Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-08-13

wounding, and the pain of wounding, ali
forgotten. But another's eyes became dim
as his ghtened-another' cheeks paled
as his grew warm. | saw the tears shining
as Mrs. Harley answered in an unsteady
voice.
I am neither brave enough or strong
enough for soldiers wife,.
She had meant to say more, as was plain
from her manner, but could not trust her.
self.
20, yes, you are brave enough and
strong enough, replied Mr.. Harley, with
animation. Not every one could have
moved 40 calmly amidst the dreadful scenes
of camp hospital after battle. l watch
ed you often, and fel. proud of you
If she had not been wounded also
my wife began but Mr.. Harley interrupt.
her with the ejaculation,
Wounded in a 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
before, Mr. HarleyY
My friend was perplexed for little
while. He could not get down at once to
my Wlte's meaning.
when you were struck she was struck
also
20, yesp Light broke in upon Mr.
Harley. He turned quickly toward his
wife, he saw in her face what had been be-
fore the wasting and exhaustion that come
only from deep seated pain. He had
thought the paleness of her countenance,
the weakness that made her step slow and
cautious, 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 gazed into his wife's
countenance. 'Our wounds, so ghastly to
the eyes, often get no deeper than the flesh
and bone. The pain is short, and nature
comes quickly to the work of care with all
her healing energies. We suffer for
while, and then it is over We arc strong
and ready for the conflict again
But said my wife, 'into the homes
that stand far away from battle-felds come
swift-winged messengers that wound and
kill as surely as iron hail. They strike
mothers, wives, sisters-some with death
wounds, and all with the anguish of vital
pain. Alas for these wounded! The
healing, if it follows, is never, as the SUI
geons say, by first intention, but always
slow, and often through abscess and ulcera-
ton. The larger number never entirely
recover. They may linger 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 I noticed that for
the hour we remained together he was ten
derer toward his wife, and more than once
| saw him looking at her, while she was
not observing him, with troubled counte-
nance He did not again speak of the
early period at which he expected to join
his regiment.
On the day following another long list,
of killed and wounded was given to the
public. As I read over the names and
counted the numbers, my thought came
back from bloody field and suffering hos
pital. 'These are not ALL I said. FAlas!
not all. The ball struck twice, thrice
sometimes oftener There is pain, there is
anguish, there is woundings, even unto
death, in many, many homes, within a
thousand miles of that CORY place. Some
are alone and neglected dying on their
battle -teld, with none even to put cup of
water to their Eps-some are with loving
friends who yet fail to stanch the flow Of
blood, or bandage the shattered limb
some cover their wounds, hiding them from
all eyes, and bear the pain in chosen soli-
tude. The sum of all this agony, who shall
give it p
Our wounded IF you would find them
all, you must look beyond the hospitals.
They are not all bearded and in male at
tire. There sat beside you, in the cars just
now, 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
Sunday? yes; and now remember that
she was pale, and had an altered look
One of our wounded Do you see face
at the window? I'm the marble front
housep Yes. 1T is sad enough; what in
looking eyes! Wounded! All, sir, they
are everywhere about US. Already from
over hundred battle fields and skirmish-
ing grounds, have been such missives as
pain and death. They have penetrated un-
guarded homes in every city, town and
neighborhood of our once happy and peace
ful country, wounding the beloved ones left
there in hoped-tor security. For such there.
is balm only in Gilead-God is their ply
sician.