The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-26
SAU%%,,,,,.
BYz&;y;;jIEA'i{in TX K
~vE) M - a.
sgd y )
N Ii; :; i ] !
W. AM7AM THE ole
EST#EXSS3SSE3 X sword, hangi s
EsSSE ff;;sii;;Es;jxd ia quietly upon thu
fE::SS1kS@$ssd n wall over the man
sss&SS:E5Ie1AES3 H telpiece, keen ! J
GaS zs observant of al
M(@~ WY IN that takes place
about me. Mo-


am l rusty and
slow. Those dark spots upon my
polished blade are specters of blood,
shades of the precious drops which, in
more stirring days, were the red seals
of courage, signs manual of heroes,
testifying to future generations their
knowledge of heroic deeds. In the days
O.. the Crusades, when mailed knights
went forth to battle for the cross, the
sword handle was held upright and by
that they sWOre to heroic vows. There
fore when they ended with the words
''said by the sword" it meant the un-
vanished truth. My handle, too, is a
cross. "Said by the sword" now as
then means that testify truly. Mem
bers of the sword family are long lived,
maintaining their keenness and elias
ITCHY to old age. There are hundreds of
years OF service in me yet, and may
flash in the forefront of many gallant
charge when the sons and daughters of
this generation have turned to dust. /
flashed bravely in behalf of the old flag in
the civil war. How much worthier was
the oft-quoted sword of Bunker Fill
than the sword of Gettysburg and APP
pomattox?
I ! was presented to Capt. Carroll, a
young volunteer, in 1861. a young lady
with eyes brighter than my flashing
blade or the jewels upon my hilt made
the presentation in behalf of the ladies,
and / saw at once by the way in which
the captain regarded her that he
thought more of the gift because of the
giver. She was petite, mere morsel
Of humanity, but as dainty 1norsel as
ever made a mark for Cupid's busy
bow. Small in quantity, frst-class in
quality, with hear: of the largest
size in body of the smallest, her lumin-
Gus soul flashed in majestic courage
through love-lit eyes, and she was every
inch model Of the devoted patriot
women of 1861 and 1865.
Off we went to the war. II was not
a junket nor yet pleasure excursion.
In u few months the gallant ranksswere
thinned, empty sleeves appeared in
many parts of the line, boyish faces be-
came bronzed. and boyish spirits rip
ened in the sultry atmosphere of con-
f]ict into the strong, stern, sturdy
hearts of veterans tried and true.
flashed ever well toward the front, and
many time that flash leaping out in
the red fame of conflict became the
beacon which led our boys to victory
In year l led regiment and glorie.l
in the achievements of him whose
chosen comrade was. On went the
union soldiers, their flag sometime:
waving proudly in victory, sometimes
trailing in temporary defeat, but ever
reappearing through the carnage to
lead the hosts of patriots toward the
inevitable end.
At the battle of Winchester my mas
ter and l, fighting in the thickest of the
fray, engaged handsome confederate
officer and were overmatched. Down
fell Col. Carroll, his glazing eyes re-
garding me longingly as my captor bore
me away. Much against my will served
him for awhile, and though swords re.
gard it their duty to. serve their owners
regardless of the cause they espouse, it
went against the grain to strike at those
who wore the union blue. But my new
master was every, inch soldier and a
manly fellow. True hearts beat as
" nobly under confederate gray as under
y union blue. Thank God that the nob]est
: of them all beat together in loyalty
now! The fraternity OF truly noble