The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-09-13

.gi,frstaet{ rtati stEr i-}neJ ads G9jHW
) .gsfaas og ,as7t. .s,. ~ ans Ell
kordwaner's daughter. Christina, was.
plump maiden, with round, rosy iface, .
extensive latitude Of shoulders, and gene
iral plentitude and solidity of figure. "A
! these she had but what captivated Hope
fuPs eye was her trim ankle, as IL had ap
peared to him one morning, encased in
warm white yarn stocking Of her own knit
ting. From this small beginning, his grea
heart had taken in the whole her, and nov
he was desperately in love-. Two or thre,
times he had essayed to tell her of his pro
posed departure; but every time that tn,
words were coming to his lips, somethin,
rushed up into his throat ahead Of them, ant
he couldn't speak,, AT last, after walking
home from church with her on Sunday even
ing, he held ont his hand and blurted out
We'll, good-by. We're off tc-morrow.'
of! Where r -, s4.s,s fs..,t f7gf
T've enlisted 5.f e,.ss,,oat On, bnt
Christiana didn't faint She didn't take
out her delicate and daintily perfumed nssu.
choir, to hide the tears that were not there
She looked at him moment, while two
great real tears rolled down her cheeks, and
then--precipitated an her charms right into
his arms, Hopeful stood it manfully-rath.
er liked Il, in fact. But this is tableau
that we've no right to be looking at SO let
us pass by how they parted-with what
tears and embraces, and extrayagent pro-
testations Of undying affection, and wild
promises of eternal remembrance there is
no need Of telling, for we All know how
foolish yonng people win be under such cir
cumstances. We older heads know all about
such little matters, and what they amount
to. Oh yes, certainly we do.
The next morning found Hopeful, with .
dozen others, in charge Of the lieutenant,
and on their way join the regiment. Hope
ful's first experience OF camp-life was not
a singular one. He, like the rest of us, at
first exhibited the most energetic awkward
ness in drilling. Like the rest Of us, lie had
occasional attacks of home e-sickness and as
he stood at his post on picket in the silent
night-watches. while the camps lay quietly
sleeping in the moonlight, his thoughts
would 60 back to his far away home, and
the little shop, and the plentiful charms of
tie fair-haired Christina. So he went on,
dreaming sweet dreams OF home, but ever
active and alert, eager to learn and earnest
to do his duty, silencing all selfish sugges-
tons of his heart with the simple logic of a
pure patriotism.
Hopeful he would say, the Dangers
took care o your life, an now you're here
to take care of See that you do it. See
that you do it the best you know how
1t would be more thrilling and interesting
and would read better, II we could take vur
hero to glory amid the roar Of cannon and
through storm of shot and shell,
over serted line Of glistening bayonets-
But strict truth-a matter OF which news
paper correspondents, and sensational wri.
ters, generally seem to have very misty
conceptior-forbids it.
! It was only skirmish-a bushwhacking
fight for the possession Of a swamp. A few
companies were deployed as skirmishers, to
drive out tie rebels. .ss ~
Now, boys shouted the captain, after
'em Shoot to kill, not to scare 'emr
Ping ping 7 rang the rifles.
'Z-z.zz-vit 7 went the bullets.
On they went, crouch,ng among the bush
es. creeping along under the banks of the
brook, cautiously peering from behind trees
in search of 'butternuts.'
Hopeful was in advance his hat was lost,
and bis hair was more defantly bristling
than ever. Firmly grasping his rife. he
pushed on, carefully watching every tee
and bush. rebel sharp-shooter started to
run from one tree to an ,ther. when, quick
as thought, Hopefurs rifle was at his choul-
der, puff Of blue smoke rose from its mouth,
and the rebel sprang into the air and fell
back-dead. Almost at the same instant,
as Hopeful leaned forward to see the effect
Of his shot, he felt sudden shock, sharp,
burning pain, grasped at bush, reeled, and
sank to the ground.
Are you hurt much, Hope ? asked one Of
his companions, kneeling beside him and
staunch;ng the blood that flowed from his
wounded leg. i..s ts .cn
s Yes. expect I am /; but that red wamas
over yonder $ redder N ever now. Thai
fsller won't neen pension 5. asas.o
3 They carried him back to the hospital
and the old surgeon looked at the wound
shook his head, and briefly made his prog
nosis. - s g3l
Bone shattered d-vessels injured bad
leg-have to come of. Good constitution
though he'll stand It, stls,9G
And he did stand it; always cheerful
never complaining, only regretting that b,
must be discharged he was no longe
able to serve his country. .s 4 .5.. s. i
! And now Hopeful Is again sitting on hi
i little bench in Mynheer Kordwaner's littl
shop, pegging away 1t the coarse boots
]. singing the same glorious prophecy that VI
! first heard him singing. He has had bu
| two troubles since his return. One is tn
lingering regret and restlessness that attend
. civil life after an experience Of the rough