs Hollow.
There was little love lost between the
two men, for Smith had bitterly OPP
posed his sisters union with Jackson,
affirming that 1t was poor match for
Mary.
II can't see that it is" replied her
father, a colonel in the late revolution.
John is virtuous, intelligent and in
dustrious youth oil good parentage. A
younger son, ii is true, but l was such
myself, ana had not your Uncle Sam
lost mis- life in the wars, l should have
been obliged TO begin at the bottom, as
John is doing. Let me hear no more Of
this nonsense"
And so be had cheerfully given John
and Mary his blessing and Pegg's Hol-
low, which had come through his wife,
along with il.
Moreover, he had passed the last few
years Of his life with them, and Sam
had conceived this 10 be an unfavorable
reflection upon himself and family. SO,
as | have said, there was little love lost
between Sam and John: none l may say
on the part OF Sam, though John, for
Mary's sake, eudeavored To keep the
peace.
One afternoon in April, being little
slack OF work, Jackson started over TO
see his brother-in-law about cow
which Mary desired TO purchase OF her
brother. 1t was beautiful day, and as
John sauntered along on foot he felt In
a good humor with himself and every
BODY else. He looked 10 the right and
left at the great fields rolling of all
around him and just beginning TO spring
in tender green; at the splendid belts
of timber, all in vigorous youth; at the
beautiful cattle grouped down in the
pasture land by the spring, but felt not
a spark of envy toward their fortunate
possessor, Samuel Smith. 1t was quite
usual here and In those days thata mans
Oldest son should inherit the family
lands Social standing was not TO any
appreciable degree influenced by the
bare possession of moneys worth, as all
classes lived in simple, homely style,
and all were more or less nearly con-
nected by blood or marriage. So John
neveS gave the question Of inequality
single thought. He would not even
permit his mind to dwell upon rumor
which had been current at the time OF
the old Coloners death-namely, that
the latter had left instructions with
Sam that Mary was 10 have a portion
In money. Nothing had been said by
sam respecting any such matter, and
John for his part had resolved to let 1t
rest so.
BY aud by he came to the meadow
field where Sam had put up a scare
crow, and, as he strolled along, he no.
ticed an old man had turned off the
road to examine this object, at that
time so familiar. As ne drew nearer it
struck him that this evident stranger
was COMFORTING himself rather oddly.
AT first the latter had appeared TO stare
at the eifigy in establishment, then he
had gone up TO 1t and taken hold OF
one Of the dangling sleeves OF the old
coat; finally he had lifted the same to
his lips, then dropped it slowly, and
now stood apparently lost in detected
thought. John FASTENED his steps, for
his curiosity was greatly excited; but
when he stood beside the singular old
man he found both his approach and
presence unremsrked by the latter who
stood wholly absorbed in his own re-
Elections.
My friend" spoke John, what is
the matter?"
The old man started nervously, hest
tated a few moments, as one collecting
his faculties, then briefly but tremul-
ously asked, do you know these Old
clotheS?"
"Weil, yes" replied John, looking at
them attentively for the first time,
they are the old regimentals of my
father-in-law, the late Colonel Smith. l
suppose Sam, his son, thought they were
past all use aud hung them out 30
brighten the crows"
"Datew exclaimed the stranger; so
the Colonel is dead!'
He bowed his head and leaned heavily
w his staff, which sunk deeply into the
soft soil.
And this" he continued, after an
interval, pointing to the scarecrow in
tremb bling Indignation, sis testimony
of tlial love and tribute to valorous
patriotism.?'
He drew his cane from the ground
and violently replanted it.
Man" he resumed with growing eX
element, Il was with the colonel al
White Plains; in that hour when the
hope OF the braveSt was low, ne was as
calm as the great Washington himself.
IF fall heard him say just before
the battle, 4 shall fail TO see that which
those who survive me will enjoy, ma
tional independence He was wounded
here on the sleeve is the stain Of
blood; the same bail grazed my side"
Here the old soldier paused and sub
sided into retrospective thought; then
the tears rushed TO his eyes, and point
ing once more at the figure, he fatered,
Look a. that"
Come" said John, don't take the
matter so TO heart No man stood
higher in this community than Col.
| Smith. Hundreds followed him to his
| grave-rich aud moor alike. His funeral
was military civic pageant. Sam,
too loved his faJuer; l don't believe ne
did this from want Of heart-maybe, in
deed, some OF the helpers did it without
his knowledge"
well" returned The other, "let IL
pass. IDstact, it is true l am somewhat
| overweight. l came all the way from
the far Southwest 10 visit the Colonel