The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1864-12-23
fallen men but me, l heard a familiar

Nolce clo>e W my 5Siue'
Water water waterl ! am dying
with thirst-if it be but one swallow
water? For Gods sake give me water!'
| recoiled with dismay. IL was the
voice of my enemy; thevoice of Richard
Wlthers. They were once very dear to
me, those mellow tones; once the pleas
ATTEST music cared to hear. Do you
think they SO softened me now? You
are mistaken; | am candid about it,
MY blood boiled In my veins when
heard, when knew he lay so close to
me, and | was powerless to withdraw from
his neighborhood. There was water in
my canteen. l filed it before the last
ball came. BY Stretching my hand
cou Id give him drink but l did not
raise a finger. Vengence was sweet.
smiled grimly to myself, and said down
in my secret heart:
Not drop shall cross his lips though
he perish. / shall have my revenge
Do you recoil with horror Listen,
how mewiful God was to me.
There was poor little drummer on
the other side, merry, manly boy of
twelve or thirteen, the pet and plaything
of the regiment. There was something
of German in him; he had been with
us from the first, and was reconed one Of
the best drummers in the army. But we
would never march 10 the tap of Char
lies drum again. He had got ball in
his lungs; and the exposure and fatigue,
together with the wound sd-msde him
light headed. Poor little child! he crep
close to me 10 the darkness and laid his
cheek on my breast. May be he thought
it was his own pillow at home; may be he
thought it, poor darling, his mothers
bosom. God only knows what he thought,
but with his hot arm about my neck. and
his curly head pressed close to my wick
ed heart even then swellirg with bitter ha-
tired of my enemy, he began to murmur
in his delirlum, Our Father who art in
Heaven
| was a rough, bearded man. l had
been an orphen for many a long year; but
not too many or 100 long to for ct the
simple hearted prayer ofmy ehlIdNood--
the dim vision of that mstbel's face over
which the grass had grown for twenty
changing summers. Something tender
stirred within my hardened heart. Ii
was too dark too see the little face, but the
young lips went on brokenly:
And forgive us our trespasses as we
forgiye those who trespsss against us.
Ii weAt through me like knite-shar-
per than sabre cut, keener tl.an
the ball. God was mercfu to me-and
this young child was the channel Of his
mercy. ..'
Forgive us our trespasses as we for
give those who uespa,s against US.
| had never understood the words be-
fore. If an angel had spoken, it could
Scarsey have been more of revelation,
For the first Time the thought that |
might be mo- Ially wounded; that death
might be- nearer than | dreamed, struck
me with awe and horror. The text of
long forgotten sermon was in my ears;
1T is appointed for all aen to die and
alter death The Judgment
Worse aid worse. What measure OF
mercy could I.expect. if the same was
meted out that had meied my enemy.
The tears welled into my eyes, and trick-
ed down my cheeks; the first thatI had
she'd since my boy hood. Ilelt subdue
and strangely moved. 5B llIt5
The rain was falling still; but the little
head upon my breast was gone. He
crept away silently in the darkness.
His unconscious mission was fulfilled; be
would not return at my call. 4
Then lifted myself with great effort.
The old bitterness was crushed, but not
altogether dead,
Water --water!' moaned Richard
in his agony.
| dragged myself closer to him.
God be praised = said with solemn
heart. 'Dick, old boy, enemy no longer.
Sod be praisedl am willing and able to
ielp YOU. Drink and be lriehdsiG Il
II had been growing lighter and lighter
n the east and now it was day.'0 Day
n a. 4 .t