The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
4 OF THE WAR.
Story or an Old Man who Was In the Con.
redernte Lines Mt GettyHburE.

rederntc Lines Mt GettyHburE.
"Hcrn's TO Major McKinley's very good
health" said the jolly clubman, rs he raised
his glass to his lips. A half dozen other jolly
clnbmen followed suit thirsttly.
You fellows still celebrating, and tho.eloc-
ton moro than n week old. too?' asked an
eighth man. as he Joined the group. still
talking about-the returns. | suppose, and
prosperity, and all such good thingsY"
NO" said the man who had offered tho
toast, I'VE are only drinking every thirty min
utes by the clock to the returns and to Major
Mckinley and to prosperity, but we are talk
ing about heroism and heroes"
Looks to me as II you might bunch the
three and 40 your drinking to them in a lump,
say every fifteen minutes"
The late conner was evidently short on
drinks, but the crowd was not TO he moved out
OF the even tenor OF its way.
Every half hours the rule this afternoon"
explained the POSTMASTER. Every man OF us
has told of some deed OF herolsm that has come
under his personal observation. One told OF n
man whom he saw throw himself into II swift
current to save q child that had fallen over
board; another. of u woman who went to state
prison to keep her guilty brother from going
there. and two others of men who had rushed
into burning buildings and willingly given
N'Sa ' " nuNC lliC 4 NOth - W.
that l saw in battle. So you see. we've had
heroes OF food and fame and shot and shell.
Now. who is the greatest hero that you ever
ran across, and what kind of stuff was he
made Off"
II don't know his name.'' said tho eighth
man.. locking UP at the sky through his empty
glass, but l do know that he was made OF tho
very best stuff that a hero IS made of. ! met
him Just after the battle ot Gettysburg, before
we uOt me AlnnEp INF m ln m 4 nil ave
Somehow | found myself with a slight flesh
wound over In, the Confedetate lines Just at
wounded were lying all about me. suddenly
heard somebody near me cry out Justify:
Go it,. boys; 20 it! Give tho Ianks plenty
Of ammunition
u looked around. and TO my amazemcnt.
the voice was thnt OF an old man. full, 65. ly-
and both of his legs had been completely shat
Fred by a shell, but he didn't seem to know
It. and smiled hopeful" a, he called repeated
ly to some of his laggiug coinrades to keep
up the fire until the very last. Presently
ing after the wounded. lie was n courteous,
kindly. k%nirhtly southern gentleman.
why. old fellow. what are you dong
You are entirely too old to be in service. How
does thus h%appenT'
the old man with spirit. and then he stopped
10 yell again to his comrades to 20 it.. Sudden
ly he BEGAN TO feel terrible pain, and then he
Yes, l am answered the surgeon. and
I'm going to have you moved as soon as the fir
ing ceases. and nee what l can do for you
" oh. don't bother about me lie answered.
YEARLY. I'm done for, | reckon, an you'd
better tend 70 some that's younger. II don't
all fixed an well pervided fur. One bundled
acres of good Ian. two mules. an a horse, he
ad "eS1th nsl' 10 % R,mst the DOC docto a pt giyfns him hmi'G a
swallow Of brady.
:, Ny G TifS Al an mE y6 dspF ;Rs r., sab sro, You aa see
was an ole man, nigh on TO sixty, | reckon. an
somehow, I'd never been n good manager; !
what made over my rent. All that was little
enough. God knows. l knOw'd my day for
,cumnlatln, anythinE was va, over; an, II nigh
ole oman an sal TO do real hard work. Then
the war come an there. was my chalce., The
richer than he was bra"e. lie come to see me
one day, an he says. says he:
eros 70 Jp PanSo y |sm S Snrs v got your folks well
No" says l. AN i; worries me past
Nov. let me tell YOU says he. II want
n substitute to fight for me an here's your
chance to perviae well for your folks. Age
exempts you from %fshtin,. but Il you 20 IN
very day one bundled acres OF my hest Ian,
two mules, an a horse. Is II z targatni"'r
is" sure enough, he was as good as his word.
He decided a hnnd'ed acres and the stock to the
week ! was gone to the war. amt never
been home since. but have fought II straight
through. ! got interested in the cause after |
got good at work 10 tightin'. an / amt never
fiinched once. but what brought me here was
pervidiug for Sal an the ole oman. / could
not bear to leave EN- empty handed t., fight
'ginst the world. an | knowed it was too late
in life fur ire to ever do anything fur EN-
His voice vas growing weaker and weaker
as he told his story, but as he finished he
raised up and with a regular rebel yell Sam
out: Go il. boys, an give 'em lell YAM
KEGS. Then he fell back and IN a daZcd way
said, The ole oman an my little Sal. y hun
d'ed acres-halfo OF it good bottom lnnd-a horse
--an'-an' two fust-rate mules. II was the
best the ole man could do fur EN- and with
these words and a marvellous look Of love and
peace on his face lie stopped breathing.
Il s .retched out my hand ana took that of
the surgeon, and the tears as well as the blood
wore the gray were mingled over that simple
mans story. To me he was a real hero"
so he vas" SAID one of the jollicst OF them.
Heres TO our heroes, the living and the
dead" announced the raising his
glass, and all res. onded silently.