Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-05-06
Jessie Avery.
A sToRx OF THE WAR.

She had toiled all day as busy as a
bee, with her slender fingers, making the
needle fly swiftly through the coarse,
stoat linen of the 'Havelocks,' and now
completely tired threw aside her work
and wandered out into the twilight, to
cool her hot brow in the fresh air and
enjoy the perfume Of the sweet briars
and roses.
The war had broken out in earnest
Sumter had been evac1ated-the streets
of Baltimore were red with precious
blood-the boy martyr, Ellsworth, had
sealed lis devotion to his country with
his life, and cali for troops was ringing
from every valley. The old flag had
been trailed in the dust; its stars blotted
out and its stripes fouled, and it must be
cleaned from all stain and dishonor in
the red tide Of battle. There was no
other way left! There could not, must
not should not, be a division of the fair
land God had given to Freedom and the
free, for all lime as long as there was
strength in the good right arm, and cour-
age in the manly heart!
Jessie Avery had entered heart, body
and soul into the matter more than any
other girl in The village. Early and late
she had been engaged in assisting to
make ready the regiment that was to start
The next week. It was her hands that
had sewed lhe snowy stars and embro.d-
cred the golden end patriotic motto on
the siken folds Of the flag Aat rim
cere ant m0yiH It was she who had
most cheered the wives and mothers and
sisters Of those who were to 60, and
whispered Of safety and speedy return,
though God pity and forgive her, she
had but little faith in her own words Of
consolation.
Saturday night had come. The last
'Havelock' was finished. and Jessie
! Avery wandered down by the bank Of
the little creek, that twined like a ser
pent around the village, and seated her
self in the branching arms of willow
branching and curved until they formed
a natural rustic chair. And there she
sat with The fret faint moon-rays SHIN
mering down through the leafy canopy
above her, upon her soft, wavy, brown
hair-sat thinking. Thinking Of man
hood and youth going forth from their
peaceful and happy homes to help make
up the bloody sheaves that the reaper
Death was busy gathering in. Fancy
ran riot and pictured the battle field with
all its ghastly horrors-the wounded, the
dying, the dead and then, as in the sud-
den changes Of a dream, she saw the
mourning ones at home--the deserted
hearthstone-the widow and the orphan
children. The music of the band broke
in upon her solemn reverie. The sound
was hateful to her, and with her hands
pressed upon her ears she strove to shut
it out.
Jessie
She heard not the word, but a shadow
in the path told her that some one was
near, and she hastily wiped away her
tears, and raised her head from her lap
where it had been bowed
4 Jessie
Mr.. Barber
q have been searching for you.
For me-?
Yes, all the villagers are upon the
green; the band are playiog martial mu-
sic now, but it will soon change into a
lighter measure. In fact we are going
to celebrate our las: Saturday night at
home with a dance
"A dancer
'Certainly-and why not?'
4 should think prayer more fitting
such an hour. You are going where
death will be busy, and no one can fore
] tell what his fate may be-no human
! arm can turn the shafts aside
+, What little Puritan you are ! You
: should have been among those who first
e set their feet on the 'Blaruey stone Of
New England as somebody calls Ply
mouth Rock
And if had, 7 should have striven
e to have done my duty
a Il don't doubt it. You are perfect
b little heroine, know, but that is not the
= question now. VIII you come to the
j. green?'
$ No, must be excused. Itwould bot
e lily agree with my present feelings tc
). mingle in gay revei.'
r Jessie Avery and his light manner
changed, 4 had hoped that you would
f have gone with me, for have much to
' say to you
TO me ?
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