The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-10-21
A GIFT BY THE WAY->IDE


The old farm house clock had just struck sve-
en, and over all the hills the purple vapors Of
twilight were coming down, waking spicy ocors
among the sweetfern IN the pastures aud the
blue Wild grapes ripening ia the woods. Whiv
the whip- -poor-wiil sang sadly on the mossy r-:ls
Of the broken down fence that skirted the ravine.
and the katy dds chrped shriliy through the
morning glory leaves above the window
Seven o'clock 2 echoed Siias Miller, Just a.
though he had not been watching that slow
creeping minute hand for the last hall hour.
He will soon be here noW-my boy viii soon De
here"
What a strange softenng OF the rugged fea-
lures, what an unwonted quver OF the harsh
voice there was, when he uttered the two sim
pie words My boy :. Yes, il was his boy Who
vas coming back from the smoke OF half a score,
OF battle fields; 10 wonder that the thought
sent a thrill through his iron nature HIS col
dier-his herOl
Surely ought to hear the stage horn, be
said, ievefishly pacing up and down the mario"
path, where the maple leaves lay ike carpet
Of pale gold. Listen, Sybil don't YOU hear
itr
It's too early yet, father.
The light figure came stealing out to his side
AID both togel her leaned over the garden gate,
gazing into the opal gloom Of twilight With ~ist
iul, searching gaze
She was not pretter than many another New
England grl, yet there was delicate type oi
beauty in her face and form that belongs a.
much to the frozen North as its pine forests
and cliff of eternal snow Pale brown hair.
with aureate lights crossing It's urface az times,
eyes ike the blue larkspur, and bps that had
stolen the dewy crimson OF the Wild rose H.
1 - a. D..
been a beauty : in her dress of gray ginghau,
she was something far letter aud nobler
Suddenly the old man started, and uttered an
indistinct, glad cry.
lis he, Sybil; don't YOU see, beyond the el
der bushes, Child, don't hold me back LEI NE
20 and meet my boy =
No, father, you are mistaken; it is not Lau-
renee; Laurence is shorter by halt head, ana
that Is not his quick, bpovant step"
You re right Sybil, said Silas Miller almo-'
petuleuty. Why do these vsgcant soldiers e
~apdering by giving honest folks such start.
suppose he did not know We were watch
ing for Laurence, said Sybil, halt smiling in ths
dusk.
IL was only this morning that A beggaf, dis
gracing-I won't saw uearing-the United States
uniform, came bv aud had the audacity TO a-h
ne for money.
DID not you give him somethings
Give him som-thi-g?' repeated >ilas, angFi
", I'd have him starving ffsti have no %
ieuce with these strolhug b'ggars. Here's an
other specimen OF the kind suppose. No. m'
nan, YOU needn't trouble yourself To recite you'
piriiul story
For the tall figure, with halting step and Goa
thickly powdered With dust had paused ia from
Of the gate, aud Sybl could just discern dark
a 90 ID,
by crescent s.aped scar, apparently ne~l!
nealed.
1 have nothing for you,' said Silas, sharply
Yes, yes, kaow what YOU would say, but NJ
use If you re deserving the proper author
ties will take care OF you, and # you're not, th'
county Jail i the best place for you. Don't tel
me about want; what have YOU done with you
bounty money aud your paw, # you re real.
Shat YOU pretend To be-a soldier =
Even through the twilight Ss bil could see th'
scarlet flush rising to the SCARED forehead.
Sir, YOU are mistaken. / did not beg
No, you'd prefer 10 pay the bully, I've n
doubt. But I'm not proper subject Tor lou, =
be about your business my man.
The soldier turned silently away, with ste
more hating perhaps aud head more depress
I'd, aud passed slowly away into the galherIni
dusk.
Father whispered Sybn, reproachfally, 'ha
YOU forgotten that our Laurence too i a 60.
diers'
No. returned Slas, abruptly, 4 remembers
&, aud it convinced me all the more that mai
yaid and pensioned ike our Laurence, has d
need TO beg on the pubic highways
But, father, he did not beg
Because | would not allow it, child. pa
taxes for the support Of such as he, and s"ea
| will do no more
he spoke in the sharp, high pitched accent
Of passion, snd when he looked round again Sy
Il was gone.
Foo.sore and weary, the travel-worn pedestr
An had sat himself down on a mossy boulder 3
the road side, when quick, ght footstep eau
up a little by path, leading from tue back do'
Of the farm house, thr0agh blackberry pastur'
and mown fields, and slight figure oeut aoo
him.
Do Dot mind my fathers words; he was Al
gry and unreasonable sne said hurriedy.
have little to give, but want you TO take it f
the sake OF nv soldier brother.
Before he could SPEAK she bad unfasten'
from her neck blue ribbon sitn a tlnny 90
piece suspended from IT, placed IL 10 bis ha.
and Was gliding away across tie fields Ike sor
little gray nun, 10 her sober hu-d dres-.
rose I'd. a. If to follow sud overiake her, but
vas too late, and a. be bent his head over I
cleaning token something very like tear dro
ped upon its eircleI Of tiny stars.
Aud now tell - every thing that has happe
? ed to you, Laurence: Oh, Laurence, when
~aked this morning it seemed all a dream u
YOU had come back 10 Us sgsin in very trsth.
The oronzed, handsome yOung soldier look
smilingly down into the rad.su lace that nest
: against his shoulder and a serious shadow 81
- INTO his eyes.
- l can tell YOU, Sybil, it came very near
: ing nothing more than a dream once or t~i
A have had more hair-0resdIh 'sc4pes Ihan :
D. know Of, lttle sister. I dii not tell yoc, diC
! Of that skirmish along the Potomac where
4 stood face TO isce With death, an ugly death, I
at the point OF rebel oayonels, when some Or
fellow charged down on EN- aud saved my
y with his own right hand
d Who vas il, laurence = said Old Siias, y
le trembling liD and dllated eyes would z
Il ny best wheat 6eld tor a Chance 70 grasp I
re right hand
ID Il don't know-I never came across him az
Probably be was in some other regiment. a