Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-05-07

thrill of pleasure and exultation-to feel in
yourself the might of conquering host
to see the opposing columns steadily giving
way before your resolute and determined
strokes-to bear along the Union lines the
shout of victory = sounding high above the
unearthty din, as the beaten and discomfitcd
rebels swarm out of their Businesses and
seek safety in flight, the breath of the pur.
suer hot upon their cheeks conqueror and
conquered rushing madly on over the man
gled bodies of the slain--for no one ever
pauses to think of the dead and dying in
the frenzied excitement of the battle hour.
Do you remember" he added, after pause.
in which none of his soft hearted listeners
responded to his Battle raptures-"do you
remember the picture Massey draws of the
Russian attack ut Inkerman p
"All hell seemed bursting the yelling egions
came
Tho cannons tongue of quick, red rc, lckd all tho
hills a-flame
Mad, whistlng shell, Wild snecring shot, with dev.
ilsh glee went past,
Like Gendish feet and laughter hurrying down the
battle-blast.
And through the air and round the hills there ran
awreck sublime
As though The Eternal's Ark were crashing the
shores Of Time.
On bayonets and swords the smile of conscou. victory
shone
As down to death da,hd the Rebels plucking at
our Throne.
On, on they came with face Of flame and storm of
shot and sholl
Up, up like Heaven scalers, and wo hurled them
back to hell ~
"If am not mistaken" Mabel said "your
poet gives another and sadder picture in
the closing lines of "Inkerman." Read them
Helen"
1--WE gathered round the ten-fre in the evening cold
and gray,
And thought Of those who rankd with US in battle,
Our comrades OF the morn who eamo no more from
that fell fray
The saltcars wrung out in tho gloom Of green dclls
The eyes o. lurking death that in lfes crimson bub
bles play,
The stern white faces Of the dead that on the dark
Like statues of Old heroes cut in precious human
clay,
Some with smile life had stopped to music proud
ly gay,
The household gods of msny heart all dark and
dumb TO day
And hard hot eyes grew ripe for tears, and hearts
sank down toprny."
"Ah," Frank said with q sigh, "that is
after the fire of enthusiasm burns out, and
dispossessel Of the spirit of vengeance We
hard, cruel realities of war, feeling to the
core the vanity of earthly greatness, the
littleness of human glory Many a sad after
battle scene your fancy has painted, no
doubt, but none, think, whose sombre CO.
loring could quite equal the actual. To the
full have realized the suffering that comes
of this bloody strife, as, laying back the
dead body OF some beloved comrade whose
last moments it had been my office to soothe,
| have turned to the sorrowtul task of break
ing the intelligence of his death ana oftrans-
mitting his farewell messages to the waiting
friends at home, conscious of the terrible
blow was dealing, yet knowing not how
to console them, saving simply to call to
their remembrance the goodness OF God and
the righteousness of the cause in which their
dear one perished."
But our enemies have neither the justice
of their cause to urge in consolation OF their
afflicted" observed dear mother, laying
down her netting and removing her specta.
cles to wipe away the mist OF tears that had
gathered ON their polished surface.
"Ah, no ~ responded Mabel-"wretched,
misguided ones-God pity them. :"
God curse them--the traitors !" cried
Frank, hotly, his face darkening with pas.
sion God curse them-they murdered
Harry Harty-my Harry and yours"
"Oh, Frank :" murmured Lily and Helen
family.
Mabel's checks were white as the muslin
in which her bright, shining needle had sud
denly paused at mention OF that name. |
do not think it had been spoken in her pre-
sence for two years before that night. She
was one who could never bear to hear her
dead name. Frank, hotheaded but true
hearted Frank, though loving his cousin
dearly, had forgotten her extreme sensitive
ness in his momentary excitement. Away
back in the first autumn of the war Mabel
tasted the bitterness of cup which has
since been pressed to more lips than you or
/ can number We had rumors but no de-
tailed account of the battle of Balls Bluff,
when dispatch from Frank announced
Harry as one of the victims of that horrible
massacre Zone can hardly call it by milder
namc). Mabel was laughing and jesting
gayley when the message was placed in her
hands. She opened it with a smile upon
her lips, no suspicion of the truth seeming
10 enter her mind shall never forget the, 4,
awful look that settled on her face us she
read and reread the fatal words. Startled
by her rigid, deathly appearance, We spranS
forwards, erying--"Mabel, what is 1t, dear
What ails you, Mabel Clare I"
"She threw her hand up TO her forehead,
and struggled to her feet.
Wake me-" she said, in q strange, sacred
voice. For the love of Cod, wake me
from this horrible dream" and fell senseless
in our arms.
Mother picked up the paper which ilut-
tered from her clasp, and So We learned the
truth.
Dear Mabel ! do not ;ove to give my
pen to the memory of such days Us followed.
But our darling girl was OF too strong ana
buoyant nature to sink without resistance
under this heavy atllietion, and after little
she, with perseyering effort, put away all
outward signs Of mourning, and resumed her
accustomed duties. cheerful and serene,
though with none OF her old lightness and
gayety OF manner.
"Do not he troubled for me, dear friends
she had said, answering our anxious LOOKS
With sad smile II AIN only ono OF thou,
sand. Surely, ! can endure suffering as wei
~ others. But oh :" she added, with whi'
te1ing lips, please never speak hls name 10
ne! cannot bsaT II
And ever after We had faithfully guarded
against all refeTcnee Ia Harry, OF 70 we
w'stehsd time succeeding the news o' MS
death.
FFaak, seeing the sliee, Of his hasly words,
Ion his chair and eame round 10 weefe MA
bsl at, with somsthlng oi that ald' never
to'ho ioFgOtiea look up0n her hee'
"oh, darling, he said, taking heF irsino'
hag hands, Let me name his nsiae, He sAs