Connecticut western news., 1896-05-21
OLD BEN'S MEMORIAL.
STORY OF A VETERAN WHO WAS NOT
 FORGOTTEN.


 A Sad and Lonely Heart Chesred by Kind Acts of Comrades-The Company saluted. Tokens of Good will-Honored Guest ns the Feast-The old Man's soliloquy.
 Morning.-"Oh,h here they oomel Here they comel Drums a-rollin, flies a-tootin, and there breaks the whole band into a great swell O music. We'll, they've got right; they'v got a righti
 You've sat here nigh an hour waitin fur 'em, haven't you, Old Benf An now here they come troopin along, the old mar tial swing In their steady tramp, an-oh, Lordl There's Old Glory jus as brave an true as ever. My, how she floats! HoOrayi Hooray!
 What would you do, Old Ben, without the comfort O talkip to yourselfp The dear Lord knows 'twould be hard lines If you couldn't get somethin consolin out O that. Some old vets would think 1t ruther tough bein reduced to havin just them selves fur company, but we're on tol'rable good terms with ourself, oh, old comrade? We've fought some pretty stiff battles to- gether since the war, that's fact,- but wo'v tried to have good courage and keep on the right side, an we threaten to pull through with a whole soul yet, eh, old boyp
 "Course things would "a been very differ ent If that bullet hadn't "a stopped at little Ben down there In the Wilderness long in '63. Young Ben he kep' close by Hooker all through till one day there come confu sion an dismay, an one U poor Jackson's S troopers sent somethin singh right at the heart O my Ben.
 "I say poor Jackson fur Lord knows class 'em all together now. And that's a good deal fur me to say-a good deal fur me to say. But b'lieve white souls with the holy name patriot on em went up to the throne O God out O northern ranks an southern ranks, an I've got an idee there's a grand Union O souls up there that no strife O men nor clash O arms can ever disrupt or disband-no strife O men nor clash O arms can ever disrupt or dis band-neyer.
 But little Benp Les see, he were 23 when that last mornin O all the world seemed to come. There ain't ever been a zeal bright, old fashioned sunshiny day since then; not one, has there now, Benr
 "Ah, this musiol It's got the same stirrin old ring that marched some O us through Georgia an along miles an miles
  only it's slower today, good deal slower, an-oh, Lord, againl Here comes Com p'ny H. My, how they step off An why, they re gettin upward O. 50, should say. Can't be young Ben would "a looked like that, can. itf Gettin real gray Is Comp'ny H, real gray. Lord bless em forevermorel They TO a good age to lean on little. Don't look like men to let sheir old fathers come to want as they go down toward the time for taps to sound. Ah, we'll, God Almighty's good. "Hahl Whats this? Why, see here, l old Ben, one O these comrades marchin oy must "a reonized you or else took you | fur some one be knew, fur here's little trim bouquet swung right into your lap as | you sit here on the burial lot steps. Now, | call that sweet.
 "Hah, againl Whats tbisa A big, | gen. 'rous package O. fine cutp That'll send some O your lonesome ruminations | off in soothin smoke, old Ben, an Lord | bless the giverl
 Well, what's got Comp'ny H2 Salutin, | every blessed mothers son O them! Get | up, old man. an salute back. Now they're burstin into a grave, hearty cheer. Oh, | Lordl l can't stand iti can'ti Where'I gof Where'll gof
 | ! it, though their gifts an their cheerin did me good-did me good. I'll like to think | Q 1t back in my room in the home tonight | They'll have to excuse my turnin my back | on 'em an rubbin my sleeve crost my eyes l but got notion they'll understand.
 "Now, here's somethin else one O then must "a threw me, Q cute little specimen | Q Old Glory with a silver lookin band al | a roll tucked in at the top. Get out you glasses, Old Ben, an les see what's printed here. Roll O Honor O Comp'ny H. Now, that's fne-fnel Somethin else t. examine an talk over when we're all alone What a help it'll be.
 "Gettin tired old mani We'll, it's 'bou time to go. Here comes a soldier hurryil this way. Wonder If he's lost anything He looks kinder eager. One O Comp'n, H again. I'd know that badge In king dom come. Eh, goin to have coffee and nice lunch at the armorye All the boy say I must comep We'll, that's a goo strong arm you offer an old man. Don see how can refuse, but I'll have to g slow, my boy-I'il have to go slow"
 Evening.-"Back in our room, at tn homo, Old Ben, all tired out, but please for all that, pleased and comforted to tn very marrow. It doesn't take so yer much to reach an old mans heart, doe lt2 I wouldn't "a b'lieved the oompn would "a stuck to its oolors all these year in the way O remembrance an loyalty fo d fallen comrade the way it has. Croppe out right royalty when they come on to tn poor old father sittin on forlorn, with onl himself fur 8 companion.
 What a cheer they raised, an how thei little gifts como fiyin spontaneous right z the old mani And Ut the table, Lort they'd "a given us the whole spread
 we could "a held 1.-the whole spread wouldn't they, Bens
 "Well, we've done our best all this lon while to keep our courage up-can't hel repeatin that. Mother, she didn't stan q it so very long. Bein woman, sf couldn't go out into the world an partl forget her sorrow tryin to engage in bus
 ness. An then, b'lieve there's somethi about a mother that loses her only ohil :. that's diff rent in some respects from ar '' other grief. Once her hearts broke thu
 way she's never quite herself again-neve ,t She may go roun the house smilin 8 i, tryin to interest herself In what's goin c an takin up bravely what comes in u
 way O duty, but there's @ room in h.
 deep heart that's filled with sacred pre-
 ence, an she lives there a good part O u ,f rest O her life.
 i. But there's somethin amazin draw
 an soul inspirin keeps comin over me ev'l
 time I think O that spry steppin soldi
 oomin back lookin fur meme, just as l 'bout concluded the day s parade was owe