The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-12-23
HOME FROM THE WARS.

hills tonight, 1 tell ye said Moses At
terly, as he threw an armfull of oak logs,
fringed with silvery gray moss, upon the
hearth, and rubbed his hands cheerily be-
fore the red, roaring blaze that encircled
the rude iron fre-dogs in drifts of ruby
sparks.
He was tall, wiry looking old man,
with mild hazel eyes, and skin well
nigh as brown as the basket of butternuts
that stood in the corner-a man whom
you might easily fancy to have grown up
among those rock bound, wind swept will
dernesses, as one of the giant pines on
the steep cliffs above had grown-stal-
wart, sturdy. and true te the very hearts
core. The room was very plain, with no
curtains at the narrow paned windows,
and no carpet save the old zigzag veins in
the hickory boards that formed the floor;
yet there was an air of comfort in the
splint- bottomed chairs, with their moreen
cnsions, and the round table, neatly
spread for the evening meal. Over the
fire, an apopletic black tea-kettle kept up
a dreamy song, and Moses lAtterly's only
child sat, with folded hands, in the chin
ney corner, watching the vaporous wreaths
curling from the spout-a pretty, soft
eyed girl, with late rose in her braids
of glossy chestnut brown hair, and straight
clearly-cut features-now in shadow, now
all irradiated by the capricious torches of
fame that played at hide-and seek in and
out among the crevices of the great bub-
bling, singing logs.
Have you been to the post Office to-
night, father? said she suddenly looking
up as Moses gave the smouldering back
log sort of demonstrating kick.
No; but met Jim Grayling down by
the hemlock hollow, and he said he was
goin' straight thare; so l told him to ask
if there was anything for our folks
He'll be here directly, calculate, for it
must be all of two hours ago
i am sorry, said Bessy, almost petu-
lantly. Father, detest the very sight
of that man s.i r,f nEt1
My daughter demonstrated Moses,
that amt accordin' to either sense or
Gospel
''Well, I can't help it, father coaxed
Bessy, stealing her soft, dimpled hand
into the rough palm that lay on Moses
Atterly's knee. sHe always seemed to
me like
She stopped suddenly-so suddenly
that the late rose fell off her hair and lay
on the stone hearth-for, as she turned
her head, she saw James Grayling stand
ing beside them, unfolding coarse white
and red worsted comforter from about his
neck. He stopped, without word, and
picked up the rose for her.
why Jim' said Farmer Atterly.-
where ON airth did you drop from L
didn't hear you come in.
Didn't you? [ am sure knocked loud
enough, said Grayling, with deep red
flush slowly fading away from his cheek
Pretty well tonight, Bessie?
Pm we'll enough, pouted Bessie. with
cut looking at him, and tossing her re-
covered rose in among the glowing Gin
ders. Somehow it had lost its charm
after having lain in James Grayling' S
hand second. tt .el ae.
Set down, Jim, set down. said the
farmer, heartily. Any mails tor to-
night?' a7 a
Nothing .5
What strange smile passed over his
face as h. saw the sudden drop of Bessie
Atterly's eyelashes-the quiver around
her mouth. r .-sasts
'Nothin' That's queer. You see our
Bessie's feelin' kind o worried cause she
don't hear nothing from Henry Ives
Il got a long letter tonight from my
cousin, who is in the same company, you
know He says
James Grayling paused, little mali
ciously, to note the anger sparkle in Bes-
sizes eyes as she leaned forward with red
dening cheeks and intent look.
What does he say she gasped.
'WelI, I'm afraid you II feel bad about
it; but he says Harry Ives was captured,
with half dozen others, by skirmishing
party about week before he wrote
Captured
eyes; and that isn't all. He says they
didn't halt believe Harry Ives cared whe
ther he was carried down South or not;
for he had taken great notion to soma
pretty girl down in Virginia. planter S
darter-and-
i don't believe it, James Grayling,
said Bessie, springing to her feet, with
/ flashing eyes and passion -crimsoned fore
head; / don't believe word of l.. You
are repeating some vile falsehood.'
Il knew you'd feel bad, said Grayling
with provoking mildness, but [ thought
you ought to know how matters stood. |
eau show you Sans letter, if that will be
any more satisfactory. l never had much
faith in Harry Ises-a careless, dashing
! fellow, Who sse-
Hush! I will not listen to another
word calculated Bessie, angrily, and
with certain strange dignity in her girl
face and slender form.
Mr.. Atterly,' said Grayling, with ag-
gravating moderation and calmness, how
long is it since your daughter received a
letter from Harry Iyes?
We'll, its pretty considerable spell,
said the old farmer, but letters do take
time to reach us you know"
Yes, particularly when they are never
sent, sneered Grayling.
Father, don't listen to him, sobbed
Bessie, passionately. IF the whole world
were to tell me Harry Ives was untrue ]
would not believe them