The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-03-19
A TOushlng Incident.

Wtiiie tne ci0Hcu army was I6iIedtln9 lfOul
Moscow, there lay in poor low cottage, in
a village, an Invalid boy This village was
exactly in the course o! the reirsaiing army,
and already the reports OF lis approach had
reached and excited the terrified inhabitants.
In their turn they be gan TO make 2repaTa-
tions for retreat, for they knew there was
no hope for them from The hands of The sol.
diery, seeking their own preservation, and
gave no quarters Every one who had the
strength TO Fly fled some trying TO take with
them lhelr worldly goods some 10 conceal
Them. The lillle village was fast growing
deserted. Some burnt their houses or dis
maniled them. The old were placed in
wagons, and the young hurried their iami-
lies away with them.
! But III the iuIe collage there was none OF
this bustle. The poor crippled boy could
not move from his bed. The widowed
mother had no friends near enough to spare
a thought for her in this time of trouble.
when every one thought only of those near
est to him and OF of himself. What chance
I Of flight was there for her and her young
children, among whom one was The poo.
crippled boy.
1t was evening, and the sound of distant
voices and OF preparation had died away
The poor boy was wakeful with terror now
urging his mother TO leave him to his fate,
now dreadng lest she should take him a: his
word and leave him behind
"The neighbors are just going away,
a. /. .. II II
fish, have kept you here. Take the little
girls with you, it is not too late. And ] am
safe, who will hurt poor, helpless boyp'
1--WE are ali safe'' answered The mother
God viii no, leave ns, though ali eIseiorsake
us''
"BO what can help ns7" persisted the
BOY, who can defend US from their cruel
W Such stories as have heard OF The raw
aces ol these men. They are no; men the,
are Wild beasts On why was made "a
weak-so weak as 10 be utterly useless Nc
strength even TO fiy"
There is snre wall for the detenc.ess =
answered The mother. "God will build us
sure WALL
Yon are my strength now" SAID the boy
IL lhauk God that you did nol deser me
am weak, cling to you. Do not leave
me. Indeed | fancy can see The cruel sol
diers hnrrying in. We are too poor 10 sat
isfy Them and they would pour their ven
geance upon Us. Aud yel you ought to
leave me What right have 10 keep you
here And | shall suffer more if see you
suffer"
"God will be orr refuge and defence, y
still said the mother, and at length with low
quietng words, she slilled the anxious boy
till he too, slept like the sisters. The morn.
ing came OF the day that was TO bring The
dreaded enemy. The mother and children
opened their ey es 10 find that "a sure mall
had indeed been built for their defence The
snow had begun 10 fall the evening before
Through the night il had collected rapidly
high wind had blown The snow 10 drift:
against the low house so thai il had entirely
covered IL A low shed behind projected
the way 10 the cut house, where the animal,
were, and Tor few days The mother am
children kept themselves alive within lhei
cottage, shut in aad concealed by The heavy
barricaGe OF snow.
/; was during that time that The dreaded
scouree passed over the village. Every
house was ransacked, all the weaIlhier one
deprived OF their Injuries, and The poore
ones deprived OF their necessities. But tn,
IoVDrooled cottage lay sheltered benath III
wall of snow, which, in the silent night
had gathered around ii. God had proiecle,
the defenceeSs with a "sure wall"