The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-26

| 1 sat down by the side OF an OLD
veteran who was smoking on a seat
in the Common, yesterday afternoon,
and began to fish for "reminiscences.
He described the fight from Bull Run
and the dismay that followed at Wash
ington.
/ He was slightly wounded by rifle
ball at Antietam, and would have lost
his leg but for a piece of rubber in
his pocket that intercepted the bullet.
He had never to his knowledge shot
one of the enemy during the war, but
in a charge one night he used his bay
onet and he shuddered as he described
the crunching sound of the steel as 1t
entered the body of the rebel
Had you no misgivings as you did
1t 2" l asked.
mot the least" said he, for the
man had fired at me after surrender
ing"
"Did he scream" inquired morbid
ly,
mo, he simply gave deep groan
and lay still. Could you blame me?"
"Oh, no. That was fair war;" / said
approvingly.
On further inquiry 1 discovered the
old man had never been married, and
he voluntarily told me this tale: When
we were leaving for the front l asked
a girl to promise she would be my wife
when the war was over. She hesitated
and then shook her head slowly I
told her that if my, life was not dear
to her, neither would it be to me and
10 minutes afterwards the regimental
band struck up eve will rally round
the flag, boys" and we were off.
1T was my determination that day.
as marched off, to die in the first
fight
IA ,,oo,, = o. ,,.,,,o, 81. T ,.ooot,,o5 = 49,,
and soiled letter from her. 1t was da-
ted on the same day 1 had left, and
in it she confessed her affection and
made the promise / had asked for when
leaving. ] wrote to her at once, but
I got word from her folks that she had
been dead for six months"
The old man fumbled for his hand
kerchief, and, blowing his nose vio
lently, he remarked huskily that it
looked like rain, and the conversation
ended.
Mamma, can I go to the church
supper tonight, and have so cents to
spend? asked a little boy of his tired
mother on a trolley car one afternoon
this week. you can't go to the sup
per-" the mother sweetly replied, but
If you'll be a good boy, Willie, and not
tease, I'll take you to see the new mon
ument on uncles grave" "All right,
mamma" replied the little fellow So
berly, "that'll do just as. we'll" But
several persons who overheard this
brief conversation thought they per-
ceived an element of humor in 1t.
I Rev. Bernard s. Conaty, pastor of
Sacred Heart Church, told good story
on his distinguished brother, Rt. Rev.
Monsignor Thomas j. Conaty, D. D.,
. rector Of the Catholic University at
Washington. at the banquet of the st.
Anne's Temperance Society. Wednos-
day night. 1t seems the distinguished
head Of the university was passing a
few days with his father in his home
city of Taunton and was walking on
the street with his father one day
when one of the old residents of the city
met them while escorting a guest of his
around the city. He knew Mr.. Conaty
and that he had a son who is rector Of
the university, but as sometimes hap
pens he became a little mixed when he
tried to explain the situation Grab
bling his friend by the arm as Monsig-
nor Conaty and his father passed, he
said to the visitor: do you see that
+ MANI" pointing to the monsignor. The
/ monsignor is big enough to see under
ordinary circumstances and the man
J saw him that day. well, he's the
greatest man in the country" said the
Tauntonian. "How's that?" asked his
visitor. Hes the director of the uni
verse" was the reply and the visitor
took off his hat.