Democratic banner., 1846-12-07

HS "SpI
az they beheld this fond but timid wife cling
ing to her husband, and, with terms of
o~ndearment, begging him, for the love he
bore for her, to return once more to the
.desolatc hearth now left without a protec-
tor. Impossible! he had enlisted for the
Wharf.-The army could not spare any of its
number, which at best was even too small
to cope with 4 larger force bette discip-
lined and better clothed. Impossible, he
could not with any decent grace, retreat
from a position SO recently assumed. lie
consoled hcras best lie could, but assured
her of the impracticability of leaving the
army. She must submit, it would be a
no greater than had been made
by thousands. There was no remedy bu. to
wait in hopc-the end was certain, and the
consequence would be glorious. But What
could the poor wife do? Hal a though: ha,
struck her. She will seek the tent of WASH
ington--at his feet lay her petition.
Behold the hero in his tent-the great
the god like, in whom are Joined all viz
tues-created for the age and for the Cause,
doing what none else ever did, performing
what none else could. Before him is kLecl-
ingthc wife Of George Maldcn.-Hcr pcti-
ton has not been made in vain, her tears
have not been without effect.-She holds
in her hand n paper, which will restore to
her, her husband-but before she goes TO
the officer of his regiment she reycrently
takes the hand Of her bcncfactor and press
es 1t TO her lips-a tear falls upon it, which
the old man suffers to remain, and sends
her from the place with a bcncdiction, and
words Of hope.
Again she is in the presence Of her hus-
band--she shows him his discharge with a
bcaming countcnancc, and words of Joy.
"Now you will go home wit, me George.
and we will again be happy-oh, so happy
But no glow Of satisfaction lit up his eye,
no glad icuiug emotions shed their radicncc
his features.
The discharge was recognised. and she
led her husband from the ranks of his devo-
ted companions; but he went not forth with
manly dignity and firm step with which
he entered the camp as 4 volunteer. The
of the hardened soldiers were upon
him-he fancied scornfully-his head droop-
ed upon his chest, and suppressed whispers
Missed in his car like so many serpents, each
a voice Of ~reproach and shame; but the
tinid and loving woman that led him from
that camp of war was unconscious of all
this. She heard no whispers of rcproach,
she saw no s~corniul pycs-shc was oniy con-
that she had recovered her husband,
and what cared she for eyes and lips! The
were passed, and the last guard
stared rudely in her face as she approached
him, and muttcred something she did not
hear. She p~rattled rambiingly to her hus-
band, fond creature all the way telling how
happy she should be, and father and moth
er; but he answered her not, still walking
gloomily by her side. Little cared she
though, and still she wendell along, and
still she prattled. Poor, timid creature
She did not imagine how deeply he was
wounded. She had him safe, all her own
gain at last, and she could not dream of any
woe or brooding sorrow! But he thought.
tie brooded over the desertion Of his COM
rades, and remembered the expression of
their faces as he suffered himself to be led
out of the e~ncampment. and that night in
his dreams, he heard the booming cannon
ade, the crack of muskctry, the clash of
Steel, and the pealing shout Of victory; but
he had suffered a child to tic his hands, and
when he struggled to free himself, he heard
the cry Of s.Siame! Shamc..' that awokc
him from his uneasy slumber, with cold
sweat upon his brow, and his tender wife
slumbcring peacefully by his side, with her
white ana delicate arm clasping his painting.
chest.
When the morning dawncd, and the day
called him to his duties, it found him a
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