Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-06-15
THE YOUNG SOLDIERS STORY


Generally speaking,' began the youth, tstor-
les have what is called moral to them; and ii
you don't know what that means I shall not
step to,tell you
| 'ltmatters very little who or what am con-
| tinued he. Il have lain in silk and purple. and
grew up as one born to command. went to
college, and very likely you think was wild,
| harum-scarum devil of a afellow-boasting, dri-
| wing, hunting, cultiyating wine, cards, and so
| on. Well, if you think so, you are mistaken.
[ was quiet, studious young man, might add
moral; and 1t would have been perfectly true.
L loved books. study, and peace, was good
scholar, liked the arts, and was a quiet infant.
But still had fiery devil in me.
Il fell in love with a little doll of girl about
my own age, and for whom would have taken
| my heart out Of my bosom. l could have put
her in my breast to shelter her as one would a
| little bird; and she loved me with such strength
| of faith, that had l been Don Juan himself,
there was such lavish trust, that would have
been converted from a debauchee into an hon
est man.
'She is still now as a frozen rill-sleepinr
like the streams of winter-she will never wake
againi
yes, she was lovely little trusting flower,
the daughter of worthy tradesman, who loved
her as the apple Of his eye! but she was worthy
of throne, and 1 would have given her one if
could She is poor now, and so am l..
tOur dream of love was delicious but very
brief. She eloped with mc-she became my
Wife,
sMy parents heard that had eloped with the
child of tradesman, and threatened the poor
old fellow with ruin and annihilation. 1t
would not have taken much to have broken his
heart, for it was half gone already; but what
was done could not be undone and thought
my father and mother loved me too well TO
thwart ME, and that had only to bring her
home to give her another father and mother,
who would love her like her own.
Imeant to have put her back into his bosom.
and said, embrace your daughter, but also en-
brace my wife, and you can love her stiIl!' but
that day never came. 1 believed, however,
very firmly in it, and was happy, living in
little Eden of my own, far from the turmoil of
life, and expecting then my little baby hourly
MY parents prevented this. Yes, they him
dered all. We lived in Wales at the period,
and when my baby was born and she put it in
my bosom, and laid her own sweet little head
beside it, II prayed for her, for both, and low
ed them more and more. Then made up my
mind to return to my fathers home.
sOne day went to my little home, after walk
ing, and found her gone, both gone. Then
the sleeping devil within me woke up. learn
cd tia Of fl.. hot
man, and proud, pale woman, richly dressed,
drove up in q splendid chariot, drawn by four
horses, and carried of-robbed me of my wife
and child. This man-this woman, were my
parents. travelled night and day, and arriv-
ed al their home in town.
demanded my wife; they called her de-
signing, cunning girl; and they said something
worse of her than could bear, and silenced
them, and made them turn pale and tremble
L demanded my child. They denied any
knowledge of either. [ cursed both, and left
the house never to return to it again.
Ineed not tell by what means l traced my
Alice through stages of wretchedness and pen
ury, till found both mother and child dying
on a mean pallet in parish work-house.
Il could have called curses from heaven and |
and fires from hell to ayenge this objectionable |
Wrong-for what had this pale and tender dove |
done to win such an injury? But, when 1 saw |
her pale, thin cheeks, and heard her moaning |
and saw her wasted babe on the half starved |
breast of the woman adored, stilled my soul; |
she'd no tears; heard her utter cry of JOY |
and pain, and then the thin helpless hand wand |
cred over my head, as l laid it kneeling by her |
side in that horrible hole, upon her breast be- |
side my child.
sTo lose parent, to lose a mother one loves |
to lose q friend one is devoted to-to lose |
dog that has been your companion for long |
years, is all painful; what was it to this? Was
it for this had sought her Was il thus nv
parents had shown their love? Was it to see
her die that l had moved tho heavens and the
earth to discover her?
sTake my head in your arms, my dear George
she said family. take my child in your arms.
too. Kiss me-kiss the baby. You love us.
do you not? God bless you! God protect You!
Do not separate us. Do not forget us. have
born much-but l loved you so dearly; and | |
forgive every one, as l hope TO be forgiven
The rough soldiers turned away, and one or
.wo wiped their eyes.
Little Alice 1 said, are you going without
ne 2?
Il am only going before you,' she said and
eit that she speaking the truth. Il am