The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-22

neutrality-suspicious. .s'''s.ss.'ss'''s''.''s'S
he saw a curious sight. There was
little shrine which Nolan had made out of
a box In which the Stars and Stripes were
triced up about picture of Washington.
And he had painted a majestic eagle, with
lightnings darting from his beak and his
feet grasping the whole world, which he
overshawoded with his wings. Nolan lay
in his berth and smiled pleasantly as he
gave his hand to the captain. Here you
see." said he, IT have a country" And
he pointed to a map hung at the foot
of his bed.
It was a great map of the United States
which he had drawn from memory.
Quaint. queer old names were on 1t In
large letters: Indiana territory, Missis-
sippi territory, Louisiana territory and
such things. But he had patched in
Texas and had carried his boundary to
the Pacific, although upon that shore he
could define nothing. He had guessed at
the expansion of his country and done
his best to depict it. "Oh, Danforth," he
said, IT know that I am dying, and that
cannot go home. There Is not on this
ship a more loyal man than /. There
are "a stars in the flag now, Danforth,
have noticed their growth in the ensign.
But I do not know their names. Oh,
Danforth, how like a wretched nights
dream seems to me now the idea of per-
sonal fame or separate sovereignty But
tell me something-tell me everything be-
fore de-
Danforth felt, as he said afterward,
like a criminal because he had not told
the poor old man something OF his coun-
try before. Now, danger or no danger;
deicacy or no delicaey, he plunged in and
told Nolan everything that came to his
mind about the United States. 'Tell me
their Names" said Nolan, pointing to the
stars in the flag, the last L knew was
Ohio. But 1 have guessed Michigan and
Indiana and Mississippi-that was where
Fort Adams stands-they make 20. but
where are your other IA? You have not
cut up any of the old ones l hope"
The captain told him in as good order as
he could the new states which had been
added to the republic In the period of
Nolan's exile. Nolan said he had guessed
at Texas and at California; he had also
guessed from the fact that he had never
been permitted to approach that coast.
Then he went away back and asked
about Barron, and what was done to him
for surrendering the Chesapeake to the
Leopard, and whether Burr was ever tried
again. And who now commands the
Legion of the West?" asked Nolan.
A.
year 1868, a year of the civil war. And
one thing Danforth did not have the heart
to tell him was that a civil war was in
progress. why, an officer named Grant
commands the Legion of the West re-
piled Danforth, and at the latest news
was about to establish his headquarters
at Vicksburg." Where is Vicksburg?"
asked Nolan. Danforth pointed out the
place on the map as nearly as he could.
why. cried Man. that is where old
Vick's plantation was And who was
President now? Lincoln" Danforth told
him. He wondered If he could be son
of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln. Danforth
said he beneved not.
And so the desultory conversation ran
on, a quick fire of unrelated questions
interspersing the more connected story
which Danforth tried to tell the sick
man. Finally Nolan asked the captain
to hand him a prayer book which was
lying on the table. Then slowly and
with great pathos and earnestness of in
tonation did Philip Nolan read that prayer
wherein is written, Most heartily we be-
seach Thee with Thy favor to behold and
bless Thy servant, the President of the
United States, and all others In author
| ity."
/ Then he said he would sleep a while,
| adding: "Danforth, look in my Bible when
| am gone" 1t was an hour after when
| the doctor came to tell the captain that
Nolan had breathed his last, dying calmly
and peacefully in his sleep with a smile
upon his lips. They looked in the Bible, as
| Nolan had directed, and found slip of
paper at a place where he had marked
! the text, They desire country, even
| heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God; for He hath pre-
! pared for them city" On the slip of
paper was written Bury me at sea.
But will not some one set stone for my
memory at Fort Adams or New Orleans,
| that my disgrace may not be more than
ought to bear? Say on it, In memory
of Philip Nolan, lieutenant in the army OF
the United States. He loved his country
as no other man has lover her; but no
man deserved less at her hands,
Next weeks one-page classic will be
1.-The Pickwick Papers" by Charles Dick