Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-12-09
zENas CsReY'S REWARD.

| ing bloody lines of light across tue fallen
trees. whose mossy trunks were half hidden
in drifts of faded yellow leaves, and Cvoking
faint, sweet scenes, like Orient sandal wood
and tcek, from u thousand forest ccnsorS,
hidden away, who knows how or where
And through that line OF dull flaming fire
the sky frowned "a leadcn gray concave,
ireighttd, rs the weatherwse could tell you,
with SHOW flakes sufficient to turn that bro
ken forest into fairy grove Of pearl and cr-
mine. So the daylight was ebbing a av from
this Thanksgiving eve.
Now | wonder where am ?" said John
SiddohS, pauS ny abruptly in the scarce visi.
Die tootpath that wound among the trees
AS completely turned round as though
stood in the deserts of Egypt | wish that
had been sensible enough to keep to the
right road these short cnts generally turn
out long ones. However, Ii keep straight
ahead, must inevitably emerge from these
woods somewhere"
lie sat down ON messy stump, leaning
his head carclesSly on one hand, while The
other played unconsciously with tie worn
orlm Of his blue soldiers cap--a slender
pleasant faced young man, with gray blue
eyes, aud dark hair thrown back from u
blonzed iorchead, which had been touched
oy the fiery arrows OF many n Southern sun
in lonely swampS, and along the fever reek
ing shores OF sulltn rivers. iiouSrleSS-
homeless he muImurud to himself. "
wonder how many Others are saying the
same thing this Thanksgiving eve To thjnt,
that | should fight through the campaign
unhu"t, and return with an honorable dis.
charge in my pocket 10 place where no onC
knows or cares whether I'm alive or dead
while so many brave fellows we've shot down
at my side with bull,.< that tore through a
score of hearts at home, carrying sharper
pangs than death has to givc It's u qucc,
thing to have only one relatiy". in the world
and he a total stranger. If find this see
oud cousin Of my father, he'll probably kick
me out OF doors Tor shiflrss, soldering
vaSabond But, hang it. man can't hv,
alone like a tortoise il its shell. | remember
wondering, when was boy, why the Ma
dcria vines over the porch stretched out thci,
green trndrils, aud seemed to Crop through
the sunshine for something to cling to.
think undel stand il now"
He rose up and walk d on through the rus
set leaves that rustl,d ankle deep beneath his
tread, stll musing- muSing; trying to study
out the unknown quantities in lIcS great
equation, while the sun went down behind 4
bank o! lIrid clouds, and the chill night vino
began TO sigh sorrowrully in the tree top>.--
Aud suddenly the sturdy woods tapcrcd Of
ato silver Stenmed thickct of VII tie birch
rs, and the white birches fringed lonely
country road, with little req house beyond
whose windows were aglow with freight
and whose door yard was full of the pcculia,
perfume of white and maroon bloSsomcc
chrysanthemums.
HrnaS Carey was leaning Over the gate
surveying the stormy sunset with crtIca
eyes.
g told Melndy so ~ circulated Eenas
apparently addressing himself to the crookc,
apple tree by the road. I'm bet my bos
steer we have a good old fashioned fall o
snow TO keep 'fhanksgivin' with. smelt i
in the air this mornin', but women don't be
lieve no'hn', until it comes to pass right un
der their noses, fol-"
This rather oI, ,Scure sentence was uippct
in the bud 10y a Ioot>trp at his side. Xrna!
turned abruptly to rcconnotcr the new arri
val
"Wil you be kind enough to give me
glass Of water, slrr" asked John Slddons
wcarIly.
"Sartin, sir /" snid Zcnas. so you're
soldier, hey :"
"A returned soldier" said Siddons, drain
ing the cool element from the coeoanut shei
that always lay close TO the well curb at the
side of the house.
Com home to keep Thanksgvin' y
questioned Xenas.
Home! Sir, have no home ~
Slddons had spoken sharply, as if the
! thought were gosdIug to him. Icnas pu
out his hroad knottcd hand and graSpeG th,
rctreating mau's arm.
My boy ~ he said, with kindly abrupt
ness, you're soldier, and 10 tell 6y you,
looks, should guess you were about the az,
Of him that's buried at Getty sburg--my only
sou! love that blue uniform for David
sake, and if there's a soldier in the worlo
tiiat hasn't home to 90 to on Tbauksgiyin
eve, there's corner for him by Icnas Ca
rcy's frcsidc. Come in, sir ! come in. You
are welcome as flowers in May T.
John looked into the wet eyes and work;
ing face of the old farmer IN instant, and
accepted his invitation without another acrd
What cheerful change it was, from the
frosty air and chll twilight Of the lonely
road to that bright kitchen with its spotless
board floor and resinous pine logs And
when Melinda Carey drew a hump backed
rocking chair to the hearth for him, and
spoke a word or two of welcome, john Sid.
dons wondered if the eyes Of his mother who
died when be was babe, had not beamed
upon him just so !
4 told mother so, this very mornin',
said Zenas, with a triumphant flourish Of his
hand, as he stirred rp the logs TO a waving
glorious sheet of flame. "Says l. Melinda,
wcll kill the biggest turkey, and IN pick
out the yalerest puinpk ns on The barn floor.
And says She, what for Zenas, when there $
only us two to eat EN- p And says 7, moth.
er, Davc was here W tn us last Thankseivin'
with bis new Uniform, as brave and hand.
some as you'll often sec'---now mother,
don't cry y
Zenas interrupted himself to stroke his
~iie's gray hair wish strangely tender touch,
and went on. .u'. -...
Says |. he's gone where it's ThankSgiv-
in all the year round now, my poor boy
my brave boy bat SAYS |, wen make
somebody welcome for Davies sake won't
we, motbery And now, sir, you'll spend
| TO morrow with US, and tel! me about the
battle Of Gettysburg, where Dayc died, cry
ing out with his last breath not to let the flag
be captured !"
Zenas' voice died out into choking. gasp
ing sob. John Siddons laid his hand softly
on'the rough, toll hardened hand Of the far.
mcr, while a pang Of envy shot through his
heart All TWAS almost worth while being
shot down in battle to be missed and mourn.
ed like dead David Carey!
'Oh, wife" said Zenas, when John Sid
dons had fallen asleep in the little corner
room that had been the los; boys. "it is al
most like having Davie back again Wife.
| fight my great sorrows down every night
but every morning it rises up agnn more
than ever. God hep every parent whose
home is made desoaie by the field OF bat
tle!"
Thanksgiving dawncd with white ahirl
wind of driving snow that eddied among the
gnaried boushs of the apple tree in mad frol
les. and edged the old stone wall with daz
zlng ermine. And the fiery sparks career.
ing swiftly up Zenas Carey's wide chimney
met the steadily falling snow half way and
gave battle. while the hearth glowcd with
ruddy brightness as ii it knew all about the
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