Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-29
The Man Without a Country
BY Geo. Gustaveson

Nolan was nice looking young fell
low. He was in the U. s. navy. one DAY
they were in the house of representa-
tives and there was something broken
And they blamed Nolan. And while at
court they said Nolan should not dc
anything like that to the United
States" ..s. @
He cried out Curse the United
States; wish l would never hear her
name again." Nothing could have
shocked the people more.
So Nolan was sent to Orleans in an
armed boat. The lieutenant said he
would write a letter to the captain OF
the navy at Orleans and he did. but !
do not remember the letter. The Judge
said Nolan should have his wish grant
ed Nolan was kept on board boat UNI
til he died. He never got to hear OF his
country again. The captain Of the ship
told all the people on the ship not to
speak Of home when Nolan was around.
Nolan had a room Of his own where he
spent most Of his time. When he would
get paper one Of the sailors would
cut advertisements or something about
the United States out. It was very an
noying for poor Nolan when he was
reading Of one Of Napoleon's battles or
something there was hole cut. One
day they were in harbor and were
going to give dance. The captain said
no one should talk about home so
Nolan would hear it. So Nolan and
some sailors stood off by the side Of tho
ship and watched them dance. The
sailors took turns about talking to No
Ian. After while there was q woman
came up by Nolan and he said II hope
you haven't forgotten me Miss Rut-
ledge" my name Is Mrs. Graf now,
but will dance with you anyway"
what have you heard from home
Mrs. Graff?'
Home! Why thought you were the
man that never wanted to hear from
home" She went over to her husband
and left Nolan alone as he always was.
And while after there was fight out
on the sea. Nolan was down helping the
men load guns, showing them how,
making their hands Taught at their own
blunders. After a while the captain
came around. Nolan said, Il am Just
helping the boys out a little"
II see you are, and you shall not be
forgotten said tho captain.
A few years later Nolan died as a
man without a country. One Of the
sailors wrote letter to his friend Fred.
Hero 1t is:
Dear Fred:
am trying to get heart enough to
tell you it Is all over with poor old
Nolan. One day the doctor came out
and said Nolan was not feeling very
we'll and wanted to see me, so I went
in. He had his room very nice. He had
q nag above his berth. He said he knew
he was dying. He wanted me to get his
beautiful map and help mark out some
Of the states. And he asked who was
president. told him Abraham Lincoln.
And he said "Old Abe" said II think
he Is a Kentuckian like himself
Good for him." cried Nolan. And he
asked me to get his bible and he said
1t would open at the right place and it
did and read out Of It to him. saw
he was getting tired 30 went out. The
doctor came out and said that Nolan
had breathed his life away with smile
ON his face. He had something at his
lips. It was his fathers badge. Before
he died he said Look in my bible after
I am gone and we did. There was q
slip Of paper in it. It said Bury me In
the sea for I love it. It has been my
home. But will not some one set up
stone at Fort Adams for me and say on
1t In memory Of Philip Nolan. He loved
his country better than any other man
but deserved less at her hands,"
Geo. Gustaveson, age IA,
IA -