Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-08-03


rowing ones scattered all over the country
who mourned their loved and lost. He felt
rebuked
The door of the room opened with a jerk,
and a servant came in. Her manner was ex-
cited.
What's wanted? p asked Mrs Ca,herwood.
They've sent for you next door"
Mrs. Catherwood started to her feet.
ais anything wrongH she asked, alarmed
by the servants tone and appearance.
Yes, ma'am. They've got bad news, and
Mrs. Lester has tainted dead away"
News from Captain Lester ?"
Yes, ma'am. Hes killed they sayl'
Mrs. Catherwood struck her hands together
and uttered an exclamation of surprise and
pain.
"When did it happen7" asked Mr. Gather
wood, He spoke with forced calmness. His
face had become pale.
"They didn't tell me, sir. The girl was all
in a furry, and said, Please ask Mrs. Cath
erwood to come right in.
Ne delay occurred. Without stopping for
shawl or hoop, Mrs Catherwood ran in to
her afflicted neighbor Nj Catherwood fol-
lowed soon after, thinking that he might be
of some use. Hd learned TINT dispatch had
been received announcing the death of Cap
tain Lester in Western Virginia, and that
Mrs. Lester had tainted on receiving the in
telIigence, and was still insensible. Two
children, a boy and a girl, one six and the
other eight years Of age, came with noiseless
steps into the parlor. On seeing Mr. Gather
wood they paused with timid air He held
out his hands, and they came and sat down
on The sofa, one on each side, aud leaned their
heads against him. There was something
wrong in the house. Their mother was ill.,
suddenly and strangely. No tongue yet had
uttered the fatal truth in their ears. They
did not know that they were latherless. But
they felt the chill shadow of impending evil
Mr.. Catberwood's heart grew faint and his
eyes wet. He could not trust his voice to
speak to the children; but he put his arms
around them.
"Mammas sick" said the little girl, look
ing up at Mr.. Catherwood with sober face
as he drew her with tender, plying im-
pulse, to his side.
I'm very sorry" he answered her, softly.
And I'm so sorry" answered the boy -
" Bat the doctors coming, and he'll make her
well, he added in a tone of confidence.
Alas for the uuhappy motherl Hers was
a sickness beyond the skill of any mortal
physiciaa. Time only, with Gods mercy and
loving kindness, could heal the hurt of her
seul.
Mr. Catherwood did not reply, though he
felt that the little troubled hearts beside him
were waiting for some responsive assurance
from bis lips
Vague sorrows do not rest very heavily on
the hearts of younger children. The uncon-
scious orphans, up later than their usual hour
were presently asleep, leaning against Mr.
Catherwood. Their nurse came in and took
them av ay How his heart yearned toward
those children-suddenly left iatherlcss He
thought of his own little ones, still within the
sphere Of his protecting love; Of his wife, still
leaning against him rs her stay in the world;
of himself, safe from the peril of shot or sabre
stroke, and involuntarily he looked upward,
and said Thank GodI
The doctor came and staid an hour with
Mrs. Lester Life moved again through her
pulses, but Inconsistencies continued. There
was nothing that Mr.. Catherwood could do
for the family, and so he returned home. His
wife came in soon afterward; the relatives
and friends Of Mrs Lester having arrived and
taken her place i'll the chamber of the still
insensible widow. Her eyes were red with
weeping for the sorrow of another-her face
pale with pain for the suffering Of another.
Oh, Henry Isn't this sad, sadr' And
Mrs. CatherwoOd laid her face upon the shOul-
der of her husband and sobbed.
Poor Mrs LesterI" she added. at will
be better for her if her eyes never open again
to the light of this world. Ifit were not for
the children, I could wish she might pass away
and join her husband in the other world.
Mr.. CatherwoOd made no response. He
was thinking OF the complaints he had uttered
a little while before, and of his impatience
and weak dependency under his small share
Of the common burden which a great nj ational
calamity had laid on the peoples shoulders
"God has been very good to me, Henry,
said his wife, breaking in upon his thoughts
-" very, very good I have my husband
Oh, if you are spared, will suffer whatever
evil may come and seal my lips in Silence
Poor Mrs. Lesterl Ny heart runs over with
sorrow at the thought Of her"
"Yca have not complained, Mr.. Gather
wood spoke, in selg-humiliation. at is
who have murmured; l who have been un-
grateful. How selGshly blind was Look
ing inward upon Our own little world, with
eyes Jealous over our own gOod--iretting and
anxious because the cost Of living had so IN
creased that some Of our luxuries must be
given up; while thousands and tens Of thou
sands had been called to abandon everything