The National tribune., 1896-10-15


work was 81, IA of whom were killed.
/ am unable to give the loss of th'
brigade in this campaign, but at th'
same ratio as quoted for our regiment
it would be 20 killed and 235 wounded
and missing, which do not think is fal
out Of the way.
THE OLD SOLDIERS STORY.
BY w BUTCHER
It's curious how old Satan gifts in feIer's heart,
And in everything that's wicked takes starring
actors part.
He starts out flying signals that wonderfully
good,
But first you know there's trouble all around the
neighborhoedi
When he gifts the right location inside your door
yard gate,
II isut long before he owns all adjoinin' real
he sets UP his housekeeping with independen.
air.
And If you're inconvenieneed he doesn't seem to
care,
But matches out family of ili-begotten things.
Who ask no introduction when they visit Queens
and Kings.
Swearing imp-. and glaring imps. and imps that
lie and cheat,
And rid5cule their victims when trirped clean off
their feet
Now. that is my experience. for rre had my level
fill;
TIL tel you of circumstance affectin' me and Bill
Bill Jones an old sciioolnate together
every day;
II was nip snd tuck in everything, which IN /
tother in our pay.
When CT jealous feein' caused Us both to
lag and shiES,
- hare ID vheee old ssaian gifts in his meanes,
work. &ssess sss-s
One day, what provoeetion don't remember now.
He kept on addin' insults when. don't know
edzactly how.
But, anyway, there laid Bill Jones a-sprawlin' in
the DUST
And, while il all seems vague TO me- L caleniafe
must
Have knocked him down or su,hin'.-we had no
special fght,-
When. .s,nggerin' to his feet he said: SAM that's
all right"
i knowed the way he said it, with p'ison on his
tongue
BE looked that mean and wicked as the words he
back'ards flung.
The speech want true edzactly but q sort of
causiic hint,
Like the Brtishers meant murder when you seen
'em pick their flint.
might have let him 60 away without givin' any
talk.
Bat then took the liberty to make a hasty balk
Aad SO / says insul,in' worse than when / struck
81 tie blow.
"Ef HASN'T AL right. you coward. T IA try and make
sol"
seer Bl Jones oneet after tina, drest up in soger
clothes.
Fer lac went into the army "to fight more worthy
foes
So he told 1t 10 neighbor, with anger in his sight
"Teil Sam that's what I'm meanin,, and I'll make
IL come all right"
Bill went away to fight the Northern soldiers
side;
couldns take things easy with such honors TO
divide
So after that listed too with sort Of sad regret
That hadn't made him eat his words the last
time that met
My hate kept growin' deeper. and 7 nussed ii
every day,
crossed my wayi
We'll when the war was ended hadn't very
much;
left leg al Mobile and brought way this crusch
I been peggin' round the country nigh onto thirty
years;
I'm old aud poor and lonely, as plainly ia appears
Well, tinsc that rleiiere apples and turns yer hair
togray
And flrrers mp and down yer face the lines that
TO stay,
Hxs WAY Of cllanpin' granite and rendn, !. apart
And IL softeDs some hard places ia q crippled soi-
diers heart,
There suthin' hangin round me that KEEP me
feelial' blue;
e you like TO hear tie se1cl don't mind a-telin
you
Thought ef could find Bill Jones and take him
by the hand,
And tell him oncet how mean / was-o well. you
You see, I've got to 60 some day through valley
dark and chill,
And Ilsoaslst how mnch I'd like ef ] could walk
along with Bill
So I'VE been s-Iookin' for him. as wander every.
where.
Amsng tbe homes fer soldiers, ef he CHANGED to
bsrbof there.
Last Spring when down to Rawins visited the
Post,
whea saw a stranger standin' that was Bill or
else his ghost;
came ap ciost beside him and touched him with
nay hand,
And. shore nongh. the same old fash and soldier.
like command.
put my hand in his'n, sayin'. IT guess tain, too
late
To forgive a soldier eomrade who has buried all
his hate;
iknowed you when seed you-why don't know
me. do you sayz
Aina this Bill Joaes who used to live down there
Oh Turner's Bay"
"So,@ says the feller. I'm Tom jones' had a
brother Bill,
Who lost his life. thirty years, down there at
Malvern Hin.
Your name you say, is Perkins-Sam-why. now
just recall
Vines brother Bill was wounded by that ugly
nlinseball
He said cf should you. just afore he died ths,
night.
Tell Sam mean ii siifrefent. and il's asl-aI-
right"
seLce then I'm feeln' better, there's q load took
of my breast,
And the settin sun grows brighter Il hssteus 10
the west;
Somewhere Bin Jones 10 waitin' by the gates of
hcayeniy light.
To give me n salutAtion. SAM it's allah
riglai"