Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-08-17

/ kept no reekoningo OF day or night. AL
was alike to me, and ] yegetased, nol
lived, until at last, when the desire Of life
and liberty had almost faded from my
heart, my prison doors were set open
and / staggered forth into the binding
sunshine and was told that I was free
/ scarcely knew what the word meant
A friendly hand was laid on my shoulder
| fell back against the prison wall
sCome, come my poor fellow ? said be
in my own native language, and in tones
that brought the blue ridge, and Blanche's
dear voice. and my boys sweet prattle
all at once to my ears-he told me to fol
low him to the seaside, where vessel
was waiting to take US home.
He had been q prisoner toe, and occu-
pied a cell near my own, as we found by
comparing numbers. but bis light, cheer
ful and almost careless spirit had ont
been crushed like mine in the lank, un-
wholesome atmosphere Of dungeon
We had been riding on the dark blue
sea for many hours ere came fully tc
myself. Then l remembered all--the
fierce struggle Of that day, and the crue
wound upon my head, which for period
had shattered all my senses. My com
panion was a husband and father also
there was, therefore no need of with
holding my enthusiastic praises Of my
Blanche and her little Carl He sympa
thized with them all, and gave me raphso
dy for raphsody.
o the longing to be home by my owl
fireside once more Feeble, worn an,
wasted, l thought if I could but expiri
ence a few days of care and tenderness
from Blanche, should expand into nev
life. was like plant which is KEEP
from the light of day in cellar, an
which can only be restored by warmth
and sunshine, and loving hands to ten
it. As we neared home, this longin
grew SO intense that the least mention {
home set me quivering with emotion.
could not sleep nor eat, notwithstandin
my desire to grow well and strong, so a
not to shock my wife with the change
me. My friend tried to calm me an
talk Of our comrades, asked if b
knew Carl Reimer, and had learned hi
fate. He knew him well, and had bee
a neighbor at home and had seen biz
several times in the engagement, fghtin
bravely. He was so reckless that it W:
! not unlikely that he had not escaped Il
fate Of many who lay stretched upo
} the field that day. Or, ii might be tn
he was one of the gay and gallant troc
that marched home after the battle,
: gladden. the hearts that had been weeI
ing tears of blood in their absence.
! still wore my wan wasted look whe
we landed. / had no money, and lor
march for one so enfeebled as / was, L
before me. cut a staff from the fir
oak that l saw, and threw myself on Il
grass in the shadow Of some trees th
protected me from the sun and sic
heavily. In that sleep / dreamed of
happy meeting with Blanche. My p
low Of dried grass gave place to her b
!, som, the dews that were falling On n
face, were connected by the magic
sleep into the tears and kisses of \
wife and child. That was a hap
dream would fain sleep TO wake
\ more, il / could bat dream il aga
When / rose up again. it was alm'
!, night. ] felt sore and lame from slee
ing in the dew so long, and ] gladly !
: cepted the offer Of coEtager, who se
:. ing my state, asked me to stay all mig
under his roof. Our brave soldiers
serve to be welcomed" said the old m
: and when he pointed to the sword Il
hung over the fireplace, with bla
: ribbon and a soldiers cap hanging fr
> its hilt, I knew that be must have los
friend. It was my only son ! he 8
s weeping.
- The dame showed me to a poor l
a clean chamber, where / stretched
a weary limbs on bed for the first Ii
b for long, long while. slept bat Iii
:, but when / did, my afternoon dream ca
:. fitting back to me, and Ike an angel
: itani, il brought hope and JOY 70 bos
= SO long weighed down with sorrow J
81 next morning resumed my slow ma
homeward. Sc slow that although
far from cur own village / was una
: to walk thiGher until night was fairly
all ting IN. How ] srembled as went
IL the little slope that led 70 our door.
= bad purposely come BY back road
he a. not to meet any oae whom kn
yo. eoald mol hear tidings Of my fan
frnn any nassinr stranger. Thra