Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-23

oeen iurge to enlist In the eglmentss GO
ing to the West Indies sIShaye told the
officer thatI would never serve
against my country, and he replied thatI
need not--that ssrYicein the West Indies
was only garrison duty. But, sir, i can
not 90 and leave my brother"
tom has not told you half the story,
SIR" said the sick man, raising himself
upon one arm. "There are but two boys
of us living, and there will soon be but
one. At home we have an old mother
on the farm, who looks to us as the main |
support to lean on, the older she grows. |
Then we've u sister, but shall never see |
her-that prays nightly for our return
Now, sir. 1 will appeal to you-is it not
his duty to enlist for the sake of his mo-
Their and sister,"
The warm-hearted Colonel felt tear
rise at this appeal. A moments look at
the sick man was convincing proof that a
week at longest would finish his career,
and he replied firmly, "IIe should en-
listl'
"I knew it! knew it p said the sick
brother with animation. Now, Tom,
you know that this officer is our country
man, and prisoner likewise, He would
not recommend you to do anything dis
honorable. You will sec our mother and
sister again feel it, You can tell them
that 1 died thinking of them, contented to
face the grim tyrant, when knowing that
you were still left for their support, and
could tell them how died.
The colonel rose he could endure this
no longer and with the simple remark
that he would return in two or three min
utes, went to find DR.. Musgrave. He
found the blunt surgeon very busy giving
a prescription here, applying blister
there, and rendering his services wherev-
er they could be of avail, much to the
qualification of the prisoners. They had
but few of the surgeons to regard with
favor, so severe was their treatment by
some brutes of the profession, in human
shape.
Doctor" said Col. Allen, "may 1 ask
you to step with me to another part of the
hospital l want you to tell me conf
dentially how many days. life there is in
the sick man shall show YOU"
Lead on, Ethan-for that is the name
1 understand you went by at Ticondcroga,
under the orders Of Jehovah and the Con-
tinental Congress- Lead OIL will
follow"
"Well, that's right. Twas christened
Ethan. Now, what's your handle to Mus
grave 2"
Tobias, Called, for shortncss, lobe
Doctor lobe"
Good Doctor Tobc, here is hard
case two brothers, one far gone in con-
sumption, the other sick, more for want of
food and the sight of green fields than
anything else. shall ask favor of you
after you tell me in private how long is
the sick mans lease of life."
They reached the place where the two
brothers were lying, and found them in
tears Yhe struggle of parting was to be
a hard one but death cut all links, from
the highest to the lowest. DIR. Musgrave
looked at the sick man, asked him few
questions, felt his pulse, and ordering
some nourishing food to be brought by
ono of the hospital walters, drew the colo
mel aside and said to him
That poor fellow MAY live week
but l think half the time will finish his
career. He'll soon be off the hospital
books. Now, what favor was it you wan
ted to ask of me %
ellis brother, the man of large frame,
you see, with but little flesh on his bones,
is ready to enlist in the troops raising for
service in the West Indies, as soon as his
brother dies. Now, can you not get him
enlisted to day, so that he may receive his
bounty, and buy his dying brother few
comforts with the money, with permission
TO remain here until the sick man sIcarcer
of life is over 60
ga worthy thought and suggestion,
Colonel 1t shall be done. With little
beef in that frame of his, he'll make q gal
liant recruit. I'll see that it is done in an
hours time, You shall be present. Till
then, good bye"
Col, Allen took Tom, the dying man
brother, aside, and communicated to him
the Intelligence the doctor had given.
"Your brother can live but few days
enlist in the West India Regiment
You will receive your bounty money, and
that will enable you to obtain many things
to sootho his dying hours. You will not
be required to enter the camp until after
his death, and then act your own pleasure
as to remaining, if you can get chance
to leave. Britain owes you at least your
bounty money"
81 do consent, for the reasons you have
just given" said the brother. al will
never aise arms against my country, come
what will but at this time enlist to aid
a brother, and see once more mother
and sister,"
"That's right. my good fellow Go,
now, and tend upon your brother. Say
that you have consented to enlist for the
sake of pleasing him. 1t will be pleas
ure that he should know this-he will go
out of existence with some pangs less"
The soldier, as requested, returned to
his brother, and Col, Allen could see, as
the communication was made, the coun-
tenance Of the poor victim in the cause of