Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1864-03-11
CHORUS.
An Affecting Incident.

A correspondent Of the St. Louis DEM
ocrat gives bis experience in trip BY
stage from Seda!is to Springfield, Mo,
during the recent cold term. The distance
one hundred and twenty six miles, and the
ordinary time ,birtysix hours. The trip
occupied fifty hours. When the coach
left Sedalia the thermometer stood at four
teen degrees below gro. The sutferings
of passengers, drivers and aDimais were
iAense. We extract a single incident of
the trip:
At the different houses where We stor.
ped, and we Epsd at nearly every one Oh
the road, the inmstes-men, women aud
chiidren-were huddled around the chin
ney corner, discussing only one thing
the cold. The second night out was
equally as cold as the first, and the first
was as cold as charity. My companions
in the cold remained with me until eight
o'clock Of the second nigh,-so the driver
told me for when | awoke, at ten o clock,
from cold doze into which | had fallen
about seven p a., found them gone. |
vas not long alone, however, when the
stage halted about nineteen miles from
Bolivar, a lady aud child took passage for
the Mter place.
She was plainly but comfortably clad,
an 10 conversation found her possessed
G. 90 mean intellect. She had informa-
tion 10 the effect that her husband, who
was in the army, was dangerously ill at
Bolivar, and thi,ber sbe was going. Ev-
cry few miles we stopped to warm and at
each place, until within five miles Of her
destination, the mother took the babe, al
infant of fifteen months, into different
houses. 1t vas nearly four o'clock iu the
morning, and we we're within FIVE miles of
Bolivar, when the stage drew up at rude
cabin, where the driver informed US We
could get warm, aud that We could not
halt sgain before reaching town.
! got out and assisted the lady to alight,
when We entered the domicil. l noticed
she was not carrying the child, and asked
her where it was. 81 wrapped it up and
laid it on the seat, as WAS afraid if the
wind blew on it it might catch cold" was
her reply. l told her she bad better bring
it in, as i, would certainly freeze. She
said, "No it is warm and will sleep" We
remained in the house half an hour ard
Te-entered the stage. The baby was still
lying on the seat, and the mother, after
she picked him up, remarked, she is
asleep yet"
Not a whimper, nor cry proceeded from
that child during the remainder of the trip
The wind moaued piteously. Closely the
mother nestled the babe to ber bosom.
We reached Bolivsr before it vas yet day,
cold, and chilled almost beyond the endu.
rance Of nature. l went into the tavern,
accompanied by mother and child. Walk.
ing Up the lane the mother said to me,
'did sou ever see such good baby be
hasu'; cried tonight /" 1t was half an
hour before the FIRE vas made, no one be-
ing ont Of bed when We went in.
You have often seen-perhaps you have
been o party to it yourself-persons on a
cold day, on entering room, congregate
and remaip around a stove where there
vas no fire, and as is usual in such cases,
always the coldest place in the room. So
it was with us; We drew chairs to the
cold FIRE place and awaited the kindliDs,
which in time followed. The fire was
lighted, and soon threw out its grateful
Offering of heat. The child remained
wrapped up; it was quiet His mother
repeated, che is asleep yet" He wss
s'l,ep-"be is asleepyet"-the child vas
frozen to death, and, in this world, "he il
asleep Jet" Death spared him the colds
Of earth-hs vas frosen into Paradise