The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-06-04


Mr.. b was leaving the car in which we were
riding. He was so changed that had not recog
nized him as the indiv idual in whose presence
spoke so lightly about one killed and three wound
ed only few weeks efore.
"Sad, isn't il ?" said the other. growing serious
Every sad I'm told the mother has MT left her
room since the terrible news was communicated
| He was an only son."
a. That is trouble" was answered. How little
| do we think of what is really involved when w
run eyes carelessly, and often half-mpa-
| tently, over these almost daily announcements of
one or two killed or wounded in scout and picket
skirmishing 1t comes home to us in Mr.. B.
case"
| few weeks later,
"Did you see that face at the window ?" asked
q friend with whom / was walking,
had observed the face-that of young woman
II was visible for only an instant but in that in
stant it had impressed me strongly, it was so white
so ghostly, so full of sadness and suffering.
"Yes, saw it,"
" There has been sonnet thing more than bodily
Sickness" said the friend.
"Heart sickness. Pain that defes the leech s
| skill"
-. always touches me to see face like that"
remarked my companion. Heart-blight in one
so yOung-ah, it has sad How quickly the tender
leaves shrink and fade when frost drops down on n
spring blossom Its life is drawn from the sunshine
and falls when the icy winds pass over. In later
years we have more endurance. The heart is
stronger to bear"
Not long afterward the same pale face and sad
eyes looked out upon me from carriage, and their
image and expression remained with me as in a
picture for many days.
al am haunted by that face" said I, as il glided
past me the street, the eyes resting in mine for
an instant. Was there not something of rebuke in
them? felt it so. And yet they were to me the
eyes of u stranger.
Unhappy one! Sorrow has touched you early
with its bighted fingers" So spoke with my
self rs l walked on musing. " Has love failed, or
the shadow of death fallen over the threshold of
dearer than life I? All, is there not in the expc
rience of soul, tried in the fire thou assuredy
hast been, pain enough to make our hearts in the
bare imagination First the stunning shock Of
fearful calamity then the awakening to pain as
life begins to stir in the bruised and broken fbres
tand organs in the quivering nerves and lacerated
issues then the almost equally balanced contest
between life and death: and then the long period
of slow recuperation, with its anguish of aching
wounds its helplessness, its despondency its dark
ness. All! what history is written in face like
hin, pale, suffering stranger! How little of all
this is imagined by the passing crowd!"
Next saw that face in church. TWAS still pale
and sad, and bore look of exhaustion, as from
long endured pain. But there was IN il soft
er expressiOn-a touch of resignation blending with
pious hope.
"The Strong hath strengthened her.; so said
in my thought. "The burden was too heavy for
her own sonl and she hath laid it upon Him. Her
refuge is with the Comforter"
Often during the services my eyes turned invOl-
UNFAIRLY toward the young lady, who had awakened
in me an interest little short Of fascination. No
more devout worshipper sat under the preachers
mnistratons She impressed me as one who had
turned hopelcssy> from earth, and now rested all
with Heaven.
As moved down one of the Risles, after the ben
cdiction had been pronounced, the slightly bowed
form of Mr. P met my observation. He was
alone. Ny thought went instantly to his wife sor-
rowing for her dead SOP,
"Fhis may have proved too heavy t busdc8." so
thought. "What fearful weight to lay upon
mothers heart J"
"What !" calculated, speaking half-aloud, as
new conviction flashed across my mind, did that
arrow strike there alsoH"
MIR. B----- had paused by the pew-door from
which the pale-faced young woman was stepping
into the aisle, and taken her hand. did not see
his face but noted faint, sad smile on her lips
They passed out together In the vestibule they
fingered, and, in answer to q question, heard Mr.
Pr say;
81 think she is little more like herself. Come
and see her, won't youP twill do yop both good" /"
Tears sprung TO her eyes. My own were filling.
a. viii come" / saw her lips quiver as she
thus answered, and then turned almost hastily
away.
Poor Alice !" said voice near me.
"Doesnt it make You sad 10 see herr" was the
response.
Sad enough" answered the first speaker.
"They had been for some time engaged and were
to be married soon the war was over"
Her friends feared while for her reason"
"Yes, and then for her life. But she is steadily
regaining strength of body and mind was glad
to see her in church to-day. She was always pure
and good, and God will comfort and sustain her."
Mr.. B. was in church also
Yes. Poor man He really looks broken"
"They say that Edwards mother has scarcely
been ont of her room since the dreadful news came.
oh, have pitiod her so much !"
The speakers passed On, and heard no more.
"Only one killed Hardly worth the cost of
telegram !"
1t seemed as if some rebukiug spirit had thrown
these words into my mind. l was shocked, and
sensible of a creeping shudder along my nerves.
,.rhen my mind was crowded with myriad multi
nil qaion of the sorow and pain which had follow
ed H. at oRe death. A year, almost, of war, with
bundr eds Of thousands in battle-aTay, and killing
and wo unding thing Of daily occurrence - alas |!
alas! What imagination can reach the fearful ag-
cregate Of Woe?
When peace comes - when the hydra-head Of
treason lay crushed at the nations feet = shall we
mass the awful crime of those who, for selfish and
wicked ends, turned our fertile fields into battle
grounds and cemetaries, and desolated our homes,
as light thing? Shall we gvethe fraternal hand
and offer the kiss of reconciliation, though all
were an innocent mistake or peccadillo2 By the
uffering and sorrow that remains unassuaged, no
ct revenge, not hate, not unforgiyeness no, not
IN, Sc for Christian people but stern and abid-
inc remembrance of the spirit that prompted the
evils we have endured, and a neyer-cessing con-
denim. ltion Of all who favored 1t IN word or deed.