Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-10-09
From Moore's Rural New Yorker.
Love VS.. Shoulder Straps.

and devote my time to pettinx Lieut.. Morgan,
did you ask, Lou? That's rather a saucy
question, ma belle, but as you have consttu
ted yourself my "fa,her pr ofessor," suppose
must cen answer it, though | wonder that
you ask such simple thing. Didn't you
know that a soldiers uniform was, and ought
to be. an irresistible attraction to sensible
md patriotic girl, such as your friend is sup
posed 10 be p
"Yes, Oracle, when the uniform covers a
true heart, but as brave one may beat under
citizens coat You know it is not Ellis
Benedicts fault that he is not soldier. He
! was the 'only son Of his mother, and she a
| widow" but now she has at least gone to her
rest, | think Ellis will not remain long away
from the post he has so often wished to fill"
Oracle Hueston absently turned the leaves
If the book she had beer reading for few
moments, and then drawing her friends head
down into her lap, she said
"Well, Lou, III just tell you all about it.
| [ always liked Ellis, from the time we went
| to the District School together and learned
our l,tters from the same spelling book, and
know he loves me. He is a good and noble
oy-but-Lieutenan Morgan has asked me
| 10 be his wife, told him | would consider
! he matter, and-en the whOle-I think I'll
| take him p
! Louis eyes filed with tears as she drew
n friend lovingly to her, and said:
God bless you, Oracle, whoever you may
choose, I'd make your life path as pleasant
a one as you deserve - and thereupon the
two commenced confidential girlish chat,
nto which we will not intrude.
But little introduction is needed to brins
| he characters 10 this little sketch before the
ives of the reader. Oracle Hueston was a
,ay, warm-hearted girl full Of generous i'm
pulses, with dash of romance in her dispo-
siton, and patriotic almost to fault, if such
thing were possible Lou Osborne needs
| no other mention than that she was Gracie's
dearest friend. Lieutenant Morgan was a
member of the "Grand Army" who had seen
| a campaign or two-received a slight wound
IN one of them Just sufficient to throw ha o
| Of he rosm around him to one Of Grace S
Enthusiastic temperament. AS for the rest.
| he was gay fascinating supremely selfish,
VII oh little fault had not yet become apparent
To Oracle, whose fancy was Captivated by
Iorgan, but certainly not her heart, which,
,fter all, was more nearly in Ellis Benedicts
keeping than the Lieutenant's, but Oracle
never mistrusted that fact. AS for the former,
t is only necessary to say that he was one
If til $50 noble, selfsacrifcng souls of whom
one meets so few in this cold world, and fully
sorlhy of any true woman's love.
| That evening in Gracie's home, little
group was gathered. composed of all the in
dividuals connected with our story. Of the
four, Lou was thoughtful, Oracle full of
her usual gay spirits, with brighter light
in her eyes, If possible, than generally shone
there, and deeper rose tint on her cheeks.
Ellis was grave and sad, and the Lieutenant
appeared at perfect peace with himself and
the rest of mankind.
| "Three hundred thousand more troops
called for" said Lou, taking up daily paper
that lay near her, and glancing over its
columns in pause that occurred in the con-
versation 81 suppose we shall lose you again
soon, Morgan. Your patriotism will never
resist call like that, of course?"
YES" he replied, carelessly, 81 shall 60
| as soon as can get commission"
"And not before % said Oracle, turning
! quickly toward him.
mot l."
"And why not, pray? '' questioned she,
| with a rising flush ON her cheeks.
"Why % said he, with a little shrug of his
SHOULDERS "tbat's not hard question to
| answer. When one has choice of positions.
| that of an officer is vastly more agreeable
than that of high private-to say nothing
| Of the low associations connected with the
| latter position"
"And yon?" said she, turning to Ellis,
who sat with compressed lips, listening to the
conversation, when do you think of volun-
teering for glory -
81 Join my regiment at D tomorrow"
was his simple reply.
You !'' exclaimed Oracle, while her heart
| gave great bound that sent the blood from
| ner face, and her voice trembled slightly as
she a.k,d, "And what rank have we to assign
| 20 you?'
"High private" he answered, somewhat
bitterly, "My country needs the help of my
.rm in her hour of trouble more than any
nonor she can bestow upon me, aid now that
the last tie that bound me to my home Is
| broken, shall go to her aid, as I should
have done long ago, had not higher duty
detained me at home," and hastily rising. said
the good byes he had come to speak, and, not
outstanding the efforts made to detain him,
took his departure.
Lou soon afterwards left the room, and
what took place between Oracle and the Lieu
tenant that individual never told, but he fol-
lowed in the footsteps of Ellis before an hour
mad passed, has general appearance being
anything but that of an accepted lover look
ing, in fact, considerably astonisned, and not
little crest-fallen.
Oracle entered Louis room shortly after,
and throwing herself down by her friends
side, exclaimed:
''rheIe's patriotism for you. How blind
was to imagine him superior to Ellis Pene-
Dict AMI Lou, for answer, only ki-ed her
ov ngly, and whispered in her ear, Sim so
glad, Oracle ~
The great Central Railroad depot in the
city from which the -th regiment took its
departure from The State was filled to over
tlowiug with busy crowd on certain
Autumn evening in the year 1862. Officers,
sashed and pIumed, promenaded up and down
the length of the building, with their swords
changing martially at their heels among the
crowds of blue uniformed privates who
swarmed everywhere. Wives chung to their
hush nd's arms for the last tIme.-mothers,
with tearfal eyes, babe farewell to their sons,
and all those sad scenes were enacted
which have been repeated and re-repeated
50 many times in these terrible years of war
which have come upon US. Amid the mingled
tones of many voices, and the heavy tramp
of feet, that wild chorus of "Glory-i1allelu
ah ~ rang out from hundred threats, and
aoated up to the arched roof in strange, wild
harmony. 1t was time and scene to thrill
the dulest heart.
Apart from the restless, surging crowd,
with his military cap drawn down over sad
eyes, and brow contracted oy some deep
and sorrowful emotion, stood soldier closely
i Ina II xryoo 0,1r old
friend, Ellis Benedict, and as he gazed on the
scenes around him, wild, despairing thoughts
rushed through his heart. He was alone,-
all a!one,-no eyes grew dim at meeting his
farewell glance,-there was no hand to hold
L Lave l;ororirp clocp which