Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-11-21
'em! Shoot TO kill, not TO scare iem. :"
"PiBg, PingI" went the rifles.
''Zrz-z viii" rang the muskets.

/ ~Zrz-zvit!" rang the muskets.
( On they went, crOuching among the bushes
( creeping along under the banks of the brook
cautiously peering from behind trees in search
of "butternuts"
I Hopeful was in the advance; his hat was
I lost, and his hair more defantly bristling thar
/ ever. Firmly grasping his rife, he pushed on
carefully watching every tree and bush A
rebel sharpshooler started to run from one tree
to another, when quick as thought, Hopeful's
rife was at his shoulder, puff OIL blue smoke
rose from its mouth, and a rebel sprang in the
air and fell back dead. Almost at the same
instant, as Hopeful leaned forward to see the
effect Of his shot, he felt a sudden shock. a
sharp burning pain, grasped at a bush, reeied
and sank to the ground.
Are you hurt much Hope?" asked one OF
his comrades, kneeling beside him I'D staunch-
ing the blood that flowed from his wounded
leg.
"Yes, expect am; but that red wamus
over yonders reddern ever now. That fellow
won't need pension"
They carried him back to the hospital, and
the old surgeon looked at the wound, shook
his head, and briefly made his prognosis.
"Bone sbattered-vessel injured-bad leg
have to come off. Good constitution, he'll
stand it,"
And he did stand it; always cheerful, never
complaining, only regretting that be was no
longer able to serve his country.
And now Hopeful is again sitting on his lit
tie bench in Mynherr Kordwaner's little shop,
pegging away at the coarse boots, singing the
frlo 1t
him sing. He has had but two troubles since
his return. One is the lingering regret and
restlessneSs that attends civil life after an ex
perience of the rough, independent life in
camp. The other trouble was when he first
saw Christina after his return. The loving
warmth with which she greeted him panied
him; and when the worthy Herr considerably
went out Of the room, leaving them alone, he
relapsed into gloomy silence. At length speak
ing rapidly, and with choked utterance he be-
gan:
Christina you know love you, now as l
always have, bettern all the world But I'm
a cripple nOw-no account to nobody-just
heavy weight-an' l don't want you, cause of
your promise before l went away, to tie your
self to a load thatfl be drag on you all your
life. That promise ain't-is-
her by repealed! There"
And he leaned his head upon his hands and
wcpt bitter tears, wrung by a great agony
from his loving heart.
Christina gently laid her hand upon his
shoulder, and spoke slowly and calmly:
"Hopeful, your soul was in that leg, was it?'
1t would seem as though Hopeful had al
ways thought that such was the case, and was
just receiving new light upon the subject, he
started up so Suddenly.
by jiug Christina :"
And he grasped her hand, and-but that is
another Of those scenes that don't concern us
at ALL And Christina has promised next
Christmas TO take the name, as she already
has the heart of Tacket. Herr Kordwaner,
too. has come to the conclusion that be wants
d partner, and on the day of the wedding a
new sign is to be put up over a new and large
shop. on which Go" will mean Hopeful Tack
ct. In the meantime Hopeful hammers away
Justify, merily whistling, and singing the prais-
es of the Hanger" Occasionally, when he
is resting, he will tenderly embrace his stump
of a leg, gently patting and stroking it, and
talking to it as his pet. II a stranger is in
the shop, he-will bold it out admiriagly, and
ask:
do you know what call that? call that
Hopeful 1ackt his mark !'''
And it is u mark-a mark Of desti2ction-
a badge Of honor, worn by many brave fell
low who has gone forth, borne and upheld by
love for the dear old flag, to suffer, to die, if
need be, for it-won ia the fierce contest,
amid the cashing strokes of the steel, and the
wild whistling OF bullets; won by an unfinch-
ing nerre and an unyieding muscle; worn as
the proudest distinction that an American can
reach. IL these lines ceme to one of those
who have thus fought and sufered-thOugh
his scars were received in some unnoticed, un-
published skirmish, though official bulletins
spoke not of him, "though fame shall never
know his story'-let them come as a tribute
to him; as a token that he is not forgotten;
that those who have been with him through
the trials and triumphs of the field, remember
him and the heroic courage that won for him
those memorable scars; and that while life is
lett TO them they will work and fight in the
same cause, cheeriully making the same sacri-
fees, seeking no higher reward than TO take
him by the hand and call him 'comrade," and
to share with him the consciousness of duty
done. Shoulder straps and stars may bring
renown; but be is no less hero, who, with the
rife and bavonet, throws himself into the
breach, and, uniuspired by hope of official no
tice, battles manfully for the right
Hopeful Jacket, humble but illustrious,
hero for all time, we salute you.