The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1864-04-19

be made out Of The other half, and lie
thankful, that your independence which
has cost so many precious lives has beer
secured to yoa by the loss Of Few dollars.
But I would like to remove Mrs. L. to
ny house. il i, can be done without iniu.
~ to her 2"
"It can now but AIN much mistaken,
il she is not in the first stages Of dan.
gerous illness, aud the soone- she is IN ade
comfortable the better"
Col. L. went home to make arrange
ments with his wife for the removal. lie
found her in her chamber, her eyes red
with weeping. She had kind heart,
and had never before passed UNDECIDED
the call of sorrow. Some dreadful spell
she felt must have been upon her, and
bitterly she reproached herself for no, cast
ing 1t off. Oh Harry, how dreaGfully
| wicked lave been ; and TO think owe
| your life, so precious to me, to his sell
devotion. lie risked his life for YOU and
| refused his child the milk necessary for
its existence Harry would you have be-
lieved it of me 2"
Col. l.. saw that reproaches were un-
necessary. She had not really meant to
| be unkind but had allowed the preiu-
diced views of others to influence her,
until she brought herself to feel the poor
outcast refugees nuisance, that every
enc was at liberty to rid themselves OF,
if possible. lie said:
ave cannot recall the past, my dear.
1t has gone with its records into eternity.
But we can improve the lesson taught
US. hope it will be warning memory
to you, to follow your own generous i'm.
pulses in future, and to despse the mar
row conceits, and contracted selfishness
Of the sordid ones who esteem humanity
only by its cent per cent value. II this
feeling is not rooted out. The curse OF God
will come upon us. A soldie. will not
fight for those who are starving and op
pressing his family. am very sure !
could not But Mrs. Z. Is i'll, alone, dss,
,itute."
Cant we bring her here at once 7"
said Mrs. L
I'll came to propose it to YOU" said he,
"and as you do not object l will bring
her Immediately.
"Papa can't me do and fetch Lilly I"
said May. "Yes darling: you can and
you have 10 take care of her until her
poor mama gets better" said he.
"Oh yes, papa, me will do envy sing.
Is so glad to bring her out Of ,La, br.ken
Eouse."
"A little child shall lead ,hem," truly.
After Mrs. Ru,ledge had been com
fortably fixed in one of the Luxurious
ch""bers Of Col. LIS stately mansion and
their family physician called, Col. l.. re
turned TO. the cabin, to bring the little
corpse. Very beautiful it looked, rs j,
lay with its tiny hands, folded in simple
baby grace upon its breast, it's golden
hair falling in soft ringlets over the blue
vsined temples and the long dark la.hes
contrasting with the snowy whi,ensss OF
the marble cheek. lie bare it home, in
his arms, and laid it upon the same table
where his own little Harry had lain not
twelve months before; but under what
different circumstances
As he gazed, memory, faithful chroni
clsr. was busiIy bringing up the past
But few months had elapsed since he.
on the bloody battlefield of Manassas, had
received the dying message of Col. Ru,
ledge-bis college lriend-to his family.
"Don't weep for me, dear Harry" SAID
the brave young officer; "but j: you are
spared, see my family. Tell my darling
Lulah, my precious wife, was hard to
leave her and my bsbss-how hard, God |
only knows. Give my sword to my boy,
and tell him, II occasion demands, 10 use
il for his country, and die "a his father
has done in her cause. Little Lilly, too,
vii: miss papa. But | am dying, Harry,
Farewell! take my wifs's likeness from
my pocket and let me gaze on her beau.
tIful face once more. Hold it nearer.
Hal, ] cannot see it; nearer still, Harry.
No, no the film of death has shut her
from my gaze forever. Put it to my .ips.
and tell her, Harry, I gave my life for
my country; and to God and nv coun.
Try commit her and my children" He
remembered the melancholy burial, the
IhEill buRle's sound. the muff1ad drnpa