The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-28


in as I best could with my pencil. He
was wild with delight about Texas; told
me how his brother died there. He had
marked a gold cross where he supposed
his brothers grave was, and he had
guessed at Texas. Then he was delighted
as he saw California and Oregon. That.
he said, he had suspected partly because
he had never been permitted to land on
that shore, though the ships were there
so much "And the men," said he, laugh
ing, brought OF a good deal besides
furs." Then he went back-heavens, how
far!-to ask about the Chesapeake and
what was done to Barron for surrendering
her to the Leopard, and whether Burr
ever tried again, and he ground his teeth
with the only passion he showed. But in
a moment that was over, and he said,
God forgive me, for I am sure forgive
him" Then he asked about the old war
and settled down more quietly and very
happily to hear me tell in an hour the
history Of fifty years.
How I wished it had been somebody
who knew somethingI 1 tell you, Inghanl,
1t was hard thing to condense the his
tory of half a century into that talk with
a sick man. And 1 do not now know
what 1 told him Of emigration and the
means of it, of steamboats, and railroads
/ and telegraphs. of inventions and books
and literature, of the colleges and West
Queerest Interruptions that ever you heard.
You see, it was Robinson Crusoe asking
all the accumulated questions of fifty-six
years.
1 remember he asked all of a sudden
who was president now, and when 1 told
him he asked if Old Abe was General
Benjamin Lincoln's son. He said he met
old General Lincoln when he was quite a
boy himself at some Indian treaty. I said
no ont
himself, but 1 could not tell him of what
family. He had worked up from the
ranks. Good for him." cried Nolan. 81
am glad of that. AS l have brooded and
wondered have thought our danger was
in keeping up those regular SUGGESTIONS
thing L could think of that would show
the grandeur Of his country and its pros
perity.
And he drank it in and enjoyed it as 1
cannot tell you. He grew more and more
SILENT yet I never thought he was tired
or faint I gave him glass Of water,
but he just wet his lips and told me not
to go away. Then he asked me to bring
the Presbyterian Book of Public Prayer.
which lay there, and said, with a smile,
that it would open at the right place.
and so it did. There was his double
red mark down the page, and 1 knelt
! down and read. and he repeated with me,
| For ourselves and our country, gra-
| cious God, we thank thee, that, notwith-
standing our manifold transgressions of
| thy holy laws. thou hast continued to us
thy marvellous Kindness" and so to the
end of that thanksgiving. Then he turned
| to the end Of the same book, and read
the words more familiar to me, Most
! heartily we beseech thee with thy favor
to behold and bless thy servant. the pres
! ident Of the United States and all others
/ A. -. Z.
| pal collect. "Danforth." said he, 81 have
repeated those prayers night and morn
ing-it is now fifty-five years." And then
he said he would go to sleep. He bent
me down over him and kissed me, and
he said, Look in my Bible. Danforth,
when 1 am gone" And 1 went away.
But had no thought it was the end. !
thought he was tired and would sleep. ]
knew he was happy, and 1 wanted him to
be alone.
But in an hour when the doctor went in
| gently he found Nolan had breathed his
life away with a smile. He had some
thing pressed close to his lips. 1t was
his fathers badge Of the Order of Gin
einnati
We looked in his Bible, and there was
a slip of paper at the place where he had
I marked the text:
''They desire a country. even a heaven
ly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God: for he hath prepared for
them a city,
On this slip Of paper he had written:
! Bury me in the sea. It has been my
home, and l love it. But will not some
one set up a stone for my memory al
! Fort Adams or at Orleans. that my dis
grace may not be more than ought to
! bear? Say on it:
I'm memory of
| PHILIP NOLAN,
Lieutenant
In the army of
the United States.
! He loved his country as no other man
has loved her, but no man deserved less
at her hands"