The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-03-06
The Dying soldier.

Oh! that coul,l bring to your mind, read
er. the full sadness of S,ich scene would
do you no harm, though thrill after thrill OF
horror might shake your frame. 1t is not
alone the gaping wounds. the heavy groans,
that would enlist your sympathy. but the
sense Of dcsolateness the poor sick men
must feel, as they think Of their homes, and
the dear ones they arc never destined to be-
hold in life. There they lie, ranged sill by
side, sonne Of them Indifferent to all that Is
taking place around them, others with eyes
brightly restless AMI watchful, now gloo'ned
with apprehension, now lighted with hope.
Here is an athletic. handsome youth, whose
arm lies shattered at his side, the good right
arm that has 50 often been welded in useful
deeds. 1t will never serve him more, for
amputaton has become the necessity. and
death may follow. Here is another whose
face was handaged down to the pale outline
Of his lips, and whose doom is inevitable
blindness. il his life is spercd. Here lies
another whose quiv,ring mouth and mus,
c,es tell the agony he has the fort:tu'ie I"
conceal, but which the surgeon say will
prove too much for him. What wonder that
the nurses move about him with hlanchcd
check and moistencd eyes! 1t is their first
experience, and some Of them tremb!e As
each body is broug t in, for fer Of r.cos-
nizing a son or brother.
Quietly from he'd to bed moves the chap
lain, sickened to the heart. but strengthened
for his duty by the Hand that never fails.
To some he gives few words Of sympathy,
rcservinC their cases for another day, for
they are only slightly wounded: 10 others
he speaks gently Of their sitnation, striving
to tell them by wo,ds from which all hope
has departed, ofthcr swift coming end. To
al he speaks Of Jesus bids them in the hour
Of their extremity to look up to God, who is
willing to accept them If they will but put
their trust in Him. Poor fellows, rude and
rough though they may have seemed. the
quivering lip shaking like that Of child in
its heaviest child sorrow, the deep heaved
sob, that lifts the great chest with almost
convulsive throes, tell that there is foun.
tain in the heart that the soft words ofsym.
pathy may stir.
The chaplain came At last to cot sci
somewhat by itself outside the wards. Here
reclining at full length. was young man
whose face bore but slight traces Of suffer
ing. II was flushed with hue Il &c that o.
health; the eyes were undimmed, and only
tho position Of his hands, which were thrown
over his head and lecked inspasmodic tight
ness, told that he was in pain. He was un
usually noble In countenance. His brow
xas broad and fair, and the locks that clus
tered back from his temples curled like thu
ringlsts ofa boy. He know not why, bu
the chaplain experienced an unusual ant
sudden sympathy for this young man, struck
down in his beauty; etill he felt there wa
no immediate danger in bis case.
'How is he wounded r he asked Of tn
surgeon. - the two approached the bed
softly.
I'm the right side, below the ribs, was tn
reply.
IL hs in dangerr
'Ohi no; that il, not 1t present. Tn
case may take . bad turn, to be sure; bu
/. looks very well now. Charles be add ed
sddressing the sick man, familiarly, 'th
chaplain il going the rounds; would yo'
like to ses him ?
%! certainly T exclaimed the young man
smiling 4 am very glad to zee him. an
he held out his hand, His voice was stron
and ringing, - with the highest health, hi
clasp WAS vigorous.
Il am sorry to And you wounded, M
friend,' said the chaplain.
'Oh, only the casualty ofwar; we mus
some Of us expect it, you know
30 you suffer muchf
AT times, sir, very severely; feel 8
wsu, only the distress here and he pressc
his hand to bis side.
you win be up soon, hope
II trust 20, cir the doctors say it is ba
> wound, but win yield with cage. onl
wish had my mother here. She has hear
ef Il. and doubtless started before this.
Win seem % comfortable to see her; "a
don't knov how long for her.
All mothers, yon Az the 6rst thought