The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-03-06

blity sustained by the third corporal. And
then the package was opened, and the toilet.
case and needle book brought out and the
cakes, confectionery, iellics, and other deli.
cacies so well adapted to the frail stomach
Of soldier. Last of al came little some
thing wrapped in tissue paper.
Here's Something said Carrie, that
Fannie sent you to remember her BY. You
haven't forgotten FannieY Asifthose violet
eyes were not always haunting him-on
guard, washing dishes, drilling, everywhere
But why don't you look at il, say it's
pretty, and send her your compliments
Just then the drum beat
Time for dress. parade T exclaimed Char
lie. and he rushed into his tent to equip him
sell. Some Of his mess mates said they saw
him quickly press something to his lips.
and then as quickly drop It intc ono Of the
capacious pockets Of his trousers. The next
morning little rosct,e appeared upon h's
breast and il took SO much Of his attention
during drill, tha. the captain threatened to
order him to wear it on his back.
Very few were the words Of advice that
his father gave him as he was about to re-
turn homo.
Serve your flag A mist came before
his eyes, and he said no more.
And Charlie went back to his drilling anil
dish washing.
Captain, I don't think I am wen enough
to go on guard to-day
why, boy, you never complained beturc.
What's the matter p
Nothing serious, guess. Twas in the
rain last night, and caught cold. Billy Reed
was taken sick on his past, and I relieved
him.
We'll, 90 to the hospit,i.'
This was said in light tone, but there
was cloud upon the captains brow when
he turned away Tor he was somewhat
skilled in physic, and Charles flushed face
and bright eye did not suit him at all. The
rest is soon told. Charles disease was
what the learned called pleuro pneumonia,
and its hand was laid upon him with ever
tigtening grasp. In vain did the good old
doctor exhaust his skin in vain did rough
hands, but hearts warm with womanly ten
derness, minister to every want.
It was quiet Sabbath evening, about
two months after he had enlisted, when he
lay upon his cot, rational for the first time
in many days. Reckoning to his side his
attendant Billy Reed. who had scarcely
left him since he had been taken sick-hc
whispered saintly -
That rosctte.'
It was placed in his hand, and he looked
at it for a long time in silence. As he gazcd
upon it, its colors seemed to call to his mind
the proud emblem Of our country's glory,
and he repeated many times, almost inaudi-
bly,, the closing lines of brakes immortal
poem -
'.Forever foat that standard sheet,
Where breathes the foe but falls before US;
With Freedoms soil beneath our feet,
And Freedoms banner waviag Ger US y
Then, turning his eyes upward, as though
he heard the silken r,stling Of its emLhzon-
cd folds, he said distinctly
Serve your fiagr
They were his last words.
With solemn step and slow. the.s sad pro-
cession followed him to the grave they had
made for him on the bank Of the beautiful
river, where the soft FLASHING Of the ripples
upon the beach, and the low sobbing of the
winds through trees, would sound his re-
quicm. Gently they lowered him into the
ground. the guard OF honor fred the funeral
salute. and he was left among the pale sleep
crs. Only few atoms Of dust transferred
from the earths surface into his bosom, that
is all; and the great world moves sron un-
needing.
And vet Of Charlie Marsh. no less than of
tho martyred Ellsworth, of Winthrop, Lyon
and Baker. there is written above, the gold
en- record:
''DIED FOR MS COUNTRY"
Reader, young man, despair not because
you are unknown ito fame; because your
name il not upon the tongues Of men. The
fate of Charlie Marsh may be yours: it may
be mine. But though yours or mine may
not be
''One Of the few immortal names,
That were not born to die"
yet let US stand up bravely in tho ranks,
doubling not, earnest in purpose, ever re-
membcrIng poor Charles dying injunction !:
"SKRyE your FLAG!'
Enicker6ocker.
DEATH OF CnILDREN.-There is pathos
=. A. ~ul An~th of chs1 .1poFS mt