The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-04-01
Home from the Wars.

Tue nlll tonight, Tell yc! salu MO
ses Atterly, rs he threw an armful of
oak logs, fringed with silvery gray
moss upon the stone hearth, cheerily
before the red, roaring blaze that en-
circlcd the rude iron fire-dogs in
drifts of ruby sparks.
lie was n tall, wiry looking old
man, with mild hazel eyes, and skin
well nigh as brown as the basket of
butternuts that stood in the corner
q man whom you might easily have
iancied to have grown up among
those rock bound, wind swept wilder
ncsses, as one of the giant pines on
the steep cliffs had grown-stalwart,
sturdy, and true to the very heart 8
core. The room was very plain, with
no curtains at the narrow but painted
windows, and no carpets, save the
odd zig gag veins in the hickory
boards that formed the floor; yet
there was as air of comfort in the
split bottomed chairs, with their rcd
moreen cushions, and the round table
neatly spread for the evening meal.
Over the fire an apoplcctic black tea.
kettle kept up dreamy song, and
Atterly's only child sat, with folded
hands, in the chimney corner, watch
ing the vaporous wreaths curling
from the spout-a pretty soft eyed
girl, with late rose in the braids OF
her glossy chestnut brown hair, and
straight, clearly cut features now in
shadow, now all radiated by the ca
pricious torches of flame that played
at hide and seek in and out among
the crevices Of the great bubbling,
singing logs.
Have You been to the post-oillce,
tonight, father suddenly looking
up, as Moses gave the smouldering
back log Il sort Of demonstrating
kick.
. NO, but 1 met Jim Gra, ling, down
by the hemloek hollow, and he said
he was going straight there so told
him to ask if there was anything for
orr folks. He'll be here directly, |
calculate, for it must be all Of two
hours ago
Il am sorry said Bessie, almost
reluctantly. Father, / detest the
very sight of that man.
My daughter demonstrated Mo.
Sos. that amt accordin' to either
sense or gospel.
well, | cant help it, father coax
ed Bessie, stealing her soft dimplcd
hand into the rough palm that lay on
Moses Atterly's knee.
'lIe always seemed like -
She stopped suddenly, so suddenly
that the late rose fell ont OF her HAIR,
and lay on the stone hearth-for, as
, she turned her head, she saw James
Grny!iDg standing beside them, un-
folding a coarse white and red com
iortcr from about his neck. He
stopped without a word and picked
up the rose for her.
why, jim, said Father Atterly,
where on earth did you drop fromI
did mt hear you come in
Didn't yon? I'm sure / knocked
loud enongh,' said Crawling, with a
deep red flush slowly fading away
from his cheek. pretty well, to-
, night, Bessie?'
I'm well enough poutcd Bessie,
without looking at him, and tossing
her recovered rose IN among the elm
ders. Somehow it had lost it's charm
after having laid in James Grayling's S
hand second.
p 'Sit down, JIM said the farmer,
heartily.
ANY mails for us, tonight
Nothing
What n strange smile passed over
= his face as he saw the downward
d droop of Bessie Atterlys eye lashes
the quivering around her mouth.
'Nothing!. That's queer. You sec
i our Bessie's feelin' kind O worried
cause she don't hear nothing from
Henry Ives
Il got letter from my cousin, who
is in the same company. lie says
Y James Grayling paused little ma.
licionsiy, to notice the eager sparkle
in Bessie's eyes as she leaned forward
with eager eyes and intent look.
what does he say?' she gasped.
We'll, I'm afraid you'll feel badly
: about it, but he says Harry Ives was
/. captured, with half dozen others, 10y
skirmishing party, aboat week be
tore he wrote
'Capturedr
o Yes; and that ism all. He says
;, he don't half believe Harry Ives earet
whether he was carried down Sontl
n or not for he had taken great no
- tion to some pretty girl down in Vir
T. ginia-a planters daughter-and-'
Il don't believe a word of it, jim
4 Crawling said Bessie, springing tC
Is her feet, with flashing eyes and pas
stoned, crimsoned forehead. don
5. believe word of it, You are re
peating some vile falsehood.
y Il knew you'd feel bad said Gray
ling, with provoking mildness, 'but
A thought you knew how matters stood
| can show Sans letter, II that viii
he any more satisfactory, I neve
{. did have any faith in Harry Ives,
= careless, dashing fellow, who -----
Hush l will not listen to anothe
word calculated Bessie, angrily, an,
with q certain strange dignity in he
: girl face and slender form,
. 'Mr. Atterly' said Grayling, sti
with aporayatinV moderation an