The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-08-18
knew what 1 would do,n--with the

knew what / would do, with the
same dropping of the voice.
In the morning Ellen was released,
and the soldiers forbidden to molest
her. She hurried along the road to
Fairmont. There Is long bridge
there, spanning the Monongahela =
81 saw it when / was in the cars, and
the sight of the water below it came
back to me through all my trouble.
IL was noon when l came to it again.
/ don't think l stopped at all, to think
about Joe, or to think good.b bye to
him. "But," her eye wandering
vaguely, 81 said good bye to my liz
tie basket. l had packed it at home
for my journey, you know. l tho't
Joe would laugh when he saw some
things / had there. But it was all
over now. So went to the waters
edge and set It down; and then
went up, and climbed up on the par
apet of the bridge, and then I heard
a cry, and I was jerked down to the
ground. When l came to myself, /
was in a bed. They had ice on my
head. They told me they had found
my basket, and so knew my name.--
| laid there for several days. II was
soldiers that found me. They paid
for me at the tavern. But the regi-
ment was going on. One day, when
| was able to sit up, two of them
said to me, they would take me to see
Joe. They took me on the cars all
the way l had to lie down, with ice
to my head. We came long way ;
every time we stopped, they said we
were going to Joe. l didn't know,
my brain was like fire in my head"
Ellen was sent on by the officers oi
this regiment, and lodged by them
for safe-keeping in the Jail at Wheel
ing. The long suspended n-fever
had set in. She was taken through
the streets, her clothes ragged and
muddy, her head bare, followed by q
curious crowd of idlers, with just
enough reason lett to know what the
house was in which they lodged her.
Cruel as they were in act, it proved
a kindness to the girl. The jailor
and his family nursed her carefully,
and gave her large, airy room in old
debtors prison.
After she had been there three
weeks, a person who had accidentally
seen Ellen that first day on the street
went to the Jail and asked to see her.
A whim, perhaps, the fruit of idleness
or curiosity. But Ellen thought 9th.
erwise. She was clothed and in heI
right mind now, and sat inside of the
iron door, looking with her large
grave, blue eyes searchingly at hel
visitor. "God sent YOU" she said
quietly.
That night she told the jailor's wife
that her new friend had promised tc
come the next morning and take hel
out.
"She may disappoint you, Ellen
"No. know God meant her to
come, and | shall see my brother
again"
She was strangely cheerful; it seem
ed rs If, in that long torpor, some
vision of the future had in truth been
given to her.
II shall see joe" she would re-
peat steadily, great glow on her
face, II know"
She carried her little basket, going
to her friends house. Itwas here |
saw Ellen. She was not pretty
with an awkward. ungainly build,
and homely iace; but there hung about
her great innocence and purity; and
she had q certain trustful manner
that went home to the toughest and
gained their best feeling from them.
Her voice, remember, was low and
remarkably sweet. 1t was curious
to see how all, from the servants in
the house to the young men of socie-
ty, touched by some potent charm,
and tried in simple, natural ways to
aid her. l used to think Ellen was
sent into the world to show how near
one of the very least. of these, His
brethren, come to Him. She grew
restless,-her disease working with
her. "She must go on to Columbus
to the gate. keeper and his wife. She
would live with them as their child. "
Meanwhile every effort had been
made to communicate with her broth
er, or to gain furlough for him.
But all failed; the regiment was in thC
Virginia border in active SERVICE
No message could reach him. Their,
was no system then in the army.
What could be done for Ellen,
comfort in the future her friends die
anxiously, and then sent her on tC
Columbus. She remained with thu
old people but week, however,
l"She was very happy with u.s." thu
gate keepers wife said. Governo
Dennison promised TO procure Joe
furlough, and, ifpossible, dismissal
as soon as the regiment could b.
reached by letter In the meanwhile
) she busted herself IN making a dres
and little useful things Cor house
keeping, to please her brother whel
he should come; used to talk all da,
; of her plans,-how they would hv'
near us in some quiet li.tle house. -
) Her trouble seemed all forgotten.
But one day she went out and say
the camp. The sight of the arme'
men and the uniforms seemed d
bring back all she had suffered il
/, Virginia. She was uneasy and silen
, that night,--said once or twice tina
she must go on, 60 on,--got her bas