The Press., 1917-11-29


 cotr while the others went to uo rIe fighting"
 When the day came for departure, after the first battle of Bull Run, his mother gave him a Testament and little memorandum book. Aaron Tread well had been down to the Prescott National bank and, drawing out DOT tion of the money saved from the prof it's of the Blue Hill farm, gave him a gold watch.
 "I was goin' to give it to you when you was twenty-one, Harry. It may save your life some time. Such things happen"
 Harry Treadwell was one of the | faithful units in the ranks that did the real work of preserving the integrity of the United States. He was in sev- enteen battles, was wounded at An tietam and taken a prisoner at Vtcks- burg. Once during his long service he | had come home for a brief furlough.
 'I am still common soldier. father. I always do as I am told. There are plenty of others who can have the pro- motions. I am perfectly content to be one of Captain Lang's Red Hot BOys,' as they call us."
 And we are just as proud of you as if you were a colonel" his father an- swered.
 And then came Gettysburg. Nothing was ever heard of Harry Treadwell after that, except the governments re port that fell like a shadow upon his parents life.
 The records stated that he had been one of a party of seven seasoned men who, having passed through so many battles, decided not to face the im pending carnage of that day and de serted.
 "You couldn't blame Harry" his mother said in her effort to soften tho blow to her husbands pride.
 'AIary Treadwell! Never speak tC me as if you believed it again! Oul boy never did such thing! It's som' awful mistaken
 < No, Aaron, never will,' she re piled. "I didn't mean that believes l. he had done it. But even if he did"- - But he didn't! He never could. I l L pened before, such mistakes, Mary They cannot always tell"
 But if he did he might come hom again. Mary Treadwells voice broll as she thought of how much obloqu, she would endure to see her son again !. Come home again! He never car ? Mary. Harry's life has gone for hi country. He is dead, and we mus p make his good name live" ! As the years rolled on the proud fa \ ther lived up to his faith in his son l innocence. Bravely he faced the httl - world at Prescott village. Once Onl he raised his voice in his sons defens ;. in the old brick store.
 II My boy never deserted" he saiC with proud conviction. You folks ma think what you please. But never fO get that Aaron Treadwell knows thi his boy died at Gettysburg; that he proud of him and always will be an is glad that he raised him to do b share of the fighting on that day"
 Thus for nearly forty years AarC Treadwell walked among his fello farmers with head erect. To him h son was dead to all but honor.
 Whenever the great annual encam ment of the Grand Army came to Ne England he made a point of attendil with his wife. The faith he had Ike
 alive for a generation brought him
 to some prominence with the vetera1
 of his native state.
 Some effort was made to clear t record, but it was impossible to fiji
 evidence that would overthrow t
 governments position. It was clear
 established there had been a party
 seven who had escaped from the lin
 that night.
 "There's no use trying to do al
 thing, bOys," old Aaron TreadweH sa
 q don't care for myself what the gC
 ernment says. It doesn't make a difference with what think. I wOr
 be glad if it could be done, but eN
 in Harry's fathers mind he is an tnl
 cent man. knew my son, and kn'
 he never deserted the ranks" There was something grandly appe
 ing in the firm confidence of the wh
 haired man, and it was not without
 influence on others. He was an
 man now. and his unbroken belief W wonderful in the eyes of those "
 heard of it. ..- ..s -- His townspeople came almost share it. and oftentimes they ende'
 ored to dissuade him from taking
 long journey to some encampme This was especially true when great gathering was held in Boston 1901. Aafon Treadwell was o7 eighty, years old ana they feared I cxertion would be too much for hi
 But he, shook Iii. head and persisted