The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-12-11
MEM0RY'S MUSINGS.
nY NELLIg 81. ArnRY.

'Twaa the close OF a beautiful day
in autumn that, a. the twilight shud-
ows deopeuod over the eurth, I sat ut
my window thinking. Looking out
the fading glory OF the Sky rcmam.
horcd how many times ! had looked
from jIal s'le Wln4Ow Nneh L hHu
not been alone, but had been much
happier Cham | was then, and memory
brought back the long weary days |
had bcen an alone whom [ sat there,
and longed for some one to come
and relieve me Of my solitude.
Ny drass and feelings were at vari-
anco tHat eve. for had prepared to
attend a ~. the people OF A. were
gieinr in honor Of the Federal victo-
ryat at---. The news had Just been
received, chat after bloody struggle,
our army had defeated the rebels,
and we were in possession Of the
parts they lately held. No parucu-
lars had reached us, and N ominous
rorcloding tilled my heart, ashadow-
ing Of coming sorrow seemed TO hang
over mo.
TO dive away these thoughts I
rang for lights and stood before tn
mirror, and proud satisfaction filed
my heart rs [ saw the raliection OF
myself | wore Il robe Of fairy teSt-
ure, the colors Of which are the stand
ard oi the American banner. The
stars and stripes were very becoming
TO me, and the time-honored eagle
that perched on my crown Of flowers
seemed no prouder chan
The evening paper was brought
me, and in it was Il long list Of the
names Of those killed, wounded, or
missing in the recent battle. and l
bravelY read chat terrible record, fear
ing each name / rend would be that
Of my Willie; but it was not there. |
read on after had finished the record
OF those whose wounds or heroic
death would make chem heroes, until
the door-bell rang and [ went to an
swer the summons, thinking I. bad
come 10 take me TO the jtte. But il
was the postman; and, putting a
/ package in my hand, he LETT me. Seat
/ ing myself by the table, and shading
the light from my eyes, | opened the
package, and what do You think was
in it? What that should pale my
cheek and ill my heart with terror
Listen, and | will tell you. TIED
with bit Of blue ribbon was one o.
my chestnut curls that | had sent tc
Willie when he was ut Washington
He had asked me to cut it from th,
rest and give it to him; and, when
haughtily told him | could not disfg
ure my head in such manner, hc
kindly told me to keep them all fol
him till he came back. After he LEI
me remorse prompted me to cut the
curl from my hair and send it to him
Under the curl lay miniature tha
revealed my fair, proud face, l haC
given it to him when we were betroth
ed. Next came a Bible, the gilt o
his sister. Then n prayer book tina
had once been mine, but had eX
changed for Wilhe's after he enlist
ed. Last of all, and to explain whl
these articles were returned to me
were two letters; one, unfinished
traced by the hand Of my Willie;-
the other from the captain Of compan.
X, regiment, telling me of tn
: wonnding and afterward death O
Willie G.. r..
The Captain wrote that in fey
hours after Willie was conveyed {
the hosp tai he died, that he was dc
Z lirious at the time of his death, far
cying that he was in his home, i'll, an
II would not go to him. Then he wo'