Evening star., 1899-07-29
A ROSE ON HIS STATUE
Tribute of an Old Soldier to the Memory Of
His Brave Leader.
Grizzled Veteran Who Never For
gets the Anniversary of Gen.
McPhersOn's Death.

A faded rose lay between the forefeet of
the horse of bronze on which sits the he
roic figure of Gen. Mcpherson in the square
which bears his name. 1t was found there
last Sunday morning. shriveled and dead,
with nothing to show whose hand had
placed it at the feet of the man who fell
before Atlanta in defense of the Union, a
mute evidence of remembrance.
Saturday night a young man was passing
through the park. In a moment of alb
straction he turned aside from the path and
read the inscription on the granite base of
the statue He Was turning away to con-
tinue his walk across the park when a
voice called to him. Turning the young
man saw seated on bench, directly in
front of the statue. a bent figure, with a
slouch hat and an old army blouse Gray
haired and bearded, clad in army blue, a
crutch beside him, the old man was a typi-
cal veteran of the time which tried mems
/ sou!s.''
Come over here, boy, and sit down." said
he, in a voice wheezy with asthma. Il
would like to talk to you
The young man hesitated and then walked
over and sat down beside the old soldier
What is it, Gaptain? he said
NO; don't call me cappen, boy, cause /
amt nothing but a private soldier, and
never was saw you a-looking at that
monyment there. and l wondered if Won
linowed much about the ginral Did you
know him? Course you didn't, though
cause you're too young. l knowed him.
boy-God bless him-and that's the reason
you see here tonight. l wouldn't miss
being here tonight for all my pension, and
I've been a-coming on the 22d of July for
the past six year, boy-every year"
The old fellow stopped speaking and gazed
at the towering figure on the horse above
his head. Suddenly he laid his withered
hand on the sleeve of the younger man and
said:
Here, boy; don't mind me a-calling you
a boy, but you are boy to me; take this
and put it up there on the monyment.
brought 1t for the gin'ral," and he handed
the stranger a red rose.
Wonderingly, the young man took the
rose, and, stepping over to the pedestal
tossed 1t lightly up between the feet of the
warhorse. Turning again. by sudden i'm
pulse. he seated himself once more beside
the veteran and said gently, Tell me about
your general. won't you. please?''
There amt much to tell, boy. Every
body knows he was the finest officer we had
when we started through Georgy with Sher-
man. / loved him like all the boys did, and
love his mem'ry yet. l saw him a-riding
along cheering the boys up that day at
Atlanta, and there never was a finer look
ing soldier on horse. 1t want wore'n a
hour after that till 1 saw him lying on the
ground wounded to death. 1t was a bad
day for his boys, and we all felt like it was
brother or some near kin when we heard
he was dead. There want no jokes around
the fire that night.
well, it's been long time ago now, but
the old man amt forgot it. Seven year
ago | got into the Soldiers Home out here
and I've been there ever since l don't
trouble them out there much, and 1 only
ask for leave once a year. That's on the
22d of July, and l just come over here
where they have put up the monyment and
sit down where l can see the gin'raI and
think about the last time 1 saw him cheer
ing up the boys at Atlanta. l won't be
here next year, cause I'm about ready for
taps l wonder who will remember the
gin'ral then?
Somehow a lady that lives close by the
home found out where 1 went every year
and today when l passed by her house she
came out to the fence and told me to come
in and get some flowers from her garden.
They was mighty pretty, and thought I'd
take big bunch at first, but then told her
l was beholden to her and would take one
of them pretty red roses over in the cor
ner. That's the you jest put up there
l wish l thought somebody would put one
there next year" and there were tears in
the old mans voice. Now. that's ALL" he
continued. Il must be going. Good-bye,
boy. You will never see the old man again,
but I'm thankful to you for putting the
rose I'm there"