Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-08-31
ETHAN GRAY's FURLoUGH.
~ SUE BROWNE.

Private Ethan Gray had been de-
tailed for hospital duty. Not that
he was really invalided, but he had
not been strong for several weeks,
and he was incapable of keeping at
the front with his comrades, so he
was held for reserve duty, a few miles
In the rear, and proved a very skill
full and efficient nurse This duty
was not his choice. He would much
rather have shared the tolls of the
march and the danger of the battle
field with his companions in arms,
than to spend the days in dealing out
lquinine to the poor invalids under
his care-men a few days ago so
strong and brave. now so weak and
helpless. His free, masterful spirit
ehafed under this restraint; and yet
his hand was quick and tender to pro
vide, so far as his means allowed,
for the wants of those under his
charge.
He was thinking of these things,
standing in the door OF his hospital
tent, rubbing together the palms of
his strong, brown hands, and fret
ting like Gagged tiger against his
Iprison bars. He was thinking, too,
of his home away up in the North
land, of the low-eaved brown cot
tage, hid away among the hills in the
dear old Empire State, the knarled
and knotted cherry trees before the
door, the few acres of cleared mea-
dow land and the many acres of
bushes and briers that, but for the
conntry's call, which could not be
disregarded, should have been ready
for tillage ere now; for which his
strong arm and the help of Devoe,
his sturdy little son by adoption
quite his son by the love he bore
him-the farm would soon have been
under good cultivation. And then
the hearted, loving wife, who
had given him her blessing when he
left home, and the dear children she
had borne him-little Miley, his only
son, the pet of the household, and
Eva, the wee baby-all claimed q
part in his thoughts; till the march
and battlefield, tent and hospital were
alike forgotten, and something gilt
tering in the moonlight very like a
tear, stole down the rough brown
cheek and lost itself in the uncut
beard.
eIa. the space before the tent, an
eager khot-of men were gathering
around a new conner, impatient to
receive tidings from home; for the
mail had arrived, and weary of the
dull monotony of their camp, they
longed with intense earnestness, for
a message of hope, q word of love
from the dear ones they had left be-
hind.
"a telegram for Ethan Gray"
With a quick intuition of dread,
Gray sprang forward and almost
snatched the paper from the mans
hand. A sharp, half-smothered cry
of pain, as though he felt the stun
ming blow of a bullet, and Ethan
Gray turned upon the bystanders 4
face almost as CHASTITY as they re
membered faces looking skyward
from the bloody and trambled sward,
after the battle was over. 1t was
one short sentence, three little words,
that sent the blood back to the heart
of the brave soldier, who had looked
upon scenes of carnage and blood,
where men lay stark and cold with
the tender, peaceful smile a gunshot
wound always leaves, when the fea
tCres are not disfigured, resting upon
their faces, as though Gods benedic-
ton had fallen at the last upon his
patriots. And this man, whose cour-
age had never forsaken him then,.
paled now, holding before his eyes
that scarcely sullied piece of paper:
'-Miley is deadF'
His ewes were blurred. The let
ters swan and blended strangely. A
mist was before him This for mo-
ment--then an eager, Unsuitable
yearning to look once more upon the
little face and form, a part of him
self, before they hid it away under
the -sIlroud he knew was lying
so white and still over the church
yard where they would lay him. =
And. too, who so well as himself
could comfort the stricken mother,
in this her first bereavement?
Gen. Meade's Headquarters were
not far, and he had heard-yes, the
carrier averred, that the great and
good man, whom a nation loved and
mourns, was with him at sundown
Gray's determination was at once ia
ken. He would see the President,
and from him receive permission to
look his last upon his boy.
1t was near midnight, when his
horse, reeking with foam, brought
him to the house occupied by the
General, and, before an uncurtained
window, two figures which he at once
recognized, gave new life to his flag |
lging hopes, for in his excitement he
had not stopped to consider he had
probably come on fruitless errand.
HE was admitted to the presence of
the Commander in Chief of the ar
| mics of the United States. Gray
never knew in what words he told
his simple story, but when he had
finished, and laid before him the mes
sage he had received, Lincoln drew
slowly and deliberately towards him