The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-31
The Last Charge.
~ ). WHITFIELD scATTERGooI

- y. WhlIflElsD SCAIlEhGOOD.
Dressed In his only suit of navy blue,
DIG Weak-Eyed Jones sat uncomfortably
on one of the backless benches in front
tAnt was reading the post orders. The
boys in blue. scattered hither and thither.
yellow corded hats to one side to shade
their fading eyesight from the waning
sun
Far away under the trees of the park
lounged hundreds of people. Polite at
tention prevailed among those within
hearing distance: farther away the hum
af wolves and shouts of unsurpassed
laughter arose on the air in unmistakable
volume This was sacrilege to the cars
of Weak-Eyed Jones. TO him no event
was more solemn than the present. and
1t seemed the same dignity and rever-
ence he felt should sctuate the conduct
of others.
The air was suffocating. Early in the
day the heated atmosphere had become
saturated with clouds of choking dust.
which rolled into the city behind nun
dreds of incoming farmers conveyances.
generous degree of humility and uncom-
planning. A young couple at his elbow
INDUCED so busily In conversation he
could not hear the voice of the adjutant.
yet he bore. it silently. Even though his
obscure sight, years before made almost
useless by a reoel mimic ball which car
ried away the bridge of his nose and
grazed both eyes. was po%erless to pene-
trate the dust-heavy distance between
him and the speaker he was secretly
happy.
His meditations were cut short by a
sudden commotion at his elbow. Peo-
pie were shurrying from their seats; the
program must be over. He was carried
along with the rest. towards the speak
er's stand, but he hadn't gone far when
he noticed some one trying to speak.
Above the noise he just caught the last
phrase: will close with-a selection by
the young ladies quartette.
Then il wasn't over yet! There was
TO be one more number. He tried to
be seated. but a buxom country woman
tostled hard against him. nearly send
ing him of his rheumatic legs.
The quartette commenced to sing. but
their voices were drowned in the tumult
Of confusion.
Presently a drum corps some where
out in the street struck up Marching
Through Georgia"-the line commenced
TO form. Hurried along with the throng.
Weak-Eyed Jones took up marching po-
alton with others of his blue-coated COM
rades- ~he heat was still more sitting
here. as they stood waiting for what
seemed like hours. Presently Weak
Eyed began to grow faint. The morning
never yet having missed meeting with
his soldier comrades on the thirtieth of
May, he didn't propose to today. It
might be the last Unexpectedly 1t would
but he'd go this once!
The band up tho street struck up
THE Star-Spangled 3anner"-he was
EEuEClOuS OIL the column MOVING. lie
had stood still so long his legs were
aln.ost stiff and action made him stag
ger. but with the use Of his cane he
maintained his balance and managed
to move. along. Shouts of ''Hurrah!
AHurrah!" greeted his ears from every
nide Proudly he lifted his head AMI
threw his shoulders back with unc-
tie.s mil dtsrgy dignity ,,, ,no,a..os
enthusiasm SIS They passed up the
street. Someone tried to retaliate with
q eaurrah for the boys Of e. but the
voice was lost in the lusty tide of cheer
ing for ''the boys of 9S'' Following the
squad of soldiers came d bicycle brigade.
men on horseback and, lastly. wagon
loads Of flower girls dressed n Whit hit
decrepit old veterans must go afoot
As the long line rounded a corner
and passed from the boulevard into an
east and west thoroughfare, Weak
Eyed Jones tottered. BraVelY he pulled
his remaining strength together and am
bled on, his faltering footsteps unable to
beat time to the rapid music. Many Of
ten how to march. And how few they
numbered now-these veterans.
Mount Zion cemetery was a beautiful
spot--iifted above woods and sky just
beyond where tine lake nestled quietly
between two hillsides-the valley, with
its ribbon of a rivulet, winding verdure-
laden at its woody base the azure heaV-
ems outlining it's great white gates, it's
marble monuments. its towering shrub
berry, It's trees of green, with rare exact
YSveAk.Eyed Jones raised his eyes to
thk-~hiIl yet in the distance. He could
see but the outline of the hallowed
sDot rising against the lurid sky. His
snirit was awed! The heavy march
was telling on his weakened body his
steps were getting more and more UNI
certain. A momentary dizziness came
..fark! Sud lenly the music OF the
fifes and drums fioated to his ears with
a strangely familiar sound. 1t took
him back to the front again, back to
the days of co, Once more he was a
vouth-strong, vigorous. in arms. And
could this, then. be Thomas brigade
and yonder-yonder hill - Missionary
Ridge where. proudly drawn in battle
array, the Confederate legions awaited
them calmly with welcome of leaden
sand Ana whence all this extraordinarily
extraordinarily that fired the very blood
within the veins? All! Foolish question
Why ask when there was Soffels. the
drummer boy? Nobody but Soffels could
drum like that Soffels was the only
one who could make his drum talk
Ii accents so clear and true-now gay
gay as th0 morning sunlight: now sad
sad as the hour of death; as he turned
the tide Of battle into victory or de
feat.
'.Take the rine-pits 1T the base, then
halt and REFORM! Weak Eyed Jones
heard the order as clear as on the day