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

Il
| sGenerally speaking,' began the youth, sstor-
| les have what is called moral to them; and if
you don't know what that means 1 shall not
stop toitell you-'
sltmatters very little who or what am con-
tinued he. Il have lain in silk and purple, and
| grew up as one born to command 1 went to
college, and very likely you think was a wild,
| harum-scarum devil of felow-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 it 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.
81 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 1 been Don Juan himself
there was such lavish trust, that would have
| been converted from debauchee into an hon
est man.
sShe is still now as a frozen rill-sleeping
like the streams of winter-she will never wake
again!
Yes, she was lovely little trusting flower,
the daughter of a worthy tradesman, who loved
her as the apple of his eye! but she was worthy
of throne, and would have given her one if
l could. She is poor now, and so am l..
sOur dream of love delicious, but very
brief. She eloped with mc-she became my
wife.
my 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,
vino would love her like her own.
sImeant to have put her back into his bosom,
and said, sembrace your daughter, but also en-
brace my wife, and you can love her still!' but
that day never came. / believed, however
very firmly in it, and 1 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
cd them more and more. Then / made up my
mind to return to my fathers home.
sOne day went to my little homo, ,afterwall
ing, and l found her gone, both gone, Then
the sleeping devil within me woke up. learn
cd from, bo pftb tba 4bofo CT,
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-
cd 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
1 demanded my child. They denied any
knowledge of either. l cursed both, and left
the house never to return to it again.
need not tell by what means / traced my
Alice through stages of wretchedness and pen
ury, till found both mother and child dying
on a mean pallet in parish worE-house.
Il coul ID 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 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;
l shed no tears; heard her utter cry of Joy
and pain, and then the thin helpless hand wand
cred over my head, as laid it kneeling by her
side in that horrible hole, upon her breast be-
side my child.
sTo lose parent, to lose mother one loves
to lose friend one is devoted to-to lose a
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 it thus my
parents had shown their love? Was ii to see
her die that had moved tho heavens and the
earth to discover herr
sTakemy head in your arms, my dear George
she said family. eTalze my child in your arms,
TOO. Kiss me-ilss the baby You love us,
do you not2 God bless you! God protect you.
Do not separate us. Do not forget us. have
bern much---but loved you so dearly and
forgive every one, as hope TO be forgiven
The rough soldiers turned away, and one or
two wiped their eyes.
Little Alice said, arc you going without
me E?
Il ain only going before you,' she said and /
felt that she was speaking the truth. Il am