The weekly union record., 1864-07-02
OROyIILE SATURDAY MORNING., JULY ?,

RESERVED but l. was TOO o4u u cALp2lgI6E lC
be alarmed at that | jast toek her one day iu
my arms, told her loved her from the crown
of her head TO the sole of her feet; that would
uot fight another day for the Union, if she did
rot at once consent TO be my wife; and strange
| to say, the shy little creature, overcoming her
reserve, accepted me right out, saying, regu.
larry, Not Tor your own sake, John-I only
/ take you on patriotic grounds. so far as to
secure you TO the country-for 20 other reason
| viii assure you"
/ OF course had my revenge for this imperii-
neuce; bat that is neither here nor there
I Late one afternoon the old msn-his name
was James Wesion-eame hurriedy home with
q troubled face Somehow, he said, 1t has
been found out that you are here, and they
have threatened to burn the house over my
head for giving you shelter, and TO hang you
forthwith"
l had always expected to be discovered
sooner or later, and the old mans communica-
ton did not startle me. "All We have TO do,
then" l said, "is to leave at once
That is easier said than DONE" be replied.
"Pickets are everywhere, and it will be impos-
sible to get away"
But | thought differently, and so, after
time, with many tears, the father and daughter
determined to attempt with me TO reach our
lines. How much ii cost them to abandon
their home and all its precious belongings, to
turn their faces towards a strange land and
people, only those who have suffered as thew
have done can ever know; but life was more
than estate, and that was in peril every hour
they remained.
That night We stole out under starless sky,
and with such light effects as We could carry,
set our faces Northward Patrols were all
around US. but lodged them all, how cannot
tell For days We travelled on, following unfre
quented roads, sleeping often in forests and
fields, telling such tales as We could TO avoid
detection; and at last, foot.sore, weary, with
poor Jane halfwild with fever, reached The
Tennessee. crossed over in a scow found ready
to our hands, and in the midst of thunder
storm, that rolled with the noise of thousand
guns along the heights OF Lookout came into
Chattanooga.
There, very soon, kindly hands soothed Our
wearineSS, nursed Jane into health, and rubbed
from our lives all the CRIME and pain of our
long journey Then. one day, said to Jane
I've are under the old flag now. darling;
am ready TO become its defender again; shall
We be married?'
With a blush she said Yes aud week
after we stood up before a chaplain, and with
tough General Thomas looking on as a witness,
were married; the flag hanging over Us. its
stars seeming to shine down royal benedic,ious
upon our union.
Thus it was that the scratch of nail got me
a wife, and as fair and sweet wife as any
soldier ever won.
Three months ago. when Sherman dashed
into the heart of Mississippi. putting his nands
on the veins and arteries, and one day paid his
compliments to the town of Enterprise, rode
with others in the van. Old James Weston's
house found standing unmolested still, though
weeds were growing thrftily about the door,
and disorder appeared everywhere. They told
Us rebel Colonel occupied it DOW as his own;
but | managed to save it from destruction,
thinking that perhaps some day. when Missis
sippi is wholly redeemed, the rightful owner
may return and set up his altars afresh, with
grandchildren OF the name of Smith prattling
to him as the years grow old.
Already one grandchlld Is his, for only last
week he wrote me from the home in Vermont.
where my dear one abides, "A fat, bouncing
boy dropped into james arms yesterday aud
she says his name is Enterprise Smith,
My name is John Smith Bnt Enterprise
and a rusty nail gave me wife and it is only
fair that my boy, Growing in his mothers arms
away up there in Vermont, should be called
Enterprise Smith. in memory of the day that
brought me my fate. Besides the name NAV
serve him as capital when be comes to a mans
estate.