The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-04-24
copyrighted 1912 by Frank A. Hub
BILE, Yakima, Wash.)
CHAPTER VIII

frequently used, ana were SuCCeSslul
in reaching a point that evening that
was to give us straight road 10
Lenoir, near the foot of the North
Carolina and Tennessee mountains.
But when we came to a house ton
the right side of the road) built in
log cabin style with a shed between
the two apartments, then uninhabit-
ed, we should pass to the rear of the
cabin a mile, where We would come
upon a brush road that led diagnoal-
ly toward an old mill at the foot of
the mountains, thus avoiding the
town.
We reached that point, and were
well on our way, continuing in the
darkness, until we heard horses
hoofs striking the ground in our
front. Instantly we rushed TO the
roadside, climbed the low-limbed
trees, intending to seCrete ourselves
until the horsemen, who ever they
were, had passed. But to our horror
the bugle sounded the call to halt,
and not 200 yards from where we
were they commenced TO dismount at
creek and prepare to build their
camp fires.
This was a predicament we were
not prepared for, being separated in
different trees. They would soon
throw out pickets and have us with
in their lines. We dare not make our
usual signal to get together
One great forethought was in our
favor, providing we acted in time.
This plan we had arranged in the
early part of our journey in case of
such an emergency as the present.
Robinson, our woodcraftsman, was
always our leader to arrange for our
disentanglement. AnYiously we
waited for some move on his part.
Hagenbach and l, being in the
same tree, were suddenly surprised
by some ones presence underneath,
when not three whistles, but a low
ehirp of bird was given. We care
fully descended, and in a whisper he
gave instructions to walk slow and
sure five hundred steps on our back
track, there to wait by the roadside
in the bush till he found the rest.
Using the greatest caution not to dis
turb a twig unnecessarily, we reach
ed the given point and laid low by
the side of the road. Soon Captain
Wilson, then Durbrow, and when
Means and Robinson arrived we ex-
amined the moss on the trunks of
the trees and starting in a westerly
course until we had accomplished
two miles, then turned straight
northwest towards the mountains.
1t was a tedious and severe route,
so often falling over down trees and
logs, getting tangled in brush and
vines. Our scurvy and torn limbs
became very painful, and at times
running against a stump or tree
would make us forget our discretion
and cry out in our agony. Some
times in our extreme suffering we
would doubt the wisdom of being so
controlled and wrought to such a
spirit of devotion to principle-that
humanity would be willing to give
up and abandon all that was dear to
him, all that was life, all that was
worth striving for to make that life.
Home, wife, children, mother, and
business-and suffer pain and hun
ger almost beyond endurance. And
yet maintain that fervid love of
country and its glorious institutions.
Standing to the end imbued with pa
triotism and loyalty We cannot
wonder at the effect of the American
soldier, the greatest embodiment of
pride and courage under the stellar
canopy of heaven. And we wonder
that a certain number of our citi-
zens, to whom at the present time
our sufferings those days meant so
much, should begrudge the premium
paid in pensions for their severe SER
vice. Many do not need the gov
ernment's generous gift of $12 per
month, but they divert it to a fund
to help the veteran whose expense
for care in his helplessness exceeds
the amount provided in the stipulated
pension.
Out of a vast army of two and a
half millions of men, there are many
who became partially then and later
totally incompetent to maintain
themselves. 1t was through this SER
vice. A true American, born of the
loyal woman and her descendants
should not let prejudice, avericious-
ness or greed or notoriety among
those of our countrymen who are a
little short of enthusiasm as to what
the Yankee soldier did or deserves
control their sentiment in regard to
those who bore his burden in the
achievement of so much towards our
country's greatness.
The world little cares for stubborn
stinginess, but will applaud a gen
erous act under any all condi'
uons, thus creating a feeling OF good
fellowship and brotherly love, en-
Nui ms bcg Onu lut grave,
Again, little does the general pub,
lie feel this expense. Not a dollar oi
the revenues of the United States is
collected because of pensions. Not q
dollar is imposed upon any one tC
pay pensions. The money all comes
from taxes imposed for protection OF
American products, industry anG
wages, or for the regulation of the
whisky and beer traffic They would
be imposed and collected all the
same if there was no such thing as
the pension office, and no pension il
all the land.
Therefore, ! cannot see any hu
mility on the American soldiers part
or a burden on the government, by
increasing this generosity to a sufh
cient standard where these men, who
have so generously contributed theil
health, strength, and many of then
opportunities of successful business
life, should be cared for to such
manner that they need not hunger II