Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-03-28
From Arthur's Home Magazine for January.
THE LAGGARD RECRUIT.
BY KATE SUTHERLAND


was the remark of young man, in an exultant
voice, as be let the paper he was reading drop
from before his eyes.
Colonel G-'s regiment broke camp yes
terday, marched to the depot at Broad aud
Prime streets, and left for Washington in a
special train at seven O'Clock"
He did not read beyond this. In Co. G, of
Col. G-'s regiment, was young volunteer
Lieutenant, named Harvey. War was the ill
wind, which, in blowing this Lieutenant away
from Philadelphia, had, in the belief of the
speaker, blown good to him. Lifting the pa
per, he read the sentence over again, to be sure
there was no mistake. Then, to make assur-
ance doubly sure, he examined the list of Off
GERS to each company, which.the eaIeful repor-
ter had given. and found in it the name Of
Lieut.. Thornton G.. Harvey.
Il couldn't have asked better thing. The
Secretary of War, for ordering this regiment
to Washington, shall have my vote of thanks" ;"
Our young friend was almost laeetiOus with
himself The thermometer of his feelings had
been signally depressed for some weeks, but
now it went raging up to summer heat.
That sail from the offing, and the coast is
sure of the prize now. Isn't it strange" he
added little soberly, "what fancy these wo-
men have for soldiers? Some of them are right
down blood thirsty Swords and pistols
feathers and uniform-rifes and cannon; they
talk of them as gliby as if they were pretty
playthings, and didn't mean wounding and
death. Even Flora has taken the Infection
1t must be a brave thing, indeed, to have a
lovers arm Shot off or his heart pierced with a
bullet! But Frank Howard has no particu-
lar fancy for such things. War is not his taste.
He could never see any beauty in a dress uni
form, and cant see any now"
So the young man talked with himself
But these considerations did not seriously dis
turb him now, for was not his rival out of the
way-a threatening sail which had been dis
covered in the offng, out of sight, and the coast
clear?
Gone" Only that word fell from the lips
of Flora james. She, too, held the morning
paper in her hand, and her eyes were on the
paragraph which we have quoted. A thought
iul shade came over her countenance. There
seemed to be nothing more of interest in the
paper, Tor she laid it aside, after reading the
names of the officers. Gradually the shade OF
thoughtfulness on her face deepened. She did
not look sad, nor troubled: but there was a
grave earnestness in the expression ofher coun-
tenance.
'You look serious" said young friend, who
had called in.
do II" Flora smiled; but the light play
of her features was soon over, the recurring
sobriety looking deeper in contrast.
"Yes. What has happened?"
Nothing out of the common order. But
in times like these, who can help feeling scri-
Gus now aud them"
Not l." was answered. Then the iiend re-
marked, Il see that Col. G-s regiment LETT
for the capital last evening"
Yes"
Il knew several of the officers. They are
among our finest young men,"
so am told Of personal knowledge,
can speak Of one only"
~ hu?"
Lieutenant Harvey"
oh, yes. have met him here few times
A manly young fellow, isut hc?"
Yes"
And looks well in his uniform noticed
street yesterday"
Then you saw them marchng?"
"Oh, yes. The street WAS crowded. There
were thousands to see them Of"
Flora dropped her eyes for moment, while
u sigh depressed her bosom. 1t was invOlunta
ry, and scarcely noted by herself
"Were you intimate with Lieut.. Harvey p
asked the friend.
No, l cannot say that was intimate Will
him, though he is friend of long Standing
He never struck me as being very interest
ing young man. Hadn't great deal to say
and was not over ready of speech"
But always talked sense"
''Yes, 1 think that might be said. The fac
is, incline TO the belief that he was little to,
sensible for some of US thoughtless girls
Don't you think, as general thing, that W,
are too apt to encourage fluent triaers and holC
the more sensible, but less intrusive men at
distance? We smile upon the false futerers
yet hardly treat with courteous civility the sol
id young man, who is too honest TO offer vail
5 compliments, and too strongly iutrenched il
self respect to join the ranks of folly"
: ~ GU have put my owD thoughts into words
Flora. Its just as you say"
"Since this great trouble has come upon us,
said Miss james, Il have had little heart 70
d the pleasures and frivolities into which enter
ed with so much zost. A number of my NAL
: acquaintances have joined the army, and fu
the society of those who so ignobly remain a
: home, have little or no taste. The fact
IS l have itigned indisposition, and asked to b
: excused to two or three Of this class of youn
: men in the last two weeks. l cannot feel an
! respect for them"
> Nor l. D'you know, Flora, that I offent
ed young R, last evening, by my plai
= talk. / was little sorry for it afterwards; br
9 l couldn't help speaking out at the time. H
referred sneerirgly to certain young officers
Col. G--s regiment, calling them 'popinjays
N 'upstarts,' and the like; and predicted th;
"A they would show the white feather in the fat
OF the enemy. YOU said boiling over wit
anger, show the white feather, with the enem
10 nearly two hundred miles away was sol
~ ry the instant the words fell FROM my lips; bl
once said, there was 10 unsaying it"
" did you really say that to R--?"
p" II did"
, Good! I'm glad oft. lie richly deserve
= the rebuke. 1 have heard him talk. b
: what did he answer"
- Il hardly know. But he looked at me Ill
man caught with sheep on his back, as U
~ Gle Job Green says. He didn't ask any e
70 phantom, for he understood. 1t isn't the fr
be time I've let him know my opinion of youI
1t men who might, if they would, join the ran
J.; OF oar brave defenders"
us a servant came in with card. Miss j am
a, took it and read the name
=. Frank Howard" There was sudden f
~ ling of her pretty brows.
y or "Is he in the parIor?" she asked.
" .Yes Miss n-renlied the seruant