The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1865-02-24
AFTER THE BATTLE.
BY NAY DE LASCIE.


morning, burning with love Of liberty
hundreds bad fallen; had been NOW
down like grass before the sGythe Of th'
reaper. Death had garnered plentiful
harvest that day, and the demon Of blOoC
rresifgued supreme. The shades of nigh
! had fallen, and the moon had risen, bath
ing the dreadful scene in a food Of silver
light, While The stars looked down like
the eyes Of plying angels upon the mas
of bleeding, suffering humanity below
Pie shFieks Of the wounded and groan'
( oftbe dying resounded on all sides, lying
with tBeir whites gBasdy faces uphrned
to heaven, mutely pleading fUr help
Here lies one, mere boy in years, witt
a gaping wound in the breast, showing
where the deadly messenger had entered
In bis hand he clasps worn Bible, oper
at the words: "Yea, though walk
Though the valleyof the shadow Of death
Twill fear no evil, for Thou art with me"
Slowly and painfully he repeated them
over, while his white face was convulseC
with agony, and the slight form SHOOK
with the thoes of death. He was entering
the vale Of shadows, aud with the word;
@Mothet-dearest mother-I COM" --he
passed the mystic portals and received a
crown Of glory from the hands of Je.
hovah.
Lying where the battle had ragged wildly
and shot and she'll had fallen like rain
was wounded hero with face perfect
10 its classic beauty; one that, looking
| iuto ONCE, you would turn again and again
to see, and would carry it in your heart
as talisman. It was 50 full Of noble
purpose and truth, lit up by eyes Of the
deepest blue, that reminded you Of Italia S
sunny skies; and short, thick curls Of
dark brown ba:T, clustering around the
white temple, from which the blood was
slowly oozing. The moon was shining on
him through the trees, weaving embroidery
of Wondrous beauty in leaves of silver,
and encircling his brow with halo Of
glory. The rigid face and compressed
| lips told of terrible suffering. By great
effort he raised to a sitting posture, and,
catching sight Of a familiar form passing
amid the shadows, called family, "Paul,
Paul"
In a moment bis friend was bending
over him; and, as he recognized his fea-
lures. he cri d out in voice sharp with
the thrill Of pain running through it:
'sMy GOdt Ernest is this. you Are
you wounded b
ayes, Paul, and dying. Oh it is hard,
so hard to die thus, far from the loved
ones. Raise my head alittle, Paul; there,
that is better, No, don't call a surgeon F.;
F am beyond all EARTHbY help, but the
.healer-of souls is nigh. L0hl the might
has seemed interminable; aud the cries of
these poor fellows have been ringing in
nv ears, until l almost forgot my own
suffering in sympathy for theirs, Cant
you raise me in your arms, PaulI 1 can
not get my breath"
Smothering his sobs, the noble fellow
Lifted him in his arms, and resting the
Door mangled head against bis breast,
wiped the death-damp from lip and brow
tenderly as. mother could have done.
He lavsfo a time perfectly exhausted,
whils tie death shadows creptsloWly Der
his face, then rallying again be said, 81
am dying, Paul ) ere the sun be risen l
shall be free from pain. If you live to
get home tell Maude here sObs clicked
his utterance, but crushing them back be
went on: sfOh, my bright darling How,
will she bear this? For you know, Paul,
when the spring had come with its wealth
of buds and flowers she was to become
nv bride. But instead Of decking her
brow they Will bloom Ger my grave, She
was my all, and I worshipped her, loved
her, better thau-God, and this Is my pun
ishment. Tell her that her love was my
safeguard, my talismen against tempta-
tions and siu-that living blest her, and
dying her name was the last upon my lips.
/ have her sacred in my deepest heart,
ana crowred her as its queen. Give her
this ring and .ock Of hair-she viii prize
them. And her miniature lies next to my
heart; Paul, bury it with me, Tel
Maude tie way was clear, and through
the rent veil I caught a glimpse of the
golden gates. Hark did you hear that
strain of music, so sweet and clear-'ti'
the angels calling, Farewell. Tell Maude'
here the hand Of death took him, and
the sentence was finished in heaven
With the words "God and Maude'' on BIZ
lips he passed from sunlight into gloam
ing. A look Of perfect peace crept o'er
his face, aud Wreathed into a smile o
: wondrous Sweetness around the beautiful
: mouth. The lonely watcher. severed {
silken tress from the glittering mass o
! curls, pressed a kiss on the cold brow, anC
: wrapping him in his blanket left him ly
ing in tie moonbeams.
In the doorway of a white cottage
nestled ike lily among the bills, sits
young girl of rare beauty. Her face Is
dazzling combination Of roses and lille
framed in jet. But there is an expression
of anxiety on the sweet face. and faro
' look in. the dark eyes, which tell he
thoughts are wandering. The twiligh
shadows gather slowly around her, AM
the moon appears in her pale sweet beau
ty, feeding hill and vale with light Still
she sits nusiug, ever aud anon leaninI
forward as. though listening for the ap
proach Of some well known footstep.
= Presently the clatter Of horses hOofs
heard, and a manly form, clad in the uni
form Of Lieutenant, comes in view. Sh
starts up, and tic bright. '.fushes come an
90 in her fair ia while her eyes grow