Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-11
NO HOPE.

A mostattractive face he had, framed in
brown hair and beard, comcly featured
and full of vigOr as yet-uusuhducds by pain,
Thoughtful nEasoften hbau tiiGliY m Id whiie
watching the attlictions of others, as if en-.
tirely fOrgetful of his own. His mouth
was grave and-GFn, with plenty of will
and courage in its lines, but smile could
make-i it as sweet as any wotnan,s; and i6isi
eyes were child's eyes, looking one fairly
in the tacei with clear, straight forward
glance, which promised well, for, such as
PLACID their faith in him. He seemed to
cling to life as it were rich in duties and
delights. aud he had learned the secret of
content. The only time l saw his cotnpo-
sure disturbed was when my surgeon
brought smother to examinei John, who
scrutinized their faces with, an, anxious
look asking of the elder: FsDo YOU think
shall pull through, sir?" 81 hope so,
my man." s And as the two passed on,
Johns eye still followed him with an in.
tcutuess which would have won clearer
answer from them, had th3y seen it. A
momentary shadow fitted over his face,
then came the usual serenity, as if.in that
brief eclipse he had acknowledged the ex-
istence of some hard possibility, and, ask
ing nothing yet hoping all things, left the
issue in Gods hand, with that submission
which is true ipiety. aHss ESQ
The next night, as I went my rounds
with DR.. p, happened to ask which
man in the room probably suffered most,
and q to, my great surprise he glanced at
"Every breath he draws is like stab;
for the bnll pierced the left luug,. broke a
rib, and did no end of damage here and
there; so5t the poor lad can find neither for-.
gettulness nor ease, because he must lie on
bis wounded bncll or suffocate.s IL will be
a hard struggle, and along one, for he
possesses great Vitality zbut even his tenn
could" /" 90
"You don't meanI.o say lhe must die,
doctor /" .aIEEIat HEcH
"Blcss you, there'snot the slightest hope
for him, and you'd better tell him so be-
fore long-women have a way of doing
such things comfortably, so | ieave,it to
you. He won't last more than u day, or
two, at the farthest."
could havelsat down on the spot aud
cried heartily, If | had not learned the
wisdom of bottliug up ones tears for Ieis-
ure moments. Such an end seemed verv
hard for such a man, when half a dozen
worn out, worthless bodies round hin
were gathering up the remains of wnsted
lives to linger on for years, perhaps bur
dens to others; daily reproaches tothem-
selves. The, army needed men like John,
earnest, brave aud faithful, fighting fur-
liberty and justice with both heart ard
hand, a. true soldier of the Lord, could
not give him up SO soon, OF think with any
patience of SO excellent a nature robbed of
its fulfllnent, aud biundered into eternity.
by the ras6ness or stupidity of those ut
whose hands so many lives may be required.
1t was an easy thing for DR.. p to say,
"Fell him he must die" but cruelty hard
thing to do, and by no means as 'scomfort.
able" ashe politely suggested had not
the heart to do it then, and privately iul
dulged the hope that some change for the
better might take place, in spiteof gleonlg
lprophesles, so rendering my task unneces.
sary.
"A SHORT ANp s1NPLE STORY. +
After that night, an hour of each even.
ing that remained to him was devoted to
his ease or pleasure, He could not tall,
much, for breath was precious and he
spoke in whispers, but from occasional CON.
yersations CLEANED scraps of private his.
tory which only added to the afTectionla5d
respect.I felt for him. Ouce he asked 7T1,s
to write letter, and as.T settled, men and
lpaper, said with an irfepressibIa plimmer
1 Of female curiosity, t.Shallit be addressed
to wife or mother John2D
''Nsither, ma'am; Tyeieot. no wife. 5aad
will write to. mother myselfwhef Io,el bst-
i a. = Ma Eg6F,, III -