Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-10-30

"Mother, did you hear the stage horn2'
asked Rebecca, us she laid the cloth she had
spun with her own hands for the supper,
Nes; aud was kind of impressed there
was news from Reuben
81 wonder what keeps hther so2' remark
ed Rebecca.
"Likely as not he's gone round TO the tav-
ern, to learn if there's any tidings from the
army"
Another half hour throbhed itself away in
he pulses Of the great old-ashioned clock in
the corner, and both the women had begun
to grow alarmed at the deaeon's prolonged
absence, when they caught the click Of the
gate-latch, and his heavy tread along the foot
path. They saw him stop as usual at the
wooden trough, at the well, and wash his
hands there, and then he came into the
kitchen.
"Why, father" began Mrs. Palmer, with a
little wiiely admonition, "what has kept you
so long2 really began to get scared
about YOU
"And the supper is about burnt to cinders,n
added Rebecca, who was in something Of a
hurry to get the table cleared in time for sing
ing school.
The deacon was square-built, sn-browu.
ed man, with shaggy eyebrows aud weather
beaten face. He came forward TO the table
with a slow cropping movement, which neith-
er of the pre-occupied women noticed, and
he cleared his throat twice before he spoke.
81 was detained spell on some matter of
my own, and Mrs. Palmer and Rebecca at
once concluded that he alluded to some bar
gain with a neighbor.
O. Il. a. a. 1f
asked Rebecca; for the Oldham stood still as
a statue before the table, though his daugh-
ter had just placed his seat at his elbow, and
now he sat down without speaking word.
"Why, husband, do believe you're deafto-
night You haven't taken your hat of, ex-
claimed Mrs. Palmer.
Don't wife, don't" and the old man laid
his straw hat on the floor beside him.
The two women bent their heads reverently
over the board, waiting for the deacon to in
woke his customary blessing upon the meal,
but no sound broke the stiffness. Mrs. Pal
mer glanced up at her husband; his head, too,
was bent over his plate; and stream of
candle-light which fell on his face revealed it
fully to her gaze,
John, something has happened TO you to-
night she said, leaning forward, and breath
lcssly searching bis face
A deep cOnvulsivo sort of groan heaved out
of the mans lips, and both the women grew
white as they heard it.
"Oh, what is it, father2 do tell us T. flut-
tered up the frightened voice of Rebecca.
Mrs. Palmer rose and went to her husband,
and laid her shaking fingers on his hard hand
"O, John, it amt anything about Reuben ?'
She cried out the words as one might if
sword had struck suddenly into his heart.
Rebecca had sat still at the table, her sweet
face struck white with wonder and fear. and
her brown eyes fastened on her parents; but
now she sprang up, and dropped down on her
knees at the deacon feet: 40, father do
say it isn't Reuben" and her voice was like
her mothers. The deacon opened his lips,
but he could not speak He took the hands
of his wife and child, and covered them with
his own trembling ones. 40, Lord, have
mercy upon usW grcaned the stricken man,
and then they knew.
Mrs. Palmer crept up TO her husband, and
whispered in faint broken voice, "Just say
my boy isn't dead, father. can bear to hear
anything else"
And the deacon made no answer; but the
great tears fell down his furrowed cheeks.
and it was enough.
The tidings ofthe disastrous battle at Long
Island, which closed the summero of seventeen
hundred and seventy-six had filled the land
with mourning for thousands of widows and
orphans had been mace in that terrible hour
when so many brave Americans lay dead on
the battlefield; and the news OF the successful
skirmish which took place the following
month near Kings bridge in New York, was
everywhere hailed with gladness and graft
tude, and the little village Of Woodstock bore
its part injthe general rejoicing on that autumn
nal night when the stage first brought in
the tidings. The deacons family was the
only one in Woodstock to whom the news
brought any sorrow, for 1t was in this en-
gagment that Reuben had fallen. He was n
great favorite through the village, and every
heart was filled with sadness when it thought
on that bright and handsome face lying stark
and rigid on the battle field. ...
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