The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-08-29

Flesh wounds close readily. but spirit
wounds are difficult to heal. These invisi-
ble bullets are almost sure to reach some
vital part"
I met Mr.. Harley not long afterward. in
company with bis wife. His eyes we're
bright. his lips firm, his cheeks flushed with
health. You saw scarcely q sign Of what
be had endured. He talked in a brave
soldierly manner. and was anxious for the
time to come when the surgeon would pro-
nounce him in condition to join his regi-
ment. Ills wound, when referred to. evi.
dently gave him more pleasure than pain.
1t was a mark of dis,inction-a sign that he
had offered life for his country. How diff
ferent with Mrs. Harley! II touched you to
; look into her dreamy, absent eyes. on her
patient lips and exhausted couutenance.
"She has worn herself out in nursing me. !"
said the husband. 10 answer to a remark on
her appearance. He looked at her tenderly
and with Just shade of anxiety in his face.
Was the truth not pain to him? Did he not
know that she had been wounded also?--
That two balls left the rifle when he was
struck. one Of them reaching to his distant
home.
"In three weeks l hope to be in the 6eld
again, and face to face with the enemy"
He spoke wit h the ardor of a strong desire
his eyes bright. and his face in glow
wounding and the pain of wounding. all
forgotten. But another's eyes became dim
as his frightened another's cheeks pale as
his grew warm. I saw the tears shining as
Mrs. Harley answered, in an unsteady
voice.
IL am neither brave enough nor strong
enough for soldiers wife,
She had meant to say more, was plain
from her manner. but could not trust her
self.
30, ycs- you are; brave enough and
strong enough" replied Mr.. Harley, with
animation. "Not every one could have
moved so calmly amid the dreadful scenes
of camp hospital OF the battle. watched
you often and felt proud of you.
'lf she had not been wounded also-my
wife began; but Mr.. Harley interrupted her
with ejaculation.
"Wounded," in tone Of surprise.
"Yes, wounded" resumed my wife; "and
as now appears. nearer the seat Of vitality
than you were. Did you not know this be-
fore. Mr.. Harley -
My friend was perplexed for . little
while. He could not get down at once to
ny wife's meaning.
"When you were struck, she was struck
slso."
20, yes!" Light broke in upon Mr.. Har.
ley. He turned quickly toward his wife,
and saw in her face what had been unseen
before, the wasting and exhaustion that
come only from deeps Gated pain. He had
thought the paleness Of her countenance, the
weakness that made her step slow and eau
tious, only the result of overtaxed muscles
and nerves. But he knew better now.
IL didn't think of that" he said. with
visible anxiety As he gased into his wife's
"Our wounds, SO ghastly to 4
he eyes. often get no deeper than the flesh
md bone The pain is short, and nature
comes quickly to the work OF cure with all
ler healing energies. We suffer for while
md then it is over. We are strong and
ready for the conflict again."
'.But, said my wife. "into the homes that
stand far away from the battle fields come
,wift- winged messengers that wound and
kill as surely as iron hail. They strike
wives, sisters-some with death
and with the anguish of vital pain.
Alas! for these wounded! The healing, il
it fellows. is never, as the surgeons say, by
first intention. but always slow. and often
through abcess and liberation. The large
number never entirely recover. They may
uger for years. but do not lose the marks
Of suffering"
A long silence followed. There were
others present who, like Mr.. Harley had
never thought of this. noticed that for
lerer toward his wife. and more than oncs
saw him looking at her, whls she was
,ot observing him. with troubled count
,nance. He did not again speak of the
,arly period at which he expected to join
lis regiment.
On the day following another long list
# the killed aud wounded was given to the
,ublic. As I read over the names and 4
ounted the numbers my thought came back
rom bloody field and suffering hospital
These are Lot ALL" said. 'Alas! not all
rhe ball has struck twice, thrice, aud some
ines oftener. There is pain. there is an.
,uish. there is = wounding. even unto death,
q many, many homes within thousand
niles Of that CORY place. Some are alone
nd neslected-dying on their battle field
vith no one to put oven cup of water to
heir lips--some are with loving friends who
ret fail to stanch ths flow of blood, or band.
lge the shattered limb--some cover their
hiding them from all eyes. and
bear the pain in chosen solitude. The sum
IF all this agony. who shall give it %
Our wounded! II you could find them ALL
you must look beyond the hospitals. They
ire not every ore bearded and in male At.
ire. There sat beside you. in the car just
now a woman. You scarcely noticed her.
She left at the corner below. There was
not much life in her face; her steps, as they
rested on the pavement, were slow. She
has been wounded and is dying. Did you
notice Mrs. D in church last Sum
layi Eyes. and now remember that she
vas pale, and had an altered look One
If our wounded! Do you see face at the
window "In the marble front house ?"
Yes, cit is painful enough; what sad looking
syesr' "Wounded All. sir they are eve
~ where about US. Already, from over
hundred battle ields and skirmshing
grounds. have been such missives as pain
and death. They have penetrated un guard
ed homes in every city, town and neighbor-
hood of our ooce happy and peaceful un-
try. wounding the beloved ones left there
In, hoped FIR eaeupifv For eurh &h>~ =.