A HARD QUESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 185, 13 October 1876, Page 7

A HARD QUESTION.

[FROM AN AMERICAN.] A man called at the office of Lawyer M'Ginn the other day, and after introducing himself, said : — " Mr. M'Ginn, I want to state a case to you. A little while after the war broke out, I concluded that as a citizen I had a duly to perform in behalf of my bleeding country. I had heard the call to arms, and my soul was filled with a fierce desire to strike a blow against the enemies of my native land. In a short time my resolution was taken. Arranging my business, I embraced my family, buckled on nay accoutrements, shouldered my musket, breathed an aspiration for my country's success, and with a firm resolution to defend the right at all hazard, marched to the recruiting station where heroes were gathering for the fray, and there bought a subBtiiute for 275 dollars. I give him my musket and my blessing ; I told him not to dishonor me by cowardice, but to face the foe as I would have done, and sent him to the front, while I returned to my family, and wondered what would become of freedom but for the bravery of her children." " It is a wonder," said Mr. M'Ginn. " Yes, sir. Well that substitute went to the war. In one of the fights he was shot in the leg, and it had to be amputated. He bore it like a man, I couldn't have done it better myself. And then he came home to stay. Now, of.course, when a soldier has his leg shot to pieces he is entitled to a pension. And the point I want to get at is, who is to get that pension, the substitute or me ? Now it strikes me lam the right man to have it. Who is this man ? He is my agent. He represented me. Virtually he tvas me. When he fought in the ranks it really was me fighting ; It was really I that lost the leg, therefore it is actually I that am entitled to the pension. Doesn't it strike you that way." uc^ "I dunno," said M'Ginn. " There's something in the way you it.^fcte it. You are entitled to the pension as the principal in the and the substitute also is entitled to it as the man who lost his leg. The Government is obliged to pay both of you the same pension ; but as it can only pay one of you, the question is ■which one shall it pay ?" " Jes so ; and I say it ought to pay it to me. When I handed that man 275 dollars then he got his full dues." " I'll tell you how you can get at it," said Mr M'Ginn. " If that man really represented you,. you would have been dead in the eye of the law if he had been killed, and if he should die now your friends would be justified in burying you." "That seems to be straining the thing a little." " Not at all. Well, now, I'll get you that pension if you'll agree to creep into a coffin and be carted out to the cemetery, and hustled into the grave, as soon as that substitute dies." " I guess I won't accept. I'll drop the matter as it stands. The man has consumption and chronic liver complaint." " Well, I'm going to have you buried, anyhow, when ho steps out. That's the law." " Then you must excuse me 1 I'll skip the county." Mr. M'Ginn's warrior left the office suddenly, and has never put in an appearance since.