The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-01-27
CIIAUECEY LEWIS, THE ROY SOLDIER

CHAUECEY LEWIS, THE ROY SOLDIER.
a boy Of fifteen years Of age was stand
ing before the open door of a Connecticut
farmhouse with Il little fowling piece upon
l''s shoulder, while matronIy looking wo-
man was standing in the doorway and
gazing with moistcncd eyes upon him.
"G", my son." she said, "but remember,
when amid the smoke and the heat of the
battle, the sentence in the blessed book
have given You, the merciful shall oh.
tain mercy"
i will not forget it, mother" he re.
pied, but our company is waiting, and now
farewell
''o"d tyc my, soh"-shc kissed him as
she spoke" and may lie who has for two
score years watched over the mother, pro-
tcct the son !"
cloud OF smoke hung over and en-.
vel"prl the blood stained soil Of Bunkcr's
Hill. A noble looking man, in the uniform
"t IN american general was slowly retreat
ing with his face to the foe. The sharp re-
port Of single rife VA. heard, and War.
rem fell! \ young soldicr-aimost boy
-srrang towards him and lifted his head;
at the same instant Il giant grena,licr in the
british uniform, came charging at him with
Icvelcd hayonct
To draw IN old rusty horse pistol from
his breast, present and fire it. at the ap.
preaching fnc. was but the work of n mo-
mcnt. The grcna,!icr fell, wounded, and
scizing the sword of Warren which had
fallen from his grasp, the boy soldier ran
and raised it over the red coat to dispatch
him.
But why does he pause when the sword
isupI;f!cd and allow it to fail slowly to his
side, and then turn away and strike not
lie remembers the Injunction Of that,
mother, whom two months ago he left in
tie open door Of the farm house, Rcmcm.
per, my son, amid the smoke and heat or
battle, The merciful shall obtain Mercy"
The ri,l: of battle had swept like a whrl-
wind over the plains of Trenton. The
British cavalry had ridden with irrcsis,;LI.
force over a detachment of men and bows
forming portion of the left wing Of the
American army, and among The dead and
dying, lay boyish soldier wounded, and
with his right arm broken
a merc1lcss party Of fIessians were ranr
ing over the field numbering and plunder.
ing those who had fallen. They approached
the boy soldier. Who daud,l.ssly awaited
The impending death, and one of them
drawing his sword was about to punoc
1t INTO the boys side, when gigantic red.
coated grcnader rushed between the how
and the mur,lerous Hessian and struck nm
the weapon.
"Hold, r"flians! That boy spared nv
life at Bunker Hill. It's now my turn"
and raising him in hi. strong arms he
bore him from the bloody soil to place Of
safety.
All! no" those parting word. of hi.
mother again rang through hi. brain and
made sweet music in his soul Rcmem.
Der my son, when amid the smoke and heat
or battle, that The merciful shall obtain
mercy"
II wss never forgotten and when little
moro than two years ago stood above the
venerated form, and cazcdupon tile calm fea
lures OF the aged boy soldier, whose lite had
peacefully gone ont like the last hckcrine
OF candle which has burned down in its
socket l thought Of those words, and in
Imagination could see the parting Of mother
aud son. at the old farm house eighty three
years "go.-N. Y. Wayerly.