The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-07-15
cHAuNcEY LEWIS, THE SOLDIER INV

10Y htteen years OF age WAS standing
before the open door of Connecticut farm
house with little fowling piece upon hi.
shoulder, while a matronly looking woman
was standing in the doorway and gazing
with moistened eyes upon him.
"Go, my son." she said, "but remember
when amid the smoke and heat of the battle
The sentence in the blessed book have piv.
en- you, "tbe merciful shall obtain mercy."'
II will not forget it, mother" he replied
"but our company is waiting, and now,
farewell z"
GOOD by, my son"-she kissed him as
she spoke-"and may lie who has for two
score years watched over the mother. pro.
tcct the son !"
A cloud Of smoke hung over and envel-
oped the blood stained soil of Bunker's
Till. A noble looking man, in the uniform
OF an American general was slowly retreat.
ing with his face to the foe.-The sharp re-
port OF single rifle was heard, and War.
rem fell A young soldier almost-a bow
-sPrang towards him and lifted his head :;
al The Same instant giant grenadier in the
British uniform, came charging at him with
levelcd bayonet.
10 draw an old rusty horse pistol from
his breast presen: and fire it, at the approach
ing ioe, was but the work of a moment
lhe grena'lier fell, wounded, and seizir e
sword OF Warren which had fallen from his
grasp, the boy soldier ran az raised it over
the red coat to dispatch him.
But why does he pause when the sword
IS uph'ted, and allow it to fall slowly to his
s'de' and then turn away and strike not
lie remembers the Injunction Of that mo-
ther' whom two months ago lie left in the
door OF the open farmhouse, "Remembcr
my son, amid the smoke and heat of ba,,Ie
The merciful shall obtain Mercy.'"
The tide of battle had swept like whirl.
wind over the plains Of Trenton. The Brit.
lsh cavalry had ridden with irresistible force
over a detachment of men and boys, form
ing portion Of the left wing Of the Amer
lean army, and among the dead and dying,
lay boyish soldier wounded, and with his
right arm broken.
A merciless party Of Hessians were rang
ing over the field numbering and pIunderng
those who had fallen. They approached
the boy soldier, who dauntlessy awaited the
death, and one Of them drawing
his sword was about to plunge it into the
boys side, when agigantic red coated pren.
ad'er rushed between the boy and the muir
lerous Hessian and struck up the weapon.
Hold, ruffians! That boy spared nv
ite at Bunker's Hill. 1t is now nv turn.n
and raising him in his strong arms, he bore
lin from the bloody soil to place of safe.
y.
Ah! bow those parting words of his mo-
her again ran through his brain and made
weet music in his soul. "Remember. nv
on, when amid the smoke and heat of bat
le' that The merciful shall obtain Mercy.'"
IL was never forgotten, and when a little
more than two years ago I stood above the
Generated form, and gazed upon the calm
eatures of the aged boy soldier, whose life
lad peacefully gone out like the last flicker
ne of candle which has burned down in
Is socket, l thought Of those words, and in
imagination could see the parting of mo-
her and son. at the old farmhouse eighty
hree years ago.-N. Y. Waverly.
TITLE OF BooKs.-Decoys 10 catch pur.
hasers. There ran bo M d.,,l.