Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-07-08

pronounced as TO make him almost an
idol in the eyes of those men, told the
story of Eric Paul.
Eric had one experience that in my
judgment was as sad as that any sol.
der hoy ever passed through After
having been prisoner for nearly a
year, part of the tine at Andersonyille
and part at Salisbury, during which
time he made three unsuccessful efforts
to escape, he reached our lines and
was sent home. He had been through
Il long siege Of sickness in prison
That, with the poor fare and scant care
given, left him mere skelctcr. His
mind was somewhat unbalanced, the
result of sickness and prison life. A
ticket to the station nearest to his
home was bought and he started Gu thu
long journey. 1t is easy to imagine
how precious the sight Of his dear old
home was to the emacated, weak
broken young fellow who had never left
it more than two days at time unit
he became volunteer soldier Mt u
years of age. His loving mother was in
that house. The thought of seeing heI
in few minutes of having her loving
arms about his neck, OF feeling her
mother lips on his shrunken and al
most bloodless lips, nerved him to
quicker steps. He would surprise
mother by knocking at the door. The
sweet, motherly face was before him,
but she stared at him and did not In
vite him into the house, lie partially
walked and mainly fell across the
threshold and then pulled himself into
chair. 1t finally dawned upon the
boy patriot that his mother did not
know him. 1t nearly broke his heart
brushing away his tears he moaped
out:
"NIother, don't you know me? Don't
you know your boy, Eric"
"Thrn that good Norwegian mother
gave the young man still more scru-
timing, more searching glance. She
could see nothing that reminded her Of
the son she had given TO her adopted
country, and in a commanding tone
said you are not my boy Erie; you
are trying to fool me; ! will give you
some dinner and you must then move
on
while Mrs Paul was getting din
ner she frequently looked at the
stranger. Several times Eric heard that
best friend on earth, his mother, say:
'lle is not my boy; he is not my boy.
Eric made his case still worse by asking
about his father, who belonged to the
same company, Now ! know still bet
ter that you are not Erie, for my hns'
band died four months ago The flood
Of tears from the balf-cra7ed wreck
from Andersonville at the news Of his
fathers death had no weight with the
widow and mother. She regarded him
as an impostor and told him to eat and
move on.
Eric took few mouthfuls OF food
when his head fell TO the table. Mrs
Paul became alarmed and sent for the
doctor. The patient was pronounced a
dangerously sick man. lie was given
room and Mrs. Paul cared for him. In
his delirium he repeated many times.
NY mother don't know me. Why"
"The next day letter from the cap
tain Of Eric's company told Mrs. Pau
that he had heard that her son had
reached the union lines and been sent
home. He wanted TO know II he had
reached there and what condition he
was in. That afternoon Eric seemed
better. lie looked brighter; medicine
proper food and humane care were
having their effect. His mind wa
clearer.
"'Can you tell me something about
yourself? asked the mother, now
much troubled, though not convinced
by the captains letter that she was en-.
PERTAINING her soldier son.
"T'n try. Two years ago my father