Weber State University - Acorn Yearbook (Ogden, UT)

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THe Acorn 11 9j Not many hours afterward, he was walking down the main street of his home town. How glad he was to be home! What a warm wel- come there would be in that little cottage by the mill. Thad Reuver could hardly wait to see those dear blue eyes of Bessie’s and hear the roguish laugh of little Rob as he ran out to meet his father. Just think little Rob would be five years old now! Finally he arrived at the gate and in a moment, Bessie was in the arms of her husband. Baby Rob came running out but stopped in wonderment for a minute or two. He could hardly remember his papa. It didn’t take so very long however for him to say, “You’re a soldier, aren’t you papa?” “Yes, my son.” “You’re a true soldier too, aren’t you papa? Mamma says I may have a soldier suit some day and maybe I’ll grow to be a true blue sol- dier too.” What thoughts were these that were clogging Thad’s brain and dimming his eyes with tears? “Had he been a true blue soldier? Did he want his little son to grow up to be like him?—Well no other Union man knew about it. What was the difference?-----There was a differ- ence. Why, oh why didn’t I realize it before?” Little Rob tugged away at his father’s sleeve but all was in vain, the tears kept coming. He awoke. The captain was nudging him and telling him that the General was here for the plans. “I can’t, I can’t tell them,” was all he could say for moments. “What’s the matter with you ? Have you forgotten your promise ?” “Forgotten! Goodness gracious, no. The thoughts of it haunt me. I’d rather be insulted, whipped, starved and die in the meanest, lowest prison on earth than be a traitor to my country.” The general walked away dumb-founded. “We might have known it would’t work,” he muttered. Little Rob did have a blue soldier suit and he, like his papa tried to be a true blue soldier.—Marion A. Belnap,'05.

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THAD REUVER [8 | [The Acorn During August and September of eighteen hundred and sixty twor the Union army suffered several defeats. Besides losing many strong positions, they lost thousands of men. Some were killed outright,, some were taken prisoners and other disabled men were picked up on the field after Lee seized Marye’s Heights. Among those picked up, was the outspoken, impetuous Thad Reuver. He was one of the first to volunteer on the Union side, and bad fought bravely and well thus far. Previously, being in prison was unknown to him, and I assure you, it was quite disaggreable at this time. He was not contented to sit here and make the best of things. On the other hand, he thought about his position in the morn- ing, he thought about it at noon and when night came, he found it still creeping through his brain. Thad had several good natured talks with the captain in charge of the soldiers, but no one else knew just what they were about. A con- federate soldier passing by them as they were in the midst of one of these conversations heard Thad say, “Well I don't think a little under- ground work would do so very much harm. One morning the general came to talk to him. He promised the Union soldier wealth and his freedom if he would tell him the weak and strong positions and also the plans of the Northern Army. Thad knew that difficulties had often arisen between the Union officers and him- self. He hadn’t forgotten the slurs and insults, he had received at times from others with similar dispositions. He knew also that the losses on the Union side had been heavy of late, and it looked as though the Confederates might win. Nevertheless, he promised to give to the General during his next visit the whole plan of the Union army. Near the latter part of June, the captain saw that there was going to be something interesting develop around Gettysburg. He and Thad Reuver talked the matter over that evening before retiring. All the dissapointments and quarrels and cruel words that were connected with Thad’s life in the Union army came up again in his mind, and every time they did, they snatched with them a bit of his loyalty to the Union cause. And oh how big and bright were his prospects for the future now! He could easily escape the little disgrace attached to this.

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110 | { The Acorn TO THE FACULTY Our Faculty, we love you all From our Apostle down; For many smiles you’ve given us When we deserved a frown. We have so much to thank you for, And never can repay The truths that you have taught to us In lessons every day. We all do most sincerely hope That in our lives, each day, We may, by your example taught, Help some one on his way. And so dear teachers one and all, We thank you for the ray Of living light you’ve shed on us, To help us on our way.—Ellen Agren.