Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-08-24
0LIETLE TIMMY.D
EEcroH or the DAYs OF rue REVOLUTION.
-
~ JULIA GILL;

IL vas sulirS August day 10 the year l777.
ny grandfather was on his way TO the harvest
he'd He stopped suddenly. "That cannot be
che sound of Turner's Falls, he said to himself,
some1hat staItledj "it comes from an opposite
direction" He stood stili moment and then
.urned and went with quick step into the
house.
There 10 battle somsshere to the north Of
US" he said 10 highly excited tone, come to
che door and listen"
My grandmother vent out with hin, little
-Timmy holding by her hand and the older child
ren folIo3ing.
There came from the north vest, a dull, heavy
continuous roar, like the sound Of some great
waterfall. Later 10 the day 1t became more
apparent, and the boom of cannon was distito o..
ly heard above the unceasing roar of the guns
stop, Mr.. DOittle' said one of my grand.
fathers nslghbors 10 another who was grinding
. scy the at his grlndstonej stop sir, and hear
that souDdl There is 6shtiog to the northward.
Why done you etop2 | tell you that's the
roar of artillery" and the tone grew inpatient
and emphatic.
We'll, lee good ways off, indolently re-
sponde6 the phlegmetio Dolittie.
MIR. Dolittle aud my grandfather possessed
different temperDents. News came in lesden-
footed In those days, but when from mouth TO
mouth the story OF the fierce fight Of Benninr.
ton, where the volleys of musketry were. In
the words Of Gen, SGsFk g dispatcb, like con.
tinual clap Of thunder, r,'-whea the NORTH
stirred by the tidings of Stark's great victory,
vas reused to intercept the progress of Bnr.
goyne, my grandfather laid down bis sickle and
went on with the company In which he served
as lieutenant, 10 Join Gen Gates.
| A little more than Two months after the
events eketched above, the Company In which
my grandfather went nut was deb udsd. The
terrible battle OF He,hs Heights mad been
fought, and Burgoyne had surrendered 10 Gen
Gates. H.- -....
WIthquick, light steps the lieutenant walked
the last mile Of the one hundred be had taveled
on foot from Saratoga. He was almost home
All the way Of the wearisome journey he had
baen haunted with dreadful memories Of that
night, which, Just away from Saratoga, he had
epent among wounded soldiers in q barn He
could hear again the terrific groaps of that etal.
wsrt man whose deep cries Of pain had flled
the building and echoed far out into the nj
cossDg suddenly and forever last before day.
oreaki he could hear again the gentle voice of
the lntle wife who sat IN q manger supporting
In her srms her wouuced hu, band, through the
long hours. All these days of his hons ward
rravel the sounds OF pain Ad followed and over.
taken bin, bad kept bim waking at night, OF
came TO him 10 dreams. But now the roar an q
rush of battle, the smoke, the thunder and the
shouting, The cries Of the wounded and diving,
had alr passed away like q pahorams, the lssI
soene had been exhibited and the curtain had
dropped. He thought now OF the smile hI.
hindsome, dark.eyed wife would wear as bs
stepped upon the door stone. Per haps sbe wou't
catch sight of him as the kitchen window ant
meet him In the road. The little oaes aoulc
De O. rt,in to see him. A few mi1utes mote
sud the mountain appeared, covered with tht
gold and crimson glory of October, then the
oak tree, the we'll sweep and the gambre
roof. Little TiDmy would run cut through The
open gate to meet and lead him in. He hurried
on, The dear old mountain came in sight, anC
then the house. 90 ils
What was the meaning Of that sombre eroFt
that stood around the gate and was pourinQ
from the doorY His heart was like lead within
him, bus he hestened on with quicker steps
Who is hidden In the little painted box theJ
are bearing forth 80 carefully2 Alb, there is !
darker shadow than the old oaks across the
yard. The funeral train, passing out of the
gate, saW the soldier and recognized him TheJ
set down the little coffin and waited. Little Tim
would never run again to meet his father! rh,
Lieutenant's heart was full Of grief. He d
lieved the child was walking beneath the i'm
mortal trees Of the celestial gardenp, and h,
thought Of David's words, II shall 20 to hin
but he shall not return TO me-" al shall go d
him!" Yes, but the Lieutenant was younI
man then, and it might be long, long time be
fore he could meet the little one sgAin.
\ Fifty years ago, my grandfather, "full O
dayes" passed away from earth. Who know
but &C the gate beyond the river, 1t was littl
Timmy met and let him in the city of ou
Cod ltt; ssa. ~ \
When the storu 10 done forever, wb rs the ses b
| passed away,
thu sorrow and the ctylps the wres,ie and aarsy.
Wne,s the glo,y has no shadow and the music bring
no pain,
The iOsf Oass Of our bosomeoms back to Us again.