The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-29
"POP" GLEESON AND
TOMMY LUCK
by Epes w. Sargent.

Copyrighted, 1907, by MN. Cunningham.
With a blare of brass and the sob
of the wood wind the Sixth Separate
Company of the state militia stepped
briskly past to the air of popular song
Pop Gleeson's feet involuntarily kept
time to the marked beat, but his face
showed signs of disapproval. 49,
"They ought to play Georgia. not
them vod-e-ville things" he confided to
Cap" johnson. When we was with
Sherman you bet we didn't have no such
music"
Times is changed. Pop" was the sad
reply. 81 guess they'll make fun of our
flies and drums"
Let EN-" scolded Pop I'm kinder
sorry we didn't stay to Pleasantville."
It's the last rally" said Cap,
charitably. Wen see some of the boys
for the last time 1 guess"
Pop shook his head sadly. The divi
sion commander had asked that all
nearby G. A. R. posts join in tho
Rutledge celebration. The member
ship was fast growing smaller, and
he hoped that there where the general
lay at rest on the hillside, they would
hold their last rally after the Memorial
day parade. The Beebansville post
was little nervous about their fife
and drum corps with its limited
repertoire of military airs. So far
even the smallest posts had brought
far even the smallest posts had brought
along the regular band from their
home town.
Then, from the direction of the sta
ton, came the shrill tones of the flies
and the rattle of the drums, and to the
saucy strains of The Girl Left Behind
Me" the Poston post footed it bravely
through the mud to their place in line.
Just back of the music trudged a
tiny youngster his little uniform COM
plete even the sword that clanked with
true martial spirit at his side. On
every hand murmurs of applause ran
through the crowds that line the
sidewalk Pop" chuckled.
There's a boy for you,"he smiled to
Cap" There's not many inches to
him, but every inch a soldier for all
that. He might be West Point
graduate"
That's what" agreed Cap. 81 guess
he was born a soldier"
"Wisht l had a little grandson like
lamented Pop" but 1 guess" his
voice sank into his snowy beard. Some
where he had a little grandson but
he had never seen him When Dick
had married the Spencer girl against
his wishes there had been an angry
scene and Dick had flung out of the
house Later he had sought reconcilia
ton, but his father would have none
of it, even after the boy had been
born.
He watched with unseeing eyes the
other detachments go past. They had
been waiting the arrival of the special
from the East with the paraders, and
now that these had found their places
the word was passed and the head of
the procession moved out.
1t was a long trudge for the veterans
through the streets to the cemetery.
More than one dropped out to wait for
the ambulances that closed up the line.
But there were all there around the mar
BILE shaft that commemorated the
leader under whom so many of them
had fought, and they listened. some
with streaming eyes. to the vibrant
words of the principal speaker, their
division commander.
None realized better than he how
fast the death roll grew, and he spoke
frankly and tenderly of the gaps that
had been made in their ranks, winding
IN with a farewell to those whom he
might never meet again.
1t was too much for some of the vet
Grams, and they CROPPED their way
through the throng about the speakers
stand. The governor was yet to sneak