Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-07-17
NO. l6.

:. that a shot IN front might have spared the
long agony in store for him. He seemed
to read the thought that troubled me, as he
spoke so hopefully when there was no hope,
for he suddenly added:
This ismy first battle-do they think it's
going to bo my last"
f Pm afraid they do john"
i 1t was the hardest question had ever
been called upon to answer; doubly hard
with those clear eyes fixed upon mine, fore.
ing a truthful answer by their own truth
He seemed little startled at first, pondered
+ over the the tateful fact a moment, then shook
his head with glance at the broad chest
and muscular limbs stretched out before
him.
"Tm not afraid, but it's difficult to believe
all at once. I'm so strong it does not seem
possible for such little wound to kill me-"
shall | write to your mother now ?"
asked, thinking that these sudden tidincs
might change all plans and purposes: but
they did not for the man received the order
OF the Divine Commander to march, with tho
same unquestioning obedience. with which
the soldier had received that Of the human
one. doubtless remembering that the first led
him to life, the last to death. la
No, ma'am; to Laurie Just the same:
he'll break it TO her best, and IN add a line
W HS' iigStll WHEN you get done. ~
So | wrote the letter which he dictated,
tind'ng 1t better than any had sent, for
though here and there little unprammatcal
or 'nelegant, each sentence came to me brief
ly worded, but most expressive. full OF ex-
celent counsel to the boy, tenderly beaueath.
ing "mother and Lizzie to his care. and
bidding him good.by in words the sadder for
their simplicity He added a few lines with
steady hand, and as sealed it, said, with
patient sort of sigh, :" hope the answer will
come in time for me to see IT," Then. turn
ing away his face, laid the flowers against
his lips, ~ if to hide some q,,iver Of emotion
at the thought Of such sudden sundering
of all the dear home ties. s +. -. .
Those things had happened two days be-
fore. Now, John was dying, and the letter
had not come. | had been summoned to
many death-bcds in my life, but to none that
made my heart ache as it did then, since my
mother called me to watch the departure Of
spirit akin to this, in its gcntleness and pa
tient strength. AS went in, John stretched
out both hands.
=" knew you'd comet guess I'm NOV.
ing on ma'am," ...... .---,..
lie was, and so rapidly that even while he
spoke, over bis face saw the grey veil fall
ing that no human hand can lift | sat down
~ "'pVu Nbt tFOpS from nlS IOrenca0.
stirred the air about him with the slow wave
Of fam, and waited to help him die. Ho
stood in sore need of help, and could do so
little; for, as the doctor had foretold, tho
strong body rebelled against death, and fought
every inch Of the way, forcing him to draw
each breath with spasm, and clench his
hands with an imploring look, as il he ask
ed, " How long must endure this, and DO
sti?' For hours he suffered dumb,v, with
out moments respite or moments mur-
mering.g His limbs grew cold, his face damp,
his lips white, and again and again he tore
the covering off his breast, as if the lightest
weight added to his agony yet, through Il
I all, mis- eyes never lost their serenity, and the
mans soul seemed to sit therein, undaunted
by the ills that vcxed his flesh. s sz
One by one the men woke, and round the
room appeared circle of pale faces and
watchtul eyes, full Of awe and pity; for tho
a stranger, John was beloved by all. Each
man there had wondered at his patience, re.
spected his piety, admired his loritnde, and
now lamented his hard death for the inhu !
ence of an upright nature had made itself
deeply felt even in one little week Present
ly the Jonathan who SD loved his comely Da- !
vid came creeping from his bed for a last
look and word The kind soul was full of
trouble, as the choke in his voice, the grasp
Of his hand, betrayed; but there was mol
tears. and the farewell Of tho friends was tho
more touching for its brevity. .f. ...-..s
"Old boy, how are?' faltercd the one.
"Most through thank heaven!" whisper.
cd the other. aaa.Es
" Gan | say or do anything for you any
where ?" ... -...
Take my things home, and tell them tia I
did my best" 'tta
81 will will 4" #..
"Good-bye, Ned" .a .ss8 0..s ga
Goodbye, John, good bye! 1" .
They kissed each other tenderly as womcrS
and so parted; for poor Ned could not stay
to see his comrade die. For little while
there was no sound in the room but the driJs
Of water from pump or two, and John
distressful gasps as he slowly bresthed his
life away. | thought him nearly gone, an,
had laid down the fan. believing its help nd
: longer needed, when suddenly he rose up id
his bed, and cried out with bitter cry thai
| broke>t the silence, sharply startling every on
with its agonized appeal I" For Gods SAX /
give ME air G
1t was the only cry pain or death hal /
wrung from him, the only boon be had ask
ed, and none Of US could grant it. for all tn {
airs that blow were useless now Dan fnn L
up the window, the first red streak Of daw I
was warming the gray east, a herald Of tbs.
coming sup. John saw il. and with the low
Lpf light. which fingers in us to the end, seeu9
/ ed to read in it a sign Of hope, of help, fdH
over his whole face broke that mysterio,N
expression, brighter than any smile. whic
often comes to eyes that look their last. IL
!, laid himself dorm gently and stretching o;
his strong right arm as if to grasp and brir
i the blessed air to his lips in fuller flow, iapk
ed into a mercfnl nlunconciou<ness, which al
| sured us that for him suffering was forev
I past. ~ ENa 80 b
: As we stood looking at him. the wartmaS
{ ter handed me letter, saying it had beg
forgotten the night before It was Johr
' letter, come just an hour too late to g'add
? the eyes that had looked and ionged for M
so cagcrly--yet he had il for after b
cut some brown locks for his mother, al
!. taken off the ring to send her, telling hd
I well the talsman had done its work I kiss
4 this good son for her sake, and laid the let
9 in his hand, still folded as when dscw
A DvpA ~ nv, hn~A