Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1898-08-19
iOOd iiio ton, ~bll!OusneSS. &c.
The Old Soldicrs.

day night Kew. j.. \. Mitchell pal,
, the following tribute to comradI
Ilibbets who has answered his last
reveille and is now tentinG un III,
eternal camrin ing ground:
-Four day ago you we're told that
, last Sunday night. rs darkness:
was merging into II new day the spirit
of John lIIbbets left its earthly tene
ment and winged its way Iuto. the
unknown woTll and up to God who
gave H. Il woulG also drop into
his ray a flower or n leaf. Wher
, we bury the body OF an old soldier va
-. pc form "A most sacred and sulen IN
duty. American >nllicrs and sailors
have been aud are oTr country's
/, saviors. Losing that We may gam.
crippled that We may bc whole,
broken III health b. poor food aud
bad water and Irregular and unnatur-
nj life. tlIat We may lac well Ind en-
!, joy the good things Of abundant har-
vests. sacrificing the compnnionship
aud co-work nf relatives and friends
that wn may have them III perp4!uity.
But Ilie main thought i'll the SOL
dier's LIE is les. II cOmrade IIib
bets started 10 the ARMY with n ear
pet sacl; full to bui.iTg ont with
extra U1der-:iothmr. several books.
including Il new testament. writing
material for 30 letters home and
mnch else-I venture to say he was
not on Il forced march three iny@
when all MIS- list save a haTersark
! 0De.haii empty and IL cantcrn 'illcd
with warm water to drink. Ill rls,,
the boys had lay scattered nlon. the
dusty road 10 he picked up 10y camp
followers. Loss all through ;le war
and the war 0yc after three years
absence from the work Of If, COM
rade Ilibbers returned 10 lind him.
self three years behind the tradcsmcu
WHO stayed nj home while tc aLuud.
ous i profession, nov VOL learned.
but for viii Ia he, will have 40 longer
any use.
As IN American. Comrade Hbbc,s
had Il right to life. liberty and tie
pursuit OF happiness. But at the age
OF %, in The worry Prime Of vigorous
md fruitful manhood, lie chccFta.iy
and freely took out over three Of tie
the very best years OF his life and
gave then: III his country scr,
vice. 10 ynu and to me.
Such a uift is noe than money or
land. because it not onl! protects the
lands aud houses ind blsiucs; we
have. Int u 10 tie chHuce OF
getting more aud huiIdiug up. Ills
gift to !On involved the loss Of money
and wealth and OPT ortrnity. on his
part aud Ia therefore very significant.
-!SGmc soldiers Edro traayps when
they entered the army, hut cunrade
Hibheis lcft the pleasant and profit.
able trade 81 carpenter and builder
the same old trade the peerless Christ
followed. He who was aud is aud for.
ever shall be onr best friend.
-Comraie U'bhe,s left condition.
tending to health aud safety and
pleasure, at four nr tive dollars a day.
and. for a noble purpose. took in *.
change 49, month, with irregular
and uncertain food. with al and
intellectual life Cirrumscribcfi 10 It's
narrowed limits, with physical lie
forever III peril; with body e1rcscd.
during "aketuiness. 90 ! yiug b%ullc,s.
and wrapped at night in a wooden
blanket. sometimes: and sometimes
IN Il blanket ~ cold mud rain and ma.
! laria.
! say when conrad, Uibbcis gave
yon aud the ,hnu three year. a.
The best part Of his lie he offered
tho nation that for which thrre has
never beer to him any adequate re-.
turn, save III the blessed, pairioiir
consciousness Of a large duty well
md nobly performed, md the wr.ti.
tnde 81 hiq romntrymcn.
-rlc old soldiers -comraae lib.
beta among them-u company most
noble. most honorCd: II vast arm,
once. before whose courage md
pr"wcss the dc, pots Of tho earth ner.
rOmsly pressed their crowns to keen
them fmm filling or. Once a yaa,
nrmy. but gr0wi ing irwor, still fewer.
day by day.
'hnd the remaining eoliicry, moro
md s;i'l mort like tliadrws u what
ihfy once were. lruEcn, mud worn.
mud bowed. aud talsic,l. md retreat.
ing nov. But IN thcIr great prca.
encc. u. they pass before ~. wc bow.
I with III covered hCRds. aud wave them
u brnrticlt farewell as we ace tlicn
roas out 81 time into eternity.
Tic only way some married people
manage TO avoid num- rciinu is lbs fp.