The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-29


presence of none else. Grief! she could not
submit to be left thus alone. The act must be
revoked that made him of the army. She
would seek him-she would implore him to
come back to those who loved him, and to
whom he was all the world.
So that same day, ere the sun had reached
his meridian, unknown to any one she left her
home and after three hours weary travel she
stood beside her husband in the camp beseech-
ING him to come home. Those who witnessed
her earnestness were melted by her tender en-
treates-these rugged soldiers that would
rush madly on bayonet and cannon, march
barefooted over frozen ground and deep snow,
sustained only by feryent patriotism-they wept
as they beheld this fond but timid, wife cling
ing to her husband, and with eloquent endear-
ment, begging him for tile love he bore her, to
return once more 10 the desolate hearth, now
left without protector. Impossible! he could
not with any descent grace, retreat from posi-
ton SO recently assumed. He consoled her as
best be could, but assured her of the imprac-
ticabilty of leaving the army She must sub
nit, it would be a sacrifice no greater than had
been made by thousands. There was no rene
dy but to wait in hope-the end was certain
and the consequences would be glorious But
what could the poor wife do? Ha! a thought
struck her She will seek the tent of Washing
ton-at his feet will she lay her petition.
| Behold the hero in his tent-the great the
godlike, in whom are joined all virtues, created
for the age, and for the cause, doing what none
George Madden. Her petition has not been
without effect. She holds in her hand paper
that will restore her to her husband, but before
| Il. oaSo of apt ha
reyerently takes the hand of her benefactor and
presses it to her lips, a tear falls upon it which
the good man suffers to remain, and sends her
from his presence with benediction, and words
of hope and comfort.
Again she is in the presence Of her husband
1-she shows him his discharge with beamlng
countenance and words of joy.
CHOW you will 60 home with me, George,
and we will again be happy-ah so happy?'
But no glow of satisfaction lit up his eye, no
gladdering emotions shed their radiance over
his features. .-..
The discharge was recognized, and she led
her husband from the ranks of his devoted COM
panies, but he went forth with not that manly
dignity and firm step with which he entered the
camp as voluteer. The eyes of the soldiers
were upon him-he faneied scornfully-his
head dropped upon his chest, and suppressed
, whispers Kissed in his ear like so many ser
pents, each voice of reproach and shame
but the timid and loving woman that led him
from the camp of war was unconscious OF al
: this. She heard no whispers of reproach, she
S saw no scornful eyes-she was only conscious
e that she had recovered her husband, and wha
t cared she for eyes and lips! The pickets were
$ passed, and the last guard stared rudely in hel
II face as she approached him, and mutteree
S something that she did not hear. She prattlec
e ramblingly to her husband, fond creature, al
d the way, telling him how happy she should be
J. and father and mother, but he answered he
not, still walking gloomiy by her side. Littl
e cared she though, and still she wended along
e and still she prattled Poor timid tender crea
d ture. She did not imagine what load {
of shame she had piled on the head OF her hus
l. band! She had him safe all her own again 6
h last, and she could not dreap of any wo, Q
1t brooding sorrow. Buthe thoug ght-he broode
e over the desertion of his comrades, and re
membered the expression of their faces as b
d suffered himself to be led out of the encamp
e ment. And that night in his dreams he heart
is the booming cannonade, the crack of musketry
= the clash of steel, and the pealing shout of vic
e tory, but he had suffered child to tie his hand
and when ne struggled to free himeelfhe hear
r a cry of "shame, shame, - that awoke him from
n his uneasy summer, with cold sweat upon hi
ct brow, and his tender wife sumbering peace
20 fully by his side, with her white and delicat
81 arm clasping his painting chest.
l. When the morning dawned and the da
2 called him to his duties, it found him strange
'r ly altered man. The caresses of his wifi
f. seemed loathsome to hm-he could not bea
st her presence, but sought every opportunity G
stunning her. But once during the day di
l. he speak to her. The poor creature could nc
s. bear his coldness, and her heart at last over
er flowing with feelings that became insupportabl
d she seized his hands, and looking earnestly i
= his face, while her eyes glistened with tears
OF she exclaimed:
l. "Oh, George! why, oh why do you behav
s. so coldy-so strangel y-what's worrying 20
is what secret thing has so sadly frozen u
'e your affections? Oh, it is killing me, Georg
S you must look kindly!-you must speak
- me or shall die!'
a He pressed her to his bosom for moment
g and then, looking earnestly in her eyes, said:
'e s'Mary, you have disgraced me, can neve
sc look man in the face againP'
is She spoke not, but returning his glance wit
Re a proud eye, and suddenly quitting NE room
Il she left her husband wondering at the strange
II ness of her behavior. Her absence was br
for a moment, and returning she placed in tn
d hands of George, the gun and knapsack wit
|, which he had accoutred himself on the previou
e night.
fe 1'There, George, return to the camp. TIE
to gen. Washington that the wife gives her hea,
W for the cause of her country. Hevery Amer
n can gave as much, we should be invincible! &c
% God bless you! this is my sacrifice! you will bi
n me farewell-you will now speak to me-yo
at will look as you used to do! That's some haE
:e piness. Oh / could not bear your dispeas
2 ure!''
j. Need we say how the heart OF the youn
t, man leaped with exceeding joy, and how b
le pressed The yielding form Of his beautiful wit
o. to his bosom! Shall we describe the tende
parting and affectionate farewell? or shall W
s cover them with the veil of consciousness S
4 sacred? We prefer that the imagination of tn
y reader should supply scene that descrlptlo
g cannot do justice to.
re- Gaoroo Madden was once more enlisted /