The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-10-14


chase TIE present with the future She
looked at Charley still, but she could not see
him for the tears gathering in her soft, moth
erly blue eyes.
"Father would say go,''' she whispered,
g and must say what father would, must L
not? must prove myself worthy to have
been his wife. But he is dead, and if
should lose you also, oh whom have 1 left ?''
"God p,
Did Charley speak, or was it the voice of a
strong angel calling down from the eternal
heights
Mrs. Wayne bowed her head reverently,
silenced by that word by the thought of the
love beyond hope or longing which might be
hers if she would. She dared not again call
herself alone in the universe. She only put
cut her hand silently, and Charley took it.
"Never fear mother. All who fight do
not fall. 1 shall come back to you, and you
shall sit, when you are old, under my vine
and ig-tree, and tell your grandchildren sto-
ries of how their father helped to save the
country"
Heaven grant iti" she whispered, trying
to be brave, and smile, as he left her to tell
the boys of the Twenty-frst that he was
ready to, accept the lieutenant's commission
that had been offered him.
Itwas a proud day when he marched away
with his men. Even his mother, as she
watched him from the window, and met the.
fearless eyes which softsned into glance of
love as they saw her face, felt thrill ofsex-
ultation, pride in her brave son, WHICH for
the time kept her tears back. But the tears
came when she heard no longer the martial
music that cheered him on-when the noon
| day silence fell around her, and the MONDAY
light, gay, glaring, pitiloss, looked in upon
her woe She shut her window blinds and
drew down her curtains for the bright day
seemed mocking her Mute with hsorrow, she
sank upon her knees, as if there were prayer
in thevery attitude, and then, think, Heay
en- comforted her.
To her soul, at last, came a great peace
| She seemed to draw near the eternal life, and
breathe its air of secure rest. She felt close,
as she had never felt before since the summer
day he died, to Charley's father. She knew
that she had done what he would have coun-
seled; and she strengthened herself with his
approval, as she had done SO many times dur
ing their short life together. So she grew
strong, having tasted the air of heaven, to let
in again the joy and light of earth.
But the hardest trial came afterward For
the extreme moments of life there is vouch-
safed 10 our need heavenly mama; it is our
daily bread that we have to toll and pray for.
As the slow days went on, and she could not
hear her boys gay voice making the great
house cheery-could catch no echo of his
laughter, no CLEAN of sunshine from his face
-all her faith in Heaven, all her belief that
she had done right, could not ease her long
ing and heartache.
i You know how it is when friend dies, and
!. you believe they have gone home to a happi-
ness beside which the brightest hours oi
earth fade into nothing. If you could, you
i would not take the responsibility of calling
them back to the sphere of doubt aud waiting
, and yet
The lie touch of their bands ia the morning yor
keep day and night;
Their least step the still throbs h rough you
: - II ever SO light;
Their least gift which they n to your childhood il
lon, agn years,
: Is now turned from toy to a relic, and gazed a
4 sesf through tears.'' as fFE
; And if Charley Wayne had been dead hi
: mother would hardly have felt her solitude
deeper than she felt it for the first few week
after he went away. But as time passed on
she grew more accustomed to her Loneliness
He was in an engagement now and then, ant
came through safely. She began to hope sh
should see him again.
e Before 1862 was over, she heard of hi
promotion-Captain Charley now. She ha
e grown strong enough to feel glad and prou
" when she heard of it. She wrote him
a cheerful letter of praise and congratulatior
g which he put next his heart and wore NOR
e proudly than bis new honors. He had neve
g known-would he ever know Pa deart
10 love; his mother was still, for him, first anon
d women.
y, One day, early in March, he wrote her ho
le beautiful the Virginia spring was; how tt
ct wild, bright blossoms were opening soft eye
70 to softer sky, and the birds were singing
song of peace, peace when for man there WI
y. no peace.
e, While she was reading his letter other til
st ings came long dispatch from one WI
knew and loved her boy the story of 1
ly action, such as in these days of great battl
ut We scarcely think Of where only few cor
panies were engaged, but in which Charit
= had fallen, severely wounded-fallen, as 81
ep would be proud to hear, bravely cheering
be his men. He was wounded in arm and lie
but was safely in the hospital, and, tn
se hoped, would dc we'll.
,re 1t is strange how much strength is in t
-es weakest and most loving type of women
ne the hours which try mems souls. | do I
think good DR.. Holmes, used to the horrt
?" of the dissecting room, made ready one w
ell more coolly to start on his search for t
ge, Captain" than she on hers for Captain CHI
as ley. I think she forgot nothing which
ere could need, and do not believe a tear
ow till all her preparations were over, and $
ut sat in the cars on her way to him. What
her tears did fall then, silent but bitter,
,he hind her thick veil {? There would be
I'VE stain of them when he saw the face, VIII
the must be cheerful for his sake.
at How the time went she never knew
to she stood beside his bed-saw him white