Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-01-29

fore him is kneeling the wife of George
Madden. Her petition has not been in
vain, her tears have not been without
effect. She holds in her hand paper
that will restore to her her husband but
before she goes to the officer OF his reg
iment, she reverently takes the land 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-she shows him his discharge
with beaming countenance, and words
of JOY.
g Now you will go home with me,
George, and we will again be happy
oh, so happy"
But no glow of satisfaction lit up his
eye, no gladdening emotions shed their
radiance over his features.
The discharge was recognized, and
she led her husband from the ranks of
his devoted companions but he went not
forth with that manly dignity and firm
step with which he entered the camp as
volunteer. The eyes of the hardened
soldiers were upon him--he fancied
scornfully- head dropped upon his
chest, and suppressed whispers Kissed in
his ears like so many serpents, each a
voice Of reproach and shame but the
timid and loving woman that led him
from that camp of war was unconscious
of all this. She heard no whispers of
reproach, she saw no scornful eyes--she
was only conscious that she had recover
ed her husband, and what cared she for
eyes and lips! The pickets were passed,
and the last guard stared rudely in her
face as she approached him, and muttcr-
ed something she did not hear She
prattled ramblingly to her husband, fond
creature, all the way, telling how happy
he should be, and father, and mother
but he answered her not, still walking
gloomily by her side Little cared she,
though, and still she wendell along, and
still she prattled. Poor timid creature !!
Sho did not imagine what load Of shame
she had piled upon the head of her hus-
band She could not think how deeply
he was wounded She had him safe-all
her own again, at last, and she could not
dream Of any future wo or brooding sor-
row But he thought he broodcd over
his desertion Of his comrades, and re-
mcmbered the expression of their faces
as he suffered himself to be led oui nf
the encampment. And that night, in
his dreams, he heard the booming can
nonade, the crack of musketry, the clash
of steel, and the pealing shout of victo-
ry; but he suffered child to tie his
hands, and when he struggled to free
himself, he heard cry Of Shame, shamen
that awoke him from his uneasy slumber,
with cold sweat upon his brow, ana his
tender wife slumbering peacefully by his
side, with her white and delicate arm
clasping bis painting chest.
When the morning dawned ard the
day called him to his duties. it found him
strangely altered man The caresses
Of his wife seemed loathesome to him
he could not bear her presence, but
sought every opportunity of stunning
her. But once during that day did he
speak to her. The poor creature could
not bear his GOODNESS, and her heart at
last overlooking with feelings that became
insupportable. she seized his hands and
looking earnestly in his face, while her
eyes glistened with tears. she exclaimed
Oh, George why do you behave SO
coldly? 1t is killing me, George--you
must speak to me, Or shall die'
He pressed her to his bosom for mo-
ment, and then, looking earnestly in her
eyes, said:
=" Mary, you have disgraced me /
can never look man in the face again"
She spoke not, but returned bis glance
with proud eye, and suddenly quitting
the room, she left her husband wondering |
at the strangeness Of her behavior Her /
absence was but for a moment, and re-
turning, she placed in the hands Of her
husband the gun and knapsack with
which he had ACQUIRED himself on the .
previous night.
Tell General Washington tina. the wife
gives her heart for the cause Of her coun-
try. If every American gave as much,
we should be invineiblei Col God bless
you ! this is my sacrifice! You will bid
Inc farewcll-you will now speak to me
you will look as you used to do That
is some happiness. Oh, could not
bear your displcasurc p
Need we say how the heart Of the
young patriot leapt with exceeding joy,
and how he pressed the yielding form Of
his beautiful wife TO his bosom? Shall
VIC describe the tender parting aud the
affectionate farewell ? or shall we cover
with the veil Of silence scenes 50 sacredl
We prefer that The imagination Of the
reader should supply scene that dcscrip-
ton cannot do justice to.
George Madden was once more enlist
cd in the ranks Of his countrymen, where
he was received with applause
At this period Philadelphia was occu-
pied by the British under Gen. Howe,
who, annoyed at some forts On the Della
ware, detached portion Of tho royal
army to reduce them. Washington i'm
proved this opportunity to attack the re-
Dainder Of the British army, cncamped
at Germantown. This attack was made
on the fourth Of October, and was main
tanned on the part Of the Americans with
great severity, but they wore eventually
repulsed with twice tic loss Of The ene-
my, owing 70 the inexperience Of part
Of the troops and the presence Of thick