Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-01-26
ca -.
gsests itsrst#re.
FOREST MUSINGS.

bright, beIesgured land" and the groaDs
OF her suffering sons and the cries OF
her angui-hed daughters seem borne to
my ear in every passing breeze. And,
bark there is another mournful sound
1t is funeral bell. [ came to this forest
solitude to escape those notes Of woe; but
they pierce the silence around me with
4, harp distlnctness. VIII you sit down be-
cSlde me, reader, on this couch which
Nature offers-the stem of an uprooted
,ree?-and l will tell you of the young
way-farer of life, for whose departure yon
knell is sounding. listen! Do you hear
that faint, dull beat of the drum9 They
are bearing The soldiers body for the last
time to the house of God, ere the poor
relics of mortality are given totheir moth
er earth. .. .. ...... IS
This boy boy in years, but hero in soul
went forth into the field at the first war
cry. His fathers breast heaved, his moth
er's cheek paled, and his young sister
threw her arms around him and wept,
when he came, for no holiday sojourD, to
the home which his presence had made so
JOYOUS, and told them that he must go
with his brother to join the patriot hosts
that were gathering to do battle " for our
affairs and our hearths" But father, mo-
ther, sister, all said, Yes, go. God guard
thee, our beloved opcs bnt our country
cals-gow And bravely they stihed the
agony of Nature: smiled when their hearts
were bursting with words of cheer, AID
IL Go1
the soldiers on their way; and charged
each to watch and defend the other, and
not rashly to expose his own life, so pre-
cious to the hearts left behind And bold
ly and hopefully went the brothers-the
young man and the boy-eager to meet tthe
vile invader; ready to bleed and die for
their beloved land.
Month after month, with hearts rocked
between hope aud fear, the pareats and
sister waited the lohged for, yet dreaded
tdings of battle and OF march. Month af-
ter month, and still came.the greeting,
after each deadly conflict, A battle but
we are both safe" Blessed assurance
for which they poured forth most passion
ate thanksgiving. But, at last-it came
at last-the message 50 fearfully, so amos
prophetically looked for. 1t was from the
elder brother" Henry is wounded.
am bringing him homc.' .
With what agony of expectance diC
they await their coming! In what ex-
trcuity of soul did they cry unto God TO
n~rcy "Spare i'm oh, spare him
p. It least we may see him once more il
iifer' .......
The father went to meet his sons, an,
the weeping mother and sister tried to be
guile the hours and days of sickeuin
suspense that followed, by busying the m
selves with cares for the comfort of th
wounded boy-feeling, the while, ho'
bitterly that these cares might be all
vain. Once, twice, thrice, disappointment
No coming, and no news 1t was tn
fourth day of vaiting-but why trace th
scene fartherl Why paint the two pal
and now fearless watchers-the weepin
household-sympathiEng friends tt
faitness of apprehension when, at last,
it was whispered +" They are come" Th
cold terror that paralyzed the questio
they dared not ask the gush of gratituc
and tears when voice exclaimed, =" Con
fort, he lives !" the revulsion of feelir
back to despair, as the low and hea'
tread of many feet brought near litter {
which was extended form they scar
could recognize as the boy who left then
the mighty strength oe love by which Il
mother conquered her heart, and restrain
inp ,he shrek of anguish it would ia
have uttered, knelt beside her darling, al
spoke seft, soothing words to him t
white lips of the father, as he strove
.,u calm and hopeful I! the frenzied gri
the sister, as, turning from the alter
:. ce she could not look upon, she clung
her eldest brother, and marked that he t
was worn and haggard with suffering
quivering frame and almost unmanni
emotion Of the soldier, as but few hol
later he stood beside the couch, and look
nis last on the young brother and comra
W in arms, whom duty called him to leav
MS brief words of parting to the alrea
r,vep hearts to which he must give fIe
pungs-" Another battle expected: / m
sow The weeks of wasting fever
weary days racked night--hope char
Bg to patience-patience to resignation
uu,l, Wilh smile upon his lip, the you
soldis yieldsdto the conineror Death
WhYpictdre this, oh !. reader, to Z
perhaps, Alrcady lacerated and mourn
heAt Why recall what thou hast
dured, og show Hee that thou NAV
yet soffer.n the baptism Of blood VIII