The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-05-26

turned their backs on the village for
wider horizons years before.
1t was all blurred confusion TO
Reuben as he was ushered on the plat.
| form and saw the sea of faces before
him. He could not distinguish an ac-
Quaintance, and decided that his eye
sight was growing poor. BY and by
as the mist cleared he saw Samantha's s
sympathetic face, and to that face he
talked when the time for his speech
came. Then Mr.. Whitney turned and
introduced our honored citizen and
sole remaining veteran of the Civil
war, Mr.. Reuben Henshaw." AS he
stood up, tottering a little on his
wounded leg, there was a surprised
murmur at the rear of the tent among
a group Of strangers.
Reuben fumbled for his manuscript,
gripped it tight, and sought out the
face that had never failed him. Then
he began his speech "Feilow-citizens,
neighbors, friends" he began. your
chairman selected me to talk to you
about some OF the bravest men this
town ever had. I've got it all writ
down here, but my specs amt workin'
right, and don't believe can read it.
Guess I'll jest have to tell it to you
after all. I'm wearin' gray today
stead o blue. I've buried all hard
feelin's toward the color Them fell
lows that wore it fit jest as hard as we
did and they got licked, and | guess we
amt drawin' the color line very tight
now. l didn't feel that way, though,
forty-five years ago, when | marched
out of this town in the fall of 81. along |
with" Here followed the string CT |
fourteen names well-known and rever- |
enced in the village. Reuben forgot |
his audience and talked as he had !
talked many times tC the children and |
friends who loved to hear his war
stories, giving kindly tribute to his
of campfire and battlefield
telling of lonely pickets and forced
marches, dwelling upon acts of bray
cry and fearlessness, till his hearers
hrilled with the recital and many eyes
we're wet. At last the chairman was
obliged to touch him on the shoulder
md tell him his time was up; and he
ank into his seat amid a thunder of
applause.
There was one more speaker before
he governor should make the final ad.
ress. Reuben, his mind freer now,
tudied the young governors face as
e sat bending slightly forward to
atch the speakers words. Strange" {
iought the cid man, how much he J
)Oks like Tom Dufield, my old tent :
late and Chum. Tom was shot way
ack in Ga, long before this boy was
orn. But he is strangely like; the ;
anne alert, eager face the look Tom
Iways had before a battle. Poor Tom!
ow tired he was that night we camped
Glow Hazel Run. Tom was almost : y
ok that night anyway. ! was a lot
ronger, and glad to take his place on
lie picket line. Twas pretty hard to 4
eep awake, though. | couldn't help
if my feet-did stumble-my- v
elt-as-thOugh--" A sudden u
rk, why, I thought | was a boy on q
cket duty again; must have dozed." II
nd Reuben looked about in wonder Y
i his eyes found Samanthas face u
;ain and rested there. Now the gov "
nor was on his feet. He was speak u
g. What was he saying? Reuben e.
aned forward, his old hands with
cir knotted veins clutching his oi
.ees, his blue eyes filled with wonder.
'rfends,' the governor was saying, 81
efore ! begin the speech | am here hi
make, want to pay tribute to one
your volunteers whom your speaker TO
S overlooked. l have a father-he ia
here today-who was also volun- fe
7r in 'Gl In Washington he met a yc
y from his own state. They became 81
ums and terminates. They were to- su