Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-07


Suffering courage ho said aloud, }
when the servant had left the room
Humph! Iwould think that she was
snsering at me if it wasn't palpabls
blunder; suppose that she is named |
Sarah Jane Smith or Lucy Ann Jones,
and don't like to put such homely ii |
tie at the bottom of sc. romantic an affair |
as note to wounded soldier. Courage |
don't suffer obi! fool, fool, that am,
humbug and coward
A twinge in his wound diverted his
thoughts from gloom for a moment,
whilst he moistened the bandage; and as
he was thus employed, a brisk step was
heard on the stairs, and young man in
the semi military, semi-ciyilian garb SO
much seen nowadays, made his appear.
ance, which he announced with pro-
longed ahemr
What's the matter?' asked Chester,
glad to see Abner Hyde, but not in
mood to tell him so; indeed, he seemed
both to ask and answer questions under
protest since bis misfortune. u
Why, these steps; do you suppose
that man could be so little human as to
| run up these steps on July day with
! out blowing afterwards?
We'll, what didyyou run up for ?'asaid
Chester, in a pettish way.
There's gratitude for you,' said Alb
ner, striking a theatrical attitude; why,
| ran up on account Of my solicitude for
you, which | fondly hoped was so depic.
ted, as 1t were, may say personihed, in
my countenance, that inquiry as to my
expeditions ascent to these attic heights
would not only be unnecessary, but su-
pererogatory.' He folded his arms and
walked up and down the room after this
outburst, in the manner Of the Stereo-
typed Hamlet, and whistled a popular
waltz, arOantisstimo, which, he said,
was expressive of profound sympathy.
Chester pretended not to notice him.
In spite of himself he found that be was
vexed, rather than amused, at Abner's
honest effort to divert his thoughts from
useless apprehension.
- + thoaghs this informally hong day
would never end, he growled.
You are the most unreasonable fell
low ever saw, Chess, said Abner, from
the looking glass, where he was engaged
in celebrating the set of his collar, and
, putting every lock of hair in its proper
place. You are the most unreasonable
man l ever saw. What else could YOU
expect of the days at this time of the
year but length But a few days ago,
} the 2lst of June, 1 believe, they were as
long as they could we'll be without giving
them more than twenty -four hours apiece.
By the way, time amt up for to day yet,
so you don't know whether it's the long
est day you ever saw or not The long.
est day / ever saw, was one on which we
chased the enemy for one half, and they
being reinforced, chased US back the 9th
er; and that reminds me that there i:
, such an institution as dinner, suppos,
because we didn't get any that day; ar
institution which, through the dislocatior
/ of the times, though not entieing and very
costly, is nevertheless Indispensable fo
| the well-being of Confederates, boil
wounded and normal -
Chester took no notice of this flourish
/ but continued the. moietening of hi
f wound Meanwhile, Abner had finished
his toilette, apparently very much to hi
/ satisfaction, and asked Chester what h
r would have for dinner. ... .......
! Nothing at all don't you see hav
not eaten the provender sent by the ad
. mirer of suffering courage"-I bein
!. suffering courage, you understand
e AHA! I've great mind to dine
d home, then,' said Abner, examining tn
J. delicacies, which were as choice as coul
a be procured. Pshaw,' he continued, yo
t have drunk all the champagne, and cate
7, all the oliyesl believe that will pre-
If ceed to mine hostel, and consume my di
d urnal beefand potatoes. You might hay
3 left fellow taste of champagne
You know there was none, said Ches
d ter, with an expression of intense wear
Is ness on his face as he fell back on tn
10 bed; for Heavens sake stop your iron
k and euphonistics, Abb. / know that ye
ar mean we'll, old fellow, but something hi
le so changed my disposition that anythir
"a like fun CRATES very harshly on my nerve
d, | am as hysterical as a girl. suppo
Is that it is fever from my wound. Their,
to. don't laugh at me-, l know that yo
n, sense of the ludicrous prompts you
Id laugh at my Juvenile pettishness. {
8 to dinner like good fellow, and will
n myself again when you come back.
s. Abner Hyde was not only surprise
Sc but touched at his friends earnest pr,
to test against his levity. He had not Z
ho remotest idea that it was unpleasant
ed seemed TO amuse Chsster very mu
by when he first came, and it had been ha