Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-09-12

i.h young people will be under such sirsum'
stanccs. wc older heads know all about
such little matters, and what they amount
to. q. yes, certainly We do.
The next morning found Hopeful. with
dozen Others, In charge Of tho Lieutenant,
and on their way TO Join the regiment.
Ilopeful's first experience OF camp'lifc was
no, a singular one. lie. like the rect OF us.
at fp, exhibited the most energetic awk'
wardnc.s in drilling. Like the rect OF Us.
/ be had occasional attacks Of home-sickness ;
and as he stood at his post on picket In the
silent nigbt.watches, while the camps lay
quietly sleeping in the moonlight, his
thoughts would go back to his lar away
home. and the plentiful charms OF the fair
haired Christina. So be went on. dreaming &
sweet dreams Of home, but ever active and
alert. eager to learn and earnest to DO his
duty. silencing oil selfish suggestions OF hi.
hear, with the simple logic ola pure pat.
riOtism.
"Ilopefui," he would cay. ",h' Bauscr''
took care you all your life. an now ysor re
here % take care OF IL. -, that you do IL
the best you know how
IL would be more thrilling and interest.
ing. and would read better, IL we could take
our hero 90 glory amid the roar OF cannon
and mu.ke,., through q storm Of shot aud
she'll, over serri,d line OF gli',enlEs bayo.
nets. But strict tru,h-a matter Of which
newspaper correspondents. and sensational
writers. generally 'ecm 10 have a very misty
oncep,ion-iorbidsi IL.
IL was only n -klrmish--a bush whackins
Gsh, ior the possession OF a swamp. A few
companies were deploycd as 'sirmi'her', to
drive ou, the rebels.
Now. boys" shouted the captain. "ai.
ter 'em Shoe, to kill, not to scare EN- :"
Ping, Ping" rang the rifles.
~ r.r.r.,it," sang the bullets.
On they went, eronehins among The bush
%, creeping along under the banks OF the
brook. cau,lou.ly pccring from behind trce-
in search OF "but,ernu,s."
Hopeful was in the advance; his hat was
lost. and his hair more defantly bristl'ng
than ever. Firmly sraspins his r'i". he
pushed on, carefully watching every tree
and bush. 4 rebel sharp shooter started to
run from one tree TO another. when. quick
a. thought, Hopeful. rIic vas At his shouI.
der. puff OF blue smoke rO.e IRON it, mouth,
and the rebel -prans into the and fell back
dead. Almost az the same instant. as
Hopeful leaned forward to zee the eiIec, Of
hi. sho,. he Eel, sudden shock, a sharp,
burning pain, era'pod at bush .rceled, aud
sank to the ground.
Are you hurt much. Hope y asked ono
of his comrades. kneelIns beside him and
.,aunchinc the blood that flowed from he
woupdel lcc.
"Ye.. expect am but that red wam'
US over wonder 7. .red!cr n ever now. Ina'
teller won't need pension"
They carried h'm back 10 the hospital,
and the old surgeon loosed a, the wound,
shook hi. head. and briefly made his prog
nosis.
Z" Bono sha,,ered-yC.sels injured-bai
Ie,-haye 10 come OF. Good constitution, (,
though. he II stand it,"
And he dli stand il. always cheerful,
never complaining. only rcsret'ins that he
mus, be dl.charged-,hat be was no longer
able 10 serve his country.
And now Hopeful i. again sitting on his
little bench IN Mynheer Kordwaner's little
shop. rc.sins away at the coarse boots
singing the somo glorious prophecy that we
6r., heard him singing. lle has had but
two trouble. since his return. One Is the
lingering regret and res,lcs.ne.s that attends
a civil life after an experience OF the rough,
Independent, lite in camp. The other trouble
wa, when he frs, saw Christina alter hls
return. The loving warmth with which
she greeted him panied him; and when the
worthy llorr considerably went out oil the
room, leaving them alone. he relaPsed into
gloomy silence. At length. speaking rapid
ly, and with choked u,terance, he began
Christie. you know love You now. as
I Away. have, better n all the world hot
I'm n cripple now-no account TO nobody-
jus. q dead weisht-an' don't want you'
cause O. your promise before went away.
10 tie yourself to q load tha,'ll be drag on
you all your life. That eon.raet-ah-
promi.e.-an't-,s-is hereby rrpealed!-
There! =" And he leaned h's head upon his
hand. and wept bitter tears. wruns by
great agony from his loving heart.
Christie gently laid her hand upou his
shoulder, and spoke, slowly and calmly -
"IIOpeful, your soul was not in that leg.
was IL p
IL would seem as IL Hopeful had always
thought that such was the case, and was
jus. receiving new light upon the 'ubjrcs,
he started up 50 suddenly.
"Bv jips! Christic!" And he gra'ped
her hand, und-but that is another Of those
seems that don't concern us at all. And
Christie has promised next Christmas to
take the name. as she already has the heart,
Of Tackett. Herr Kordwaner, too, has
como to the conclusion that he wants part
ner. aud on the day Of the wedding, new
sign is to bo put up over . new and larger
shop, on which "Co." will mean Hopeful
Tsckett. In the mean time. Hopeful ham'
mers AVA" Justify, merrily wbi'sl'nc' ana
- A.. ,sRanger De.