The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-06-02
From the sp!r't Of the Fa!r.l
4 soLDIER's DREAM
By DONALD J. Mitchell.

1t was cruel sbattering wound Of the
thigh. / knew it was doubtful case.
There was not much around me to
cheer. Only one dim light in the
ward, and that swaying in the wind
that found its way through the chinks
two poor fellows mutterjng in fever,
and not far, and in the next cot to me
n drummer boy-dead. The hospital
people didn't know 1t as yet, but I did;
just before dirk h. had given g lunye
forward, as if he would grasp ut some.
thing out Of his reach, and there lay
his hand stiffened-just where it tell.
Until dark | watched his eyelids-
open stark wide, and mover q wink.
1t threatened u change Of weather ;
at least the nurse laid somo extra
covcling at the loot of each OF tie cots;
and pat-pat-pat, ! heard her steps
20 down the wards.
Then | dreamed 1T was tho old
house red with white trimmings, and Il
lilac bush at the door. Within, there
was bright fire on the hearth. Poi
ly CHATS wife is seated at the table
sewing. Tho two girls, Nelly and Lit
tie Maid (so we call herr are perched
on stools near their mother, busy at
their patchwork; (they made a deal
Of patch work those little cnesD
1t seemed to re Little Maid said
presently, See Andy, mother" And
Polly looks at Andy-which was our
shag-terrier and n rare ratter to be
sure-and says, take it firm him,
child, quick
And the maid takes from the dog a
long strip Of brown cloth, with little
sprigs scattered up and down. which
| remember was part Of an old dress
in which l had often seen Polly; she
wore it the first day we went into the
red house home, and now she is max
ing some patch work ofit--always bu.
sy, that little woman.
The children are stitching upon dis.
mond-shaped peices, which, though
had never much eye for colors, or fol
figures, see plainly are parts Of baby
dresses which they wore years before
The little ones from time to time, hold
up Il row Of these diamond shapes tc
show their mother what brave worl;
they have done, and Andy thereupon
cocks up his eye and pricks up his
ears, as if he were party to their nee
die triumphs. All the while there is &
low, restless prattlc between Nelly and
the Little Maid" but somehow d,
not catch the meaning oft, only Poll,
| q hear her tones full and clear say,
once and again-"Well stitched LitiI,
Maid!'" or There's good girl, Mel
Tyr
Andy stirs, shifts the mir with Iii,
eye on the door; It's only Y neighbor's
step, some good woman who has cor;
for half hours chat; and in this way
hear that the Little Maid ha.s come
to the fifth puge in her spelling, and
that tn cpatch work they are so busi.
ly stitching upon, is TO be sent to the
soldiers, and that the scarlet fever is
in the village. Whereupon Polly says
Il wouldn't have John CHATS my
name) know it for the world
And the ntighbor asks. how i:
John?
Quite we'll, says Polly, 'and coming
home, God willing, in May
Whereupon, Little MAID and Nell
with one voice as il were-.Oh. I'm Sc
gIad!
At this l. who had said nothing thus
far, and was not seen, felt stirred to
speak.
Bless your dear heartsl' said I, but
had got no further when Andy, know.
ing my voice Isuppose. Sprang Oh me
sprang upon my poor leg-sUch Il
twinge as it gave me-and then !
awoke. -....-...
1t was not the old homo was in at
all oujy the pain Was real; the soil.
tary lamp was swaying in the wind
the dead drummer's hand lay idle nc
more waking up for him.
The nurse, good soul, spread GOV.
erlid over mO-the same which had
been lying at my feet since dark The
warmth was very Quieting TO me, and
[ fell away shortly into dozrg, and
then TO more dreaming
In the red house once more, but this
time they know l am there. and the
little ones nestle about me-so fonlly!
God bless heir hearts! And Polly, in
her quiet way, stepping softly and
lifting her finger, checks their noisy
mirth Not SO rough, Little May, you
will disturb papaH
l am sick, then; possibly the gid
wbund is unhealed, indeed | see clothes
lying upon the little stand at the bed
side, such as were lying in tho hospit,
al yeSterday. Polly folds them Pol
" arranges them; she lifts warning
finger as little Maid begins to riot
again. she hangs screen before the
fire to keep the light from my eyes
it is my soldier coat The little ones
are probing the pockets and admiring
the buttons,
But strangely enough, it ecems tc
me that Polly is wearing the same
dress which before she had been cut
ting into pieces. and the children
though they must have outgrown them
ty two years or more--woar the same
baby gowns which | had seen them
stitching into those diamond shapes.
But though l can see all this and
hear Andy as he passes across the
room, and the rap of his knucble joint
as he gives his fore shoulder lively