The indicator., 1897-10-09


Go It, boys, GO 1t. Give the Ynnks
plenty of ammunition The North
erner looked around. and saw TO h!n
surprise that the speaker-or the
shouter, rather-was a man Of at least
sixty-five years. dressed in Confeder-
ate gray.
Bot his legs had been shattered by
shell but he didn't seem to know
1t. and smiled hopefully as he called
again and again to some of his tagging
comrades to keep up the fire. Present
ly along came the surgeon Of the regi-
ment. courteous. kindly, knightly
Southern gentleman.
Why, old fellow. what are you do
ing here?" he said in cherry voice to
my old man. You are entirely too old
to be in service. How does this hap
pen?"
I'm old, but | never shirked,' an
swered the old man with spirit, and
then he stopped to yell again to his
comrades. Suddenly he began to feel
terrible pain. and then he said:
Air you the doctor?"
Yes. | am, answered the surgeon;
and I'm going to have you moved as
soon as the firing ceases, and see what
| can do for you
"Oh. don't bother about me-" an
swered the old man. I'm done for,
reckon. an you'd better tend 10 some
that's younger. 1t don't matter at all
about my dyin' now. They're all fixed
an well pervided fur. One bundled
- IL
horse" he added, half to himself, with
a peaceful smile
"Who?" asked the doctor, admins
tering swallow of brandy.
My wife an my daughter, sir. You
see it was this way When the war
broke out | was an ole man. nigh on
to sixty. | reckon, an somehow I'd
never been good manager. l had
tried, but didn't have nothin' but
jus what | made over my rent, an
that was little enough, God knows. |
knowed my day for 'cumulatin' any
thing was over, an it nigh worried me
to death to think about leavin' the ole
oman an Sal to do real hard work.
| Then the war come an there was my
| chance. The owner of the plantation
where lived was richer than he was
brave. He come to see me one day.
an he says, says he:
John, you amt got your folks we'll
fixed to leave 'em have your
No. says |. AN it worries e
past all peace
Now, let me tell you says he. 1
want a substitute to fight for me, an
here's your chance to pervide we'll for
your folks. Age exempts you from
tghtin', but if you go to the war in
my place. I'll deed your wife this very
day one bundled acres of my best Ian
two mules. an horse. Is it bar
gain?'
Il studied while an then says:
1t is
Sure enough he was as good as his
word. He decided hund'ed acres and
the stock to the ole oman and Sal that
very day. and the next week l was
gone to the war. l amt never been
home since, but have fought it straight
through. | got interested in the cause
after | got good at work to fghtin',
an | aint never finished once; but
| what brought me here was peryiding
| for Sal an the ole oman. | couldn't
bear to leave 'em empty handed, an
knowed it was too late fur me to ever
do anything fur EN-"
His voice was growing weaker and
weaker as he told his story. but as he
finished he raised himself up, and with
regular rebel yell sang out; Go 1t
boys, an give 'em -"
Then he fell back, and after a while
! he muttered:
THE ole oman an my little Sal.
A bundled acres-half of 1t good bot
tom land-a horse-an-an two flrst-
rate mules. 1t was the best the ole man
could do fur en- and with these
words and marvellous look of love
and peace on his face he stopped
breathing.