The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-10-02
After the Battle.

:
those men now, as they sat face to face on
the bank of the stream the strife and the
anger had all gone now, and they sat STILL
dying men, who for few hours before had
been deadly foes,-sat still and looked at
each other. At last of them spoke; I'VE
| haven't either of US a chance to hold out
much longer. l judge
No. said the other with little mixture
of sadness and recklessnes You did that
last job of yours well as that bears witness ;
and he pointed to a wound a little above his
heart, from which the lf.-blood was slowly
ooz ng.
Not better than you did yours answered
the other, With grim smile, and he pointed
TO "ound a little higher up, larger and
more ragged deadly one And tnen the
two nieu gazed or each other again in IT,
dim light for the moon had come ovel III"
! hills now, and stood among ne: stars ike
I pearl OF great price. And as they locked, Z
softer feeling stole over the heart OF eaca
toward his fallen foe; I feeling Of pity for
the strong, manly life laid low, feeling of
regre; for tia inexorable necessity Of war
which made each man the slayer Of the 9TH
er; and at last one spoke - There's solne
folks il toe world tn. il fee. worse when
you've gone cut of it =
y spasm of pain vac on the Lonzed,
gbastly features. Yes, sad the man in
thick tones; there's one woman with a little
boy and girl, away up among the New Hamp-
shire mountains, that it'll well-niga kll her
! to hear of this and then the sman gro-nei
out in bitter anguish. % God, nave pity on
my wife and children"
/ And the otner drew closer 10 him. And
away down among tie cotton fields OF Geor-
sia there's a woman and little girl whose
hearts will break, when they hear wha. this
day has done : and then the cry wrung itstl.
sharply out of his Leart, 20 Odd, have pity
upon Them!
And from that moment the northerner ana
southerner ceased to be foes lhe thought
Of those distant homes on which the anguish
was so soon to fall drew them close together
in that la;. hour, and the two r.en went ike
little children. And at .lst the northerner
spoke, tAlaing mo~e 10 hims, I than my
thing else, and ht did .0t k.cW that the
other was listening greedy to eve; word.
She used to cone-my little :;:rl-h.ess
her heart livery night to meet me when
came home from the fields and She would
stand under the srea; p!um-tree, that's Just
beyond the back door at home. with the SUR
- .Isht making yellow crown in her golden
curls, and the laugh dancing in her eyes.
when she heard the click of the gate Il see
her there now,-and III take her in my arms
and she'd put up her little red lips for kiss !;
but my little girl will never watch under the
old plum tree by the well for her father
again. l shall never hear the cry of JOY as
she catches glimpse o: me at the gate. |
shall never see her little feet running over
the grass to spring into my arms again
And then said the southernel, there's
little brown-eyed, brown-haired gill,
that used to watch in the cocl fterLoon.
for her father when he rode in from his v:si;
to tn" plantations. | can see her sweet little
face shining out now from the roses that
covered the pillars, and her shout of JOY as
!. bounded from my horse and chased tie
little tiyiag feet and the loud laugh up and
, dow, the yeranda. But. nv darling, your
btis 1T li't'e face WI grow pale with watch
ing among the roses for Your father a:i,
You and h viii never 30 laughing aud rrmp
ing ur and lown the old velanda again =
And the nor'hernor drew near 10 the
southernor, and the hot tears stood on his
cod cheeks, as he saiG, Friend. may God
have pity or ouE la-herl=s5 children
Amen. ga. the southerne.. ieryen;lv.
AID The northt;ner spoke ROW, in a
: husky whisper, for the eyes of he diving
men were glazing fasi, We have icu.h hit
Ike brave men t"gelher. We are gong lie
S folc God in little while. Let US f5rg;ve
;, each other.
The southerIsr tried TO speak. bot the
sound died away in a garg'e from his witt.
lips; b:.t lie took the hand of his fallen tye.
= and his s:ilenng fingers closed tight oy.r it.
and MS last look was smile Of forgiveness
ard peace. And when the next mornings
sun walked up the sray stairs ei the tawr.
touched with pink, ii looked down and saw
the two foes lying dead with their hands
clasped in each other, by the stream which
ran close to the battle field. And the little
girl with golden hair that watcl ed Under :he
plum-tree among the hills of New Hamp
shire, and the little girl with bright brown
=, hair that waited by the roses among the
green plains of Georgia, were fatherless.-
Home Monthly.
s The Tribune says thA the Presidents ha
S oeas corpus suspension has spoiied the
schemes of the correrheads in New York.
. They had or anized an association. collected
funds, and maturel plans TO prevent con-
= scripts filing up the wasted ranks Of our
: armies. Arrangements had been ccmpleted