Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-07-18
The LAST CHARGE.

Dressed in his only suit OF navy blue
| Old Weak Eyed Jones sat uncomfo rtably
| on one of the backless benches in front
of the speakers stand The post adjutant
| was reading the post orders. The boys
| in blue, scattered hither and thlther,
bent an attentive ear and held their yell
| low-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 atten-
| ton prevailed among those within hear
| ing distance; farther away the hum of
| voices and shouts of unsurpassed laugh
| ter arose on the air in unms takable vol
| ume, This was sacrilege to the ears OF
Weak-Eyed Jones. To him no event was
more solemn than the present, and It
seemed the same dignity and reverence
he felt should actuate 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 hun
dreds of incoming farmers conveyances
But WeakEyed Jones took It all with
generous degree of humility and uncom-
planning. A young couple ht his elbow
INDUCED so busily in conversation he
could not hear the voice of the adjutant,
yet he bore II silently. Even though his
obscure sight, years before made almost
useless by rebel minnie ball. which car
ried away the bridge of his nose and
grazed both eyes, was powerless to pene-
trate the dust-heavy distance between
him and the speaker, he was secretly
happy.
His deductions We're cut short by
sudden commotion al his elbow People
were hurrying from their seats: the pro-
gram must be over. He was carried
along with the rest. toward the speakers
stand but he hadn't gone far when he
noticed someone trying to speak Above
the noise he caught the last phrase:
viii close with a selection by the young
ladies' quartette."
Then 1t wasn't over vet! There was to
be one more numbers He tried to be
seated, but buxom country woman
Joisted hard against him. nearly sending
him off his rheumatic legs
The quartette commenced to sing, but
their voices were drowned In the tumult
of confusion.
Presently a drum corps somewhere out
in the street struck up Marching
Through Georgia"-the line commenced
to form. Hurried along with the throng
Weak-Eyed Jones took up a marching
position with others of his blue-coated
comrades The heat was more sitting
here. as they stood waiting for what
seemed like hours. Presently Weakened
began to grow faint. The morning had
found him physically indsposed but
never yet having missed meeting with
his soldier comrades on the thlrtieth of
May, he didn't propose to to-day. It
might be the last Unexpectedly It would
but he'd go this oncel
The band up the street struck up
'"The Star spangled Banner"-he was
conscious of the column moving. He.
had stood still so long his legs were
almost stiff and action made him stagger
but with the use of his cane he main
tanned his balance and managed to move
along. Shouts of "Hurrah" "Hurrahr
greeted his ears from every side. Proudly
he lifted his head and threw his shout
ders with unctious military dignity
The ovation continued with increased
enthusiasm as they passed up the street.
Someone tried to retaliate with a "Hur-
rah for the boys of 61i" but the voice
was lost in the lusty tide of cheering for
1.-THE boys of 1881" Following the squad
of soldiers came a bicycle brigade men
on horseback. and, lastly, wagon loads
of flower girls dressed in white-wagons
for strong, healthy girls, while 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 ambled
on, his faltering footsteps unable to beat
time to the rapid music. Many of his
comrades, too, had long since forgotten
how to march And how few they
numbered now-these veterans! N
Mount Zion cemetery was beautiful
spot-lifted above woods and sky Just
beyond where the lake nestled quietly
between two hillsides-the valley, with
its ribbon of a rivulet, winding vefdure-
laden at its woody base, the azurs heav-
ems outlining its great white gates, its
marble monuments. its flowing shrub
bar 10 traa of OF
ness beyond.
Weak-Eyed Jones raised his eyes to
the hill yet in the distance. He could see
but the outline of the hallpwed spot ris-
ing against the lurid sky. His spirit
was awed! The heavy march was tell
ing on his weakened body, his steps were
getting more and more uncertain. A
momentary dizziness came over him.
'Hark" Suddenly the flies and drums