Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-08-04

bis hnger when he lay alone.
"Partly that, but more from a settled sort
of look you have, look which young men
seldom get rntil they marry"
NJ did mt know that, but I'm not so very
young, ma'am-thSrty in May, and have
been what you might call settled this ten
years. for mothers a widow. I'm the old.
est child she has. and it wouldn't do for me
to marry till Lizzy has home Of her own,
and Lourie's learned his trade; for we're
not rich and must be father to the chill
| dren, and husband to the dear old woman,
! if can"
No doubt you are both, John; yet how
came you the 60 to the war, if you felt
so? Wasn't enlisting as bad as marry.
iDgw
mo, ma'am. not as see it; for one is
helping my neighbor, the other pleasing
myself. l went because | couldn't help it.
didn't want the glory or the pay. WANTED
theright thing done, and people kept saying
the men who were in earnest ought to fight.
was in earnest, the Lord knows, but
held Of 81 long as could, not knowing
which was my duty. Mother saw the case,
gave me her ring to keep me steady, and
said 'go;' go l went"
A short story and simple one, but the
man and the mother were portrayed bet
ter than pages OF fine writing could have
done it.
SOLDIERS PRIDE.
"Do you ever regret that you came
when you lie here suffering so much!"
Never. ma'an. l haven't helped q
great deal but I've shown l was willing TO
give my life, and perhaps I've got to; but
l don't blame anybody, and if it was to do
over again, I'D do it. I'm little sorry
wasn't wounded in front. 1t looks cow.
ardly to be hit in the back, but obeyed
orders, and it don't matter in the end, l
know.
Poor Johnl 1t did not matter now, ex.
cept that shot in front might have spared
the long agony in store for him. He seem.
ed to read the thought troubled me, as he
spoke 80 hopefully when there was no
hope, for be suddenly added:
This is my first battle-dO they think
it's to be my last"
"l'm afraid they do JOHN"
1t was the hardest question had ever
been called upon to answer-doubly hard
with those clear eyes fixed on mine, forcing
truthful answer by their own truth He
seemed little startled at first, pondered
over the fateful fact a moment, then shook
his head with a glance at the broad chest
and muscular limbs stretched out before
him.
THE LAST LETTER.
"Shall | write TO your mother novi" I
asked, thinking these sudden tidiugs might
change all plans and purposes-but thew
did not; for the order of the Divine Com.
mander to march with the same uDoues-
t'oniug obedience with which the soldier
had received that Of the human one. Doubt
less remembering that the first led him TO
life, the last to death
No, ms'am; toLourie just the same I;
he'll break it to her best, and I'll write
line to her myself when you are done /"
30 wrote the letter which he dictated
finding 1t better that any had sent. for
though here and there a little uugrammati-
cal and Inelegant, each sentence came to
me briefly worded, hut most expressive full
OF excellent counsel TO the teuderlv
oequeatbing mother and Lizzie to bis care.
aud bidding him goodbye in words thu
sadder for their simplicity. lie added a
few lines with a steady hand, and. as I
sealed 1t, said, with patient sort of sigh,
me TO see it." Then turning away his
face, laid the flowers against his Iips. as if
to hide sume CULVER of emotion at the
thou ght OF such sudden sunderiug of all
the dear home ties.
These things had happened two DAYS
before. Now, John was dying, and the let
ter had not cnme. l had been summoned
to many death.beds in my life, but to none
that made my heart ache as it did then,
since my mother called me to watch the de
parture OF spirit akin to this, in it's pa
tlentness and gentle strength. As went
in, John stretched out both hands.
Il knew you'd GOMEZ guess I'm mOy-
ing on, ma'am."
lie was, and SO rapidly that even while
he spoke oyer his face saw the grew veil
falling that no human hand can lift. / sat
down by him, wiped tho drops from his
forehead, stirred the air about him with
the slow wave of fan, and waited to help
him die. He stood in sore need of help,
and | could do so little; for, as the doctor
had fOretold, the strong body rebe!led
against death and fought every inch of the
way, forcing him to draw each breath with
spasm, and clench his hands with 40 i'm.
plOring lock, as he ask ID:
How long must endure this and be
still ?"
For hours be suffered dumbly, without
moments respite, or moments mourn.
ing. His limbs grew cold, his face damp,
bis lips white, and again and again he tore
the covering off his breast, as if the least
weight added to his agony yet, through
It all, his eyes never lost their perfect Sc.
reDity. and the mans soul seemed to set
therein, uudauuted by the ills that vexes his
flesh.
sOLDlERT SYMPATHY.
One by one the men woke, and round the
room appeared q circle Of pale faces and
watchiul eyes, full Of awe and pity; for
though stranger, John was beloved bv
all. Each man there had wondered at bis
patience, respected his piety, admired his
fortitude, and now lamented bis death, for
the influence Of an upright nature had
made itself deeply felt even in one little
week. Presently the Jonathan who so
loved this cOmely David, came creeping
from his bed for last look and word. The
kind soul was full of trouble, as the choke
in his voice, the grasp of the hand betray.
ed but there were no tears. and the fare
well Of the friends was the more touching
for its 5revity.
"Old boy, how are yOu?" faltered the
one.
"Most through, thank heaven !" whisper
ed the other.
Can say or do anything for you any
where's ?"
H. A.