The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-04-18

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that struts in red sash and feathered hat.
Iwouid release her. As though love were
an attorneys bond. As though a pen full
of ink could blot out the eternal record Of
a hearts 6rst faithful affection. wrote to
her. I said / heard she was unmarried
still. l had come. home, / was also un-
married, but ! was manned, distorted, dis
6gured-an object TO look ut. l had no
right to insist on our contract. would
spare her feelings ! would not e1tort a
final ratification of her promise. ! loved
her still, and should always with tender
ness remember her, but was bound to re-
.lease her. She was free! 9,a ed ,am So
/ Free! Free by virtue Of written lease,
Z Free by one'line, when the interviewer
memories Of iife's long faith were bound
about her heart; when. every root of affection
that had struck into her bosom had sprung up
with hnew blossoms ofhope to adorn the vision
ary future. Free by my honorable conduct
when she cherished as on an altar the fame
of her yestal love, made fragrant by purity
and love. 5 a.i 1qy.aa boa tJo sUoa tIjg
Her letter was not like mine. It was
quick passionate, burning with Affection
II began; with reproach, and the reproach
was blotted with tear. 1t ended with
blessing, and tear made the blessing sa-
cred too. Let me come to her Let her
see my face. Let her embrace me. Let me
never leave her more, and she would soothe
me for all the pains Ihad endured. Not a
word other own sorrows! yad ,;.Ea1lj /.
Scarcely could that happiness be real
And had my long absence, had my misera-
BILE disasters. made, no change? WasYI
still for Jennie, the beloved OF other days! I
"What did you tell herr" said to nv
confidential comrade, the one-eyed commo-
dore, bluff old hero, with heart as warm
as ever beat nnder gold buttons. He had
taken my letter, brought back Jennie's an
swer. ''
81 sail you were battered about the hall
till you were wreck" ~
"And what did he say! Did she shudder
as with aversion?"
"No, she sobbed and cried, and asked me
if you were injured much, and, said you
must have suffered bitterly, but she said,
too, that you must come to her. Miss |
said, 'he is SO knocked about that YOU won't
know him. He'll frighten you. He's ru-
ined man. He has hardly any body left."-
And then she flushed to the brow. Give
him that she cried, 'and tell him to come,
If he has enough body left to hold his soul,
I'll cling to him! >....,s.... ....... ....
And where, in tale or song, in history or
fable. is an answer recorded of more hero
ic beauty! What had to teach her of hon-
or! Hers was the honor of the heart---the
truth of the soul--the fidelity and love of a
woman BORN to bless this world. Mine was
an honor worn like a feature in cooked
hat--like an epaulet--like spur. 1t was
regulation honor-honor by the rules of"the
service" Jennie's was better than mine.
, y 4 y
| lived with her near the oldplace. And
my wife, the love of my early days, was
still the fond Jennie-gentle, tender, trust
ful-and from that day buried my ideas in
the pride Of war. 49, w - .'7s33" ~
Jennie was my only glory, and she was
faithful to me forever.