The sun., 1907-04-21
STORY OF GEN. SHERMAN.
How He Helped Youthful Illinois Farmer
See His BOyIsh Hero

"OO Ahhe Ah"shs"
II is not always the great things men do
that keep their memory alive. Frequently
it in some small act OF kindliness, some
pleasant speech or manly courtesy. which
remains in the minds Of those who knew
them. So in Illinois there is a young man
who thinks Of Gen. Sherman. hot as 4Old
Tecumseh.' the soldier. victor In strenuous
campaigns, says the Youtb'S Cam pdnion,
but as a kindly. rough bearded old GENTLE
man who carried him over miles OF road on
his lap in order that at the end he might
really see his boyish hero. the soldier.
IL was. in the early 'SOs. The coGnty in
which the boy lived was 10 dedicate SOL
diers' monument on Memorial Day. Gen.
Sherman and Gov Oglesby were 10 be the
two speakers Of tn" occasion.
From where the oy lived it was six miles
TO the county seat. He bad to walk the
distance. But worst Of all misfortunes,
IL rained all the day before. when he should
have been working in the garden. and SO on
Memorial Day the boy had to get down
on hands and knees and pull weeds under
a broiling sun. across row after row Of
young vegetables, 80 that he did not get
away from home until o'clock.
Only an hour. and six miles to gOi He
knew IL was useless. 1t would take him
two hours, and when he got there he would
find everything over and the General gone
and there was no use in anything, anyway.
Tears rolled down his cheeks now and then,
and he felt like a much abused boy.
Every little while a buggy or carriage
passed him going in his direction. but all
Of them were full, and there was no one to
give him hft. But at last. when ne was
certain that he could never get there,
buggy which came up from behind did not
pass, but stopped beside him.
Hello. bub!" said kindly voice. Going
far2"
The boy looked up through misty eyes.
Two gray and Quizzcal old faces peered
at him out Of a muddy buggy. Two pleas
ant old gentlemen were on the seat.
"Y-y-yes. sir--I'm trying to-, said the
boy.
him. and as the boy, not believing his ears.
put foot on the step the man reached out
and lifted him In and seated him on his
where you going7' he asked.
Il was a-going to the monument. said
the boy, but l didn't think ! would get
there. Do you suppose l will2 In time
to see Gen. Shernan?'
The old man who was driving clucked
TO the horse. and the other, stroking his
beard. said:
reckon %nyhyiii' hcyii rst tEeTs ss' ERr ES DioR9' @ '
~Why--why. yes, ! reckon so. said the
other. Then they both chuck led
want to see the General. eh2" said the
old man who held him. Don't care about
the Governor. eh?7 49,.
"NO, sir, not so much said the boy.
trIIthfuIly. "You see, he lives right here
in this State. and he didn't march through
Georgia, or have songs about him. OF any
thing"
why. no; so he didn't! Did he. Dickl'
asked the boys old gentleman again. This
seemed TO amuse them very much. They
chuckled about it a while and then the old
gentleman who held the boy began to tell
him stories about the campaigns Gen.
Sherman had fought in and about soldier
life, stories some Of which we're in the his
tory book but most OF them were new to
the boy. Then the other man told some
stories-about Mr.. Lincoln.
did you know him2" demanded the boy,
and to his delight they both did and told
more stories about him.
Six miles was a long way to walk, but IL
was a short way to ride and IL seemed as II
they had hardly started when the boy heard
a tremendous shouting and cheering and
there was a crowd all lined up along the
road cheering.
Cheering whom? He felt a motion back
Of him and turned and saw his old gentle
man take OF his hat and smile and bow, and
the other old gentleman did the same
They drove up to the square and set him
down and every one stared at him. and
then he saw them mount the platform with
the committee.
He had. indeed, arrived in time to see
the General" for il was Gen. Sherman and
Gov. oglesby who had brought him