The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-12-18

about nnd about and stay with our
married children. That's all that au
old man can Do ior comfort
THE OLD veteran vac nearing bio
four score sud vas still quito olive and
lively Tie followed old Joe Johnston
AN ihe way down from Ch.camanFa
aud had ntylf hoon over tho ground
since How Tho old mans Dyes bright.
euod as ] pointed out konneaaw
mountain, thoush be- said be marched
on The other siiei toward New Hope
church.
eve had a hard hght over thoro."
ho said. "aBd ve ovilastingly ealivated
EN-, az the boys said. We kept old
sherman powerful busy burying Of
his dead.
/ pointed out Lost mountain, aud
whom We reached the station that they
used to cell Big Shanty, Tire old man
stretched up another inch and point
ing bis trembling hand, saidsu"Kight
over there is The spring who're u used
10 an my old canteon. Yes. I would
be glad to stop long enough 20 walk
over there and take one moro drink Of
that water We licked them yankees
oil around here, bat there was too
many of 'em-too manv. They Just
come up out Of tho yearth ike ioeusts
in Egypt"
The old man was familiar with every
place we passed, and tailed fast and
eagerly. When be told me he was
from old Gwinnett and had q farm on
Yallor river, i was drawn closer 10
him and asked him about the Craigs
and Vaughans and tho old Moses Lid
deh place and Shoal creek and Mont
gomery's mill pond aud Fairview
church and the old manual labor
] school. The old man looked ct me
| again and again with q bewildered GU
riosity and finally ventured TO ask
what mout my name be.
"Did you know the Alexandera and
Stricklands and Nathan Hutchinsr'
said 1.
"Oh, ye5, knowed DR.. Alexander
and al his boys, and all the Strick-
lands from old Milza down, and
knowed the Hutchinses. leone down
to Atlanta with Fits Hutchins this
morning. He's our Judge, you know,
and he's a good friend of mine.
knowed al the boys. Clarence amt
fur from me.
"What mout your name be?" said
be.
odd you know an old man in Law
renceville named Asa Smith?" said I.
"Why, OF course I did everybody
knowed him. / traded in his store
for years. He moved away to Floyd
county just before the war. Did yor
ever live in Lawrenceville?"
''Do you remember a little dark
t skin, black-eyed girl who used to rid,
horseback up that road? She was Fit
Hutchins' sister"
"Why, of course / do. Everybod,
knew her. She used to so to the OLE
judges farm on the river, - mile
] from town and so alone, and she wen
in hurry aud come back with q ba.
( of apples or peaches hanging to tn
/ horn of her saddle. She married oil,
q Asa Smiths son, if I don'k mistake.
T. think Fitz told me that. 1 was think
? ing that maybe you we're him, bu
r then you are too old q men, I reckon.
2 "My friend" said /, "you forge
e that it has been over fifty years sine
Q you saw that little girl; yes, she j
a my wife and is not a little girl an
g more"
+ We'll, well, shore enuf," said he
t with melancholy tone; 81 do fol
git-Pm always forgittin'. An 20
q are old Asa's son. Well, well 1 use
to trade with you and your pc and til
Stricklands. Well, well; I am so gla
IS / come across you"
j. The whistles blowed and the be
rang and / gave the old man n war;
- shake of the hand and said, "Goot
10 by-God bless you. Bill ARP in a
If lanta Constitution.