Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-08-10

in nv canteen. L had hlled 1t before the
last ball came. BY stretching my hand |
could give him drink, but did not raise
finger Vengeance is sweet L smiled
grimly to myself, and said down IN my Sc
CT ct heart:
Not drop shall cross bis lips though he
perish | shall have my revenge.
Do you recoil with horror? Listen how
merciful God was to me-
There was poor little drummer boy on
the other side, merry, manly boy OF twelve
or thirteen, the pet and playthmg OF the
regiment There was something OF the
German in him; he had been with US from
the first, and was reckoned one OF the best
drurnmers in the army. But we will never
march to the tap of Charley's drum again.
He had got ball in his lungs, and the ex-
posure and fatigue, together with the wound
had made him hghtheaded. Poor little
child he crept close to me IN the darkness
and laid his cheek upon my breast, May
be he thought it was his own pillow at
home may be he thought it, poor darling,
his mother bosom. God only knows what
he thought, but with his hot arm about my
neck, and his curly head pressed close to
my wicked heart, even then swelling with
bitter hatred of my enemy, he began to
murmur in his delirium, Our Father who
art in Heaven.
| was rough, bearded man, L had been
an orphan for many long year but not
too many or too long to forget the simple
hearted prayer of my childhood-the dim
vision of that mothers face over which the
grass had grown for twenty changing sum
mers, Something tender stirred within my
hardened heart. 1t was too dark to see the
little face, but the young lips went on bro
kenly:
And forgive our tresspasses as we for
give those who tresspass against us.
1t went through me like a knife-sharper
than the sabre cut, keener than the ball.
God was merciful to me and this young child
was the channel of his mercy.
Forgive our tresspasses as we forgive
those who tresspass against US.
| had never understood the words before.
If an angel had spoken it could scarcely
have been more of a revelation. For the
first time the thought that | might be NOR
tally wounded, that death might be nearer
than | dreamed of, struck me with awe and
horror The text of long forgotten ser
mon was in my ears ''it is appointed for
all men to die and after death the judgment.
Worse and worse. What measure of
mercy could | expect, if the same was me
ted out that | had meted unto my enemy.
The tears swelled into my eyes, and trlckled
down my cheeks; the first had she'd since
my boyhood | felt subdued and strangely
moved.
The rain was falling still, but the little head
upon my breast was gone. tie crept away
silently in the darkness. His unconscious
mission was fulfilled, he would not return at
my call
Then lifted myself with great effort,
The old bitterness was crushed, but not al
together dead. ~,
F'Water-water! moaned Richard With
ers in his agony.
[ dragged myself closer to him.
God be praised ~ [ said with solemn
heart. ''Dick, old boy, enemy no longer.
God be praised [ am willing and able to
help you Drink and be friends. y
It had been growing lighter and lighter
in the east and now it was day. Day with
in and without In the first gray glimmer
of dawn we looked into each Others ghast-
Iv faces for a moment, and then the canteen
was at Richards mouth and he drank as on
" the fevered can drink. | watched him
with moist eyes; leaning upon my elbow
and forgetting the bandaged shoulder he
grasped me with both hands.
Blood stained and pallid as it was, his face
was ingenious and beautiful as child's.
'sNow let me speak, . he said painting.
all mistake found it out after We part
ed. | meant to have spoken this morning
when [ grasped your rein, but-but-
His generosity spared me the rest.
The wound nv hand had inflicted was yet
bleeding in his head ; but for the blind pas
sion of the blow it must have been mortal.
Was vengeance so sweet after all L 1elt
something warm trickling from my shoulder.
The daylight had gone again-how dark it
was
Forgive me. Dick, | murmured, crop
ing about for him with my hands. Then l
was blind-then [ was cold as ice-therI L
tumbled down an abyss, and everything was
blank.
''The crisis is past-he will recover, SAID
a strange voice. :,
lar one.
| opened my eyes. Where am F? How
odd everything was Rows of beds stretch
ing down long narrow hall, bright with
sunshine, and women wearing white caps
and peculiar dresses fitting to and fro with
noiseless activity, which in my fearful weak
ness it tired me to watch. My hand lay
outside the covers !: it was as shadowy as a
skeletons. What had become of my hesh2
Was man or child ? A body or spirit !?
[ was done with material things altogether
and had been subjected tosome refining pro-
cess and but now awaked to a new existence.
Rut did they have beds in the other world Z
7 was looking lazily at the opposite one,
when some one took my hand. A face was
bending over. [ looked up with beating
heart. The golden sunshine was on it-on
the fair, regular features, and the lips and
kindly blue eyes,
Dick, / gasped, where have you oeen
~ Weeks, S m You l'mean, said Richard, With
the old smile. But never mind now. You