The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-01-19
trrom tho l. uisviiIc SUNDAY Jourosll
THE O0WARDj A STORY OF
THE WAR.
DIX wm. LANNAIIAN, LsQ.

1t was u clear, rght morning in the
first opening Of spring. We confess that
we glide into that same well.bcatyn track
OF the rumancyr when we say that the
sun had just lined up and was looking
rtcouuUitoringy over the brow 0ia hill IN
the eastern hor zIn, aud that his welcome
bcums were converting into sparkling
gems the night dcwS thut had descended
upon the flowers aud low shrubLrees tnat
urtw upon the western slope /; the facts
oi our present ruchal would render this 4
positive necessity. That luminary AS
cendcd yet higher as tho miuulcs passed,
ard then his stronger and warmer rays
swept boldly in at the window OF snug
farmhouse costly situated jnst at The blse
OF the hit, aud they certainly made the
flower in the clcanly'swept carpet, aud
the curving4 on the furniture, and the toys
and limoges on The manlel OF stained pine
over the CRATE, appear very cheerful aud
home like. Seated at the breakfast bU0rl
at tAis time was wcll.urdcrcd family.
Tn rc was Mr.. Patton, the father, with
wrinkles OF age upon his brow and check,
aud the silver of many years of an hon.
orablc life amoug his brown locks. There
was his wife, the joy and pride of his
young married life, and nov the solacc
aud culalurl of his declining years. There
Yus Julia Patton, Il most beautiful unC
sprigttly girl of seventeen. At the cut
II tie table, Just whore tho sun had at
opportunity to make her brown curl;
goluen, sat little girl OF perhaps twclv,
tummcrs. This Individual, the pet Of tie
home, and by far ;hc most imporluut
member Of the family we are describing
was jennie, the sister OF julia. The
last, and least, was the "big brother
George, Il person of tall statute, broa,
sh udurs. and with an honest face, aut
aud one who, while possessed OF no p0cu
liza. mental references, was modle farm
or aud duti.ul son. Upon him had Dc
volvcd Tor three years or more before ou
story dates the responsibility OF producing
securing, aud properly dlspcsing oI III
annual returns Of the Farm.
"Dcar met" said little Jennie, with a
unmist.kabic, earnest surprise in her blu
eyes that called smile upon tho faces ,
the ed r. Of the family. She sat g z,n
alternately at each itce ai the board, wit
her mouth wide open, and saucer {
&, flee half ruis d for q drink. 81 almos
j. forgot il. Papa, mother, amt tD murro'
the very day Charlie is coming home.
A. il w,s in very truth the day I'll,
Charlie was expected, one would haV
supposed, chat, il the approaching rctuT
Of an absent member OF the family ha
been mumcntpriy forgotten, tho questio
e would have at once called forth aftirmi
tive responses and ordinations Oi d,
lipht; but such was not the case, and "
nte prepared to tell Why such war th
case. When the present was with rebe
lion broke out in all It's tcrfors, and tli
call WAS urged for men 70 subdue til
nr,y.Clud tr,iturS who sought TO Tea
J down the Government Of eighty year
and more for the upbu,lding Of ore uki
to monarchy, there went among III
strong-urmed fellows from this farm
house Charlie Patton, the youngest sol
amid high hopes aud fearful farewell
lie ioiucd the regiment at once as
private, and, the regiment being ordrrr
; IN Us soon us organized, had been for tw
: long years at the front battling stondi
and lear.ully against the foe. Many ba
ties were named upon It's. flag, and mar
basty graves upon the suyannahs Of Il
South told Of tie dear price the vetero
18th regiment had paid for its renow
upon the field Of bHttle.
Charlie had been in nearly all the ba
tics, and yet remained untouched. Beil
careless, gay-heartcd fellow, let
writing was not pleasant, task for BIZ
and but few letters were sent to his iami
vet the few that did reach them We
cherished as d ur mcmeutos of the bra
4 soldicr-boy, aud were often read aud !
: read in lieu Of the expected ones whi
tho negligent soldier never wrote. W.
one day a letter came from Charlie, O
rounc.ng 20 his proud friends that he Ii
been promoted 10 cnptaincy Of the CO
pany in which he had boeD a private
Sc elected over the rest of the commission
and non.commissloncd officers by
comrades. II was a glad day for
lamily. The father was glad because
knew that his son was capabl, OF the
sltion, and now that be had started, hoI
id ere long 10 hear Of further promote
The mother was glad, for she always 3
that careless as Charlie was, he "
smart, and would make his mark so
10 day or other, aud tho sisters d
.,.r Caaro,.. ,uaro olal for ChQrli