The record-union., 1896-05-17
THE SWORD OF ROBERT LEE
How the Generals War-Child Touched
All Hearts.
Falling Tears of Veterans That Spoke
Louder Than Any Applause
Could Have Done.

were old soldiers, and several of the
number had fought for the cause that
was lost Several meetings were held
by those old veterans, not for the pur-
pose of talking politics, but to count
noses and talk over old times.
At one of these meetings the talk
turned to the joys and sorrows of home
coming after the dispute had been set
tied Several of the vets had had their
inning before a rugged old fellow, who
had worn the gray and who resides in
one Of the southern counties, drew a
long breath and told the following:
TT is always the memory of the past
that breaks hearts. Sorrow never comes
to us all at once The romance of the
war has been told in the North, but the
tragedy remains to be told in the South.
Neither the death of our warriors nor
our final defeat ever appealed to the
senses so strongly as little incident L
propose to relate.
1T was a short time after the close
of the struggle, and l had gone back
to the old homestead. There, every
thing was desolate. Not a fence; not
an clubhouse. The old house still stood,
it is true, though it had been pierced in
many places by cannonballs. Not a live
thing was there; not even a mule. |
hung the old musket above the fireplace
and roamed disconsolate. Most of the
friends l had known had laid down their
lives on one Of the many battlefields of
the old State, and l felt pangs unknown
during the years 1 had marched and
cCuntermarched, helping to win the vic
tories, or sharing in the bitter defeats
of the South.
Near the field of Gaines Mill, where
had received by baptism of fire, the
old master taught his little school, just
as he had done in ante-bellum days
Everything except himself was changed.
The storm of war, the hopes, fears, tri-
umphs and final death-agony of a ma
tion had left him kindly, sympathetic
and patient, as he had been when he
taught to me the elementary principles
of mathematics. He had, during the first
two years, followed the fortunes of his
State, and then gave way for younger
men; but near the close, when the
death -grapple came, he once more an
swered the call, and was amongst Pick
ett's men when they were rolled up at
the Five Forks. i met him one day
when l was preparing to plant my to-
bacco crop He smiled as he asked
after my health, and then in his DID,
cherry manner, said:
My school closes tomorrow and nv
boys and girls will give closing exer-
cises as they did when you We're one of
them. One little fellow is a genius, and
while he assures me that he will recite.
he refuses to tell what the selection will
q 7 m
will you Gomez
Il readily consented, and for lack of
better wore my gray regimentaIs the
following day. But I was not alone
A dozen other uniforms were there.
from one of which had been torn the
insignia of a Brigader The force of
habit was too strong, and 1 sa-
luted as / approached. But it did not
count. The General stepped forward,
grasped my hand and said: Sit by
me- and 1 did. He was no longer my
General; he was my friend.
THE selections showed that the old
master had carefully coached his
charges. The parents and friends of the
pupils contributed generous applause.
until, at length, all were concluded ex-
cept only that of the little genius be-
fore referred to by the master. which
had been withheld for the conclusion.
Then his name was called, and from
the other side of the General a little
fellow, with long, f1axen curls and
wlde-set, big blue eyes, arose and tim
ldly glanced around him. He was half
afraid, and yet determined, and. before
stepping to the front, slipped his hand
into that Of his mother--the Generals
wife. But when he looked into the
eyes of his auditors, every trace of
pashfulness left him, and the big blue
eyes fairly blazed with excitement. He
was the Generals war baby.
Back went that little head. hack
were tossed those flaxen curls. and then.
for the first time in those parts. with
the clearness Of a bugle call. rang out
the words addressed to the whole
South by her warrior priest and poet.
Every eye was riveted to the blue. baby
eyes of their boy, and every ear caught
each word and infection of the fresh
young voice. 1t filled it's listeners with
memories and passion, and carried
them away on it's own avalanche. The
boy was half-through before the first
manifestation of life was shown. It
was d uIy, LdlI-StlIIeQ SOD from
woman on a back seat, who was dressee >
out in black.
Then the clarion, little voice dropped
into "a proud yet mournful tone, and
tears began to glisten in eyes long un-
known to tears. Next one little hand
flashed above the flaxen curls, the big
blue eyes were sent abroad as if de-
flying contradiction, and, sorrowfully.
though emphatic, the boy continued:
"'Out of its scabbard Never hand
Waved sword from stain as free
Nor purer sword led Drawer band
Nor Drawer bled for brighter land
Nor brighter land had cause so grand
Nor cause chief like Lee
Every woman was sobbing as if her
heart would break, and every head
surmounting gray uniform was bowed
low. The boy flushed as he concluded.
expecting a burst of applause. There
was none, and, averting his head, he
rushed into his mothers arms and gave
vent to his disappointment. He was too
young to understand his victory. He
had asked for cheers. He received
tears He had awoke the sympathies of
his audience as they had never been
stirred before; as the whole South was
being touched by Father Rvap'c MOS