Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-08-04


his merry blue eye and ringing laugh.
Last October they brought my husband
home. Oh, what ptiful semblance Of the
man who waved his gilded cap to me from
the road rs stood in the porch that septem-
Der morning so long ago They left him
alone in the parlor to wait for me, for had
fanted At sight Of him from the window-my
darling Ftank--this skeleton with shrunken
limbs and CHASTITY fallen cheek and dull eyes
Could it be be : Only when | entered the
patlor where he sat, and behind the cluster
ing black hair that shaded his white forehead,
could | see aught Of the man had married
10 that May night when the odor Of the apple
blooms was in the air. He looked on me
&c piufully, and raised his wan hands as
il to embrace me. few to his breast, and
kissed his white cheek and colorless lips with
despair in my heart, for knew he had come
home to die"
l. this my husband ?" | murmured in a
tone of awe, as looked upon the strange,
strange face
This is what they have left Of him"
said he. smiling family; and hid my face in
his bosom.
Where is my boyi" smoothing my hair
with his bony hand.
went for Frank, and held him up while
bis father wrapped him up in his arms. The
little fellow looked into the white and beard
cd face with a straight, earnest gaze, and then
his eyes filled with tears, and his lips began
to culver but it was with pity, not with
childish fear, for he put up his little hand
to his fathers mouth caressingly and said,
Papa sick ~
Next day the doctor came. He sat an hour
With Frank; prescribed cheerfuness, and
generous food instructed NJ 10 the duties of
ny new office as nurse, for would have no
olher; pressed Franks hand cordially, and
,ft the room. followed hun to the door.
How long can he live r asked.
The doctor shook his head
All will depend on the care of him, Mrs
Moreton. With such care as | know you
will give him. he may survive month or
even two. lie has had had time. Damn
the Williams They'd be torr to pieces like
carton, if had my way win them"
When went back to Frauk, he asked me
what the doctor said.
Don't conceal anything from me dear
wife" said he. There is 40 need, have
been on familiar terms with death for many
months. | am ready to 20
Then told him, and nc smiled. There
was peculiar light in his eyes and he turned
them me, and said
Mary, shall live till Spring"
1t was October then. SO many months of
life yet 1t seemed like a priceless boon.
Nearly half year TO live Oh, what world
Of love should be crowded into that time !
And believed him, too. | don't know why,
bat did.
The winter rolled by slowly, but he did
not die. Sometimes I would feel wild
hope that he might recover, and he would
see it shining in my eyes, and would smile
and shake bis head in answer to the unspoken
thought.
In the spring." he said very Often" in
the spring shall die"
The spring came too soon. The robins
began to sing in the sunshine-the starting
came to his old nest in the apple tree by the
we'll. Sometimes Frank would bid me open
the window, so, that he could hear the plan
tive note of the blue birds and the twitter OF
the sparrow under the caves. Wrapped 10
heavy shawls, and sitting in his great armed
chair, he would gaze out of the window with
HE dreamy blue eyes till he seemed to forget
that was there.
They are getting ready be would muir
muir. shall hear from them soon"
What do you see out there. Captain
Frank ?" asked DR.. Thomas one such day,
as he entered the room.
am looking southwark y whispered
Frank. There will be grand news from
the front very soon. That is what l am
waiting for"
Then we understood him. The window
looks toward the south, and commands a
view of the road leading to the village, ten
miles away. And it was there he sat when
he died.
iou must know that here on the heights
we get the news but once week. We are
On no highway where travellers pass. The
half dozen farmers who live On the heights
with us, like us, 20 to the village on Satur-
days, the common market day. Then we
get the weekly newspaper, which is issued
in the village on Friday morning and CON
tains all the events of the week that is pass
ed. Frank slept none on Thursday night
and Friday morning early he asked that
Philip be sent to the village for the Jour
lican.
Il was afternoon when Philip returned -
Frank Sat by the open window, gazing earn
esuy down the road The air was as balmy
as June, and the h,sds were fiying about and
swittering joyously in the trees. Presently
Philip came in sight around bend in the
road. Tie was waving the newspaper in the
air, and seemed to be shouting something,
but we could not hear. The orchard shut
him from view minute after and ran down
to meet him and get the paper.
loorsy y cried Philip. Victory"
deyoured the news with quick eyes, and
then ran up staiss TO Frank, and knelt by his
chair.
Z" Dear husband" said |. - the news is
grand. Do you think you can bear to hear
IT," ~
Mary" said he, 81 shall never be strong
err than l am at this hour. It is my last
Tell me the good nows. have waited long
for it." .a
Amidst my tears read the news. Rich
mond was evacuated and our troops occupied
it, JEFF. Davis was Aying for life and Lees
whole army had surrendered to Grant. An
order had been issued to stop recruiting and
drafting. Peace had already dswned.
He listened with closed eyes, an express
sion of unutterable happiness on his white
face.
- Glor,l' he murmured, when had done