Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-10-09


first to speak.
sit is hard on you, Morgan, this
draft. Ny father was saying to-
night that he did not know how he
should contrive to spare you. SO
well as you are doing now, too--al-
ready comfort and competence for
you and yours and better things in
prospect"
"lt is useless talking. | think |
was aot born under a lucky star.
You were. Mr.. Thornycroft's
son, to begin with, young, rich,
without tie to fetter you; and,
of course, the draft spared you."
"Without tie. Do you call that
happiness
John Morgans eyes fell beneath
that sad steady gaze of reproach.-
He remembered, then, one who had
died in March, on whose grave the
lonesome spring rain had wept tears,
which spranc up again IN violets-
the gentle girl whom Ash Thorny-
croft had loved so we'll
Forgive me- he said in low pen
penitent voice.
The other went on:
- think YOU forget yourself lit
tie when YOU repine at this stroke, as
if it were the worst thing that could
have happened. Would you give up
your wife, or one of your children,
even to escape from the perils of this
war;
Did you think was a coward?"
and the honest soul looked indignant
out of John Morgan's eyes. ''If !
were to fall what would they do? !
have struggled to shield them, so far
as | could, from want, care or priva-
sion. How are they fitted to tread
the worlds rough paths alone?"
mo, | did not take YOU for cow
ard. If | had. ! should not have
thought your life worth saving. /
think | know how / should feel in
your place 1t is a place in which /
shall never stand; | ann going to en-
list, John 1t is my duty, for have
nothing to keep me ut home. | am
ready to give all | have to my coun-
try. If | fall, shall only 90 the
sooner where all my longings tend.
What is to hinder my sparing you to
your happy frcside? / came to pro
pose myself as your substitute.
at is not. are you sure it is not, to
spare me? Would you go in any
case?' John Morgan asked with a
little doabt in his voice.
DO not'fear am going for ,onr
sake. maic up my mind as soon
as the call came for volunteers.
only waited for tlus very thiHg-thc
chance if should not be drafted
myself. OF saving some man who
was, to the woman who loved him. |
am glad it is yon. John, my good old
friend. to whom | can render this
service"
John Morgan was man Of few
words--of feelings which lay SO deep
that they seldom rose to the surface:
but there Was something which Ash
Thornycroft needed no language to
interpret in the looks OF his eyes and
the grasp OF his hand, rs he hurried
out OF the room.
Thornycrolt was one of those mcn
with q vein of tenderness in the
midst of their strength which always
allies them more nearly to women
than TO men. Left alone with Mrs.
Morgan. he said what he never would
have said 10 her husband. ltwas when
she thanked him, with earnest words,
and sobs and tears OF joy yet more
eloquent.
There was one, Mrs. Morgan,
who loyol M as we'll rs YOU love
John You 90 not need to thank
me- All that could do for any 9th
er, | would do for her sake. You
have seen her; YOU know how fair
and sweet she was; but | think no
one save me knows all her purity,
her saint like goodness. / have had
only one hope since she died; that j
might be fit to 60 to her If ] die
in this good cause, think of me as
happy with an unspcakable happi-
ness; it will be but opening the gold
en- gates the sooner: | shall not sec
YOU again, SO | will bid you good
bye now"
Her tears fell upon his hand-her
lips touched it. She whispered bro
kenly her blessing; the blessing of
one who owed to him more than her
life; and 50. annointed for his work,
as it were. by those holy tears and
prayers, he went away.
The girls at the door saw his face
in the moonlight. while yet radiant
and tender They ran in to their
mother, asking their childlike ques-
ton
'W hat made Mr.. Thornycroft look
so? What was he here for =
Father is not going away; Mr.
Thornycroft is going in his stead.
We shall keep father at home"
And then, woman-lille. she fell to
hugging them and crying over them;
and just then John came back. and
took the three altogether in his
strong arms.
Itwas one of the supreme moments
oflife. which. whether of JOY or grief.
picture themselves clearly to our