Newbern progress., 1863-01-24
Alice Bankgrove's Soldier.

red DricK mouse was tossing us OouSHs
of pink streaked apples TO and fro in
the September sunset; the level beams
looked straight into the deserted rob-
in's nest in its messy frock and Alice
Bankgro,e stood in the door way shad-
ing her eyes with a pretty, sun en-
Drowned hand, and looking the while,
as the western light, sitting through a
canopy of moving leaves, covered her
with narrow lines and zigzags of trem-
ulous gold, like a bird peeping through
the gilded wires of its cage!
Home already, boys" she called
ont, as the garden gate swung on its
creaking hinges, and the hazel eyes
flashed sunny welcome down the
path.
Boys, indeed The boys whom Miss
Alice apostrophized SO patronizingly,
were two stalwart fellows, either Of
whom could have picked the young
lady up with one hand-handsome oil
i've checked young giants, with the
strength and symmetry of Hercules in
their thews and sinews, as might have
satisfied the shining heaps of newly
thrashed grain they had left piled on
the floor of the echoing, fragrant old
barn under the hill!
"But why do you look so serious ="
she added, the next minute. All, what
curve of the lip, what culver OF the
brow, ever escaped a womap's quick
eye7 She read the two faces as if they
had been open books.
"We have been talking, Alice" said
the younger, a dark, open browed
young man of about twenty, leaning
up against the doorway. 81 am 60
ing to ask your father to get another
hand to finish off this falls work."
Alice stood in astonishment.
"What for, Harry? Trad hasn't
been teasing you again, has he J"
Harry Moore burst into great,
mellow laugh.
annoyed mel No, Alice-the truth Of
the matter is that | feel like fool
thrashing wheat here, when [ ought
to be standing in the ranks with
musket on my shoulder, fighting for
the Stars and Stripes as my grandfa-
ther fought at Lexington and Bunker
Hill |"
And as he spoke his dark eyes spark
led with inward fire, and flush came
on his sunburned cheek.
"Here him talk % said Trad Curtis,
smuggling his shoulders. Gall moon
shine, say /. Time enough to fight
for the old flag when the old flag
hasn't men enough to do its work, and
send word for Hal Moore and Trad
Curtis to come along and lend hand.
Meanwhile let every man mind his
own business-that's my maxim
81 shall not wait for any such mes
sage," returned Moore, quietly. 81
mean to be off, soon-that is, Alice, if
you think Pm doing right"
81 would volunteer tomorrow, if
were a man :" said Alice, instructive
ly clasping her hands together, and
drawing deep breath. Moore's face
lighted up. =. a..
That's enough, Alice!" said he:
Trad Curtis, standing in the shadow
of the old apple tree, quietly watched
the two faces beyond with half closed
vieilant eyes and disagreeable curve
in his lip.
"Wonder what Square Bankgrove
will say to this" was his internal com
ment "If he really means to give his
daughter to a farm hand, don't see
why my chance-with little manage
ment = are not as good as Harry
Moor's. She don't exactly like me
but if Harry really is in earnest about
this volunteering business, it's the
most obliging thing he conld do just
now. Once give me a clear held,
and"
Trad Curtis set his lips closely to-
gether as he entered the wide- cool
hall where Square Baakgrove-a hale,
portly parsonage of about fifty, with
ruddy cheeks, and locks thickly sprink-
led with silver-sat in his elbow chair,
doing over the newspaper.
Harry Moore walked straight up to
him and broached the subject with
ont unnecessary circumlocation.
"Square Bankgrove, could you make
1t convenient to dispense with my SER
vices on the farm 2"
"Well. l don't know" said the
Squire, who was a man of reflection,
and seldom committed himself without
first consulting his snuff box and his
red silk pocke handkerchief. care
you thinking of leaving me? I've no
fault to find with You, Harry Moore !"
..- "Thank you,Ssir. Bat | have made
up my mind now that every young
mans place is in the ranks of hisc
tryTs defenders. And so, sir, l shall
cnlist tomorrow ("
Square Bankgrove brought down
his clcnched fist on the window seat
with q force that made the blackbird
start in its wicker cage.
'~W ell said, my boy! wish | was
ten years younger, and I'd go long
with you myself ~