Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-09-05
AN INDIANA BOY-IIERO,

On the cars running from Evansville to
indianapolis, got into conversation with a
boy about seventeen years old, going home
on discharge furlough. Having found
others destitute, inquired his condition. lie
had started without breakfast; had neither
food nor money to 80 to Elkhart on the
Southern Michigan Road, a distance of over
three hundred miles, and with the probability
before him Of being over two days OH the
way. His voice was gone, and he had to
talk in whisper. When he seemed to real
ize his condition, he said to me, with almost
childish simplicity, 81 shall be pretty nearly
starved when get home, won't | 2" naur-
ed for his havcrsack, with view to try to
get something to eat when we stopped. His
answer was, it had been stolen from him.
He cared nothing for his haversack, but it
had his Bible in it, and that was a great loss
to him. He had never been a professor of
religion, but he had always tried to do right
lie had never sworn an oath in his life. His
parents were religious. lie seemed to think
he should die soon, and remarked to him,
Death is no calamity to a good boy" and
his countenance frightened up as he answer
ed, with much earnstness: mo, sir, and
am not afraid to die. made up my mind
that it was my duty to go and fight for my
country, and my parents consented. Throug gh
exposure, lost my health early in the win
ter and on the Sunday morning of the bat
tie of Shiloh, | was in my tent sick, and my
doctor ordered me to remain there. | had
been unfit for duty for two months. The
doctor was very kind to me. The news kept
coming back 10 MS near the river, that our
army was giving way everywhere, and
thought 1t my duty to take my gun and go
to their assistance. | went to the front, and
four hours loaded and shot as fast as | could
But the cxertlon was too much for me; my
lungs tsok to bleeding, and came near dy-
ing before the bleeding could be stopped
But l was glad | did what | could. have
never spoken since above a whisper, and I
fear never shall. But it is all right; our
country must be saved at any sacrifice" At
the first eating station, the boy was seated
at the table, and his dinner paid for by q
stranger; and his thanks were SO cordial and
heartfelt, that tears filled the strangers eyes
as he turned away, receiving, as he did it
the sick boys "God bless you, stranger"
Supper time would bring him to Indianapo-
lis. What would he do there? Who would be-
friend him there? He was told to 20 to
Gov. Morton, and tell him he was on his way
home from Shiloh, with ruined health, and had
neither money nor food. He answered that
he would do it if able to walk. lie was then
told to send him line any one would carry
it for him. He said he would do SO, and ad-
ded: "My Governor would not let me starve
would he? 1t seems to me almost any
body would help sick soldier"
When he got to Elkhart he would still be
several miles from home. How would he get
there? And then smiling, he said, "Our
family physician lives there, and he will take
me in his buggy and carry me home and
oh won't mother be glad when she sees me
coming? She does not know that am com.
ing. shall take her by surprise. have
a very nice new Bible at home" And here
the train started with the sick boy, who
seemed revived by his dinner and the words
Of encouragement spoken to him, and the
thoughts Of home. = Cincinnati Gazette.
CoMFoRT FOR TIE DRAFTED.-An exchange
hoc thaf foll clI Al