The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-07-29

with thirst-if it be but q mouthful-
water! For Gods sake, oh give me
Tater.
recoiled in dismsy. 1t was the voice
of my enemy, the voice of Richard With
ers. They were once very dear to me,
those mellow tones +! Once the pleasantest
music | wished to hear. Do you think
they softeDed me now? You are mis-
taken. al. candid about it, My blood
| (what had left boiled in my veins when
| | heard him /; when | knew he lay so
close to me, and |, powefless to withdraw
from his detssted neighborhood. There
was water in my canteen-I had filled 1t
before the last ball came. By stretching
out nv hand | could have given him to
drink but did not raise my finger. Ven
geance was sweet. smiled grimly to N.Y.
self and said down in my secret heart !:
"Not drop shall pass his lips though he
perish. I shall have my revenge"
Do not recoil with horror !! Listen how
merciful God was to me.
There was poor little drummer on the
other side, merry, manly boy of thir-
teen, the pet and plaything of the regi
ment There was something of the Ger
man in him. He had been with US from
the first, and was considered one of the
ablest drummers in the army. We would
never march to the tap of Charley's drum
again. He had got ball in his lungs !;
and the exposure and fatigue, together
With his wound, had made him light
headed. Poor little child be crept close
to me in the darkness and laid bis cheek
upon my breast. Maybe he thought it
was bis own pillow at home, maybe he
thought it bis own mothers bosom. God
alone knows what be thought; but with
his hot arms about my neck and his curly
head close to my wicked heart, even then
swelling with the bitter hatred of my en-
emy, be began in his delirium to murmur,
Our father who art in Heaven"
l was q rough bearded man, [ had
been an orphan for many long year !;
but not too many or too long to forget the
simple hearted prayer of my childhood
the dim vision oi that mothers face, over
which the grass had grown for twenty
changing summers. Something tender
stirred within my hardened heart. 1t
was too dark to see the little face; but the
young lips went on brokeuly-
"And forgive US our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us
1t went through me like a knife
sharper than sabre cut, deeper than the
bali. God was nerciful unto me and
this young child was the channel of his
mercy.
"FoTgive Us our trespasses as we for
give those who trespass against US"
| had never understood the words be-
fore. If an angel had uttered them, it
could scarcely have been more of reve
lation. For the first time, the thought
that I might be mortally wounded, that
death might De nearer than | dreamed,
struck me with awe and horror The text
of long forgotten sermon was in my
ears at is appointed unto men once to
die; and after this the judgment"
Worse and worse What measure of
mercy could | expect, if the same was to
be meted that had meted to my enemy
The tears welled into my eyes aud
trickled down my cheeks the first | had
SIZED since my boyhood felt subdued
and strangely moved.
The rain was falling still; but the lit
tie head upon my breast was gone. He
had crept away silently into the darkness
His unconscious mission was performed ;
he did not return at my call Then |
lifted myself with great effort. The old
bitterness was crushed, but not altogeth-
er gone
"Water-water'' 'moauedRichard With.
ers. in bis agony.
dragged myself close to him.
God be praised !'' said with a solemn
heart Dick, old boy, enemy no longer
Gcd be praised | am able and willing
to help yon Drink and be friends"
Ii had been growing lighter and tighter
in the east. and now it was day-day
within and dav without. 10 the first
gray glimmer of drawn, we looked into
each others CHASTITY faces for moment
the canteen was at Richards mouth and
he drank as the fevered only can drink
| watched him with moist eyes. leaning
upon NY clbow-forgetting my bandaged
shoulder
He grasped ne with both hands =
Blood stained and pallid as it was, his
face was as beautiful as child's.
Now let me speak" he said painting
You have misjudeed me, Rufus 1t was
all mistake | meant to have spoke
this morning when | grasped your"
Forgive me. Dick | murmured |
felt something warm trickle down nv
shoulder. | tainted and fell then all
was thick darkness