Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-13

quiet families 10 church, and little children
playing about the doersteps, ssd peaceful
women insunny houses, and gay girls waving
on men to battle through glittering streets
and prayers, and looks Of love, and songs
and lowers, and Alice; asd on all this role,
sud lsnly eense Of what was actually around
him, as under calm sky and cut Of sti d
sea sweeps suddenly some huge wave on ,hel
quiet beach. de saw about him rags, filth.
men sick, men dying, men dead, men sroan-
ing, men cursing. men gfbberiDg. The .
rose up befo re him the grim succession OF
days Of hunger, pain, sorrow, and loneliness,
already past; there came upon him terri
BILE threatening Of days TO como, yet worse
line. he rose, staggering, and with wild
and desperate look that startled Corny.
Fur the Lords sake, wud ye destbroy
yerselG?" cried the faithful fellow. throwing
bis arms about him to hold him fast. Och,
honey ye're hereto, and the gsod Lords
q Catholic; but thin He made US all, and He
has pity on the poor crathur that's sufferin'
here or His hearts harder nor Corpy's; the
saints fergiv me for such = spaehl Pray,
Musther Talcott, pray
Pray" exclaimed Drake; ii, there
Ged looking down here?" and dropping on
his knees, he gasped out
70 Ged it Thou dost yet hsar save me
from going madH and fell forward at Corny's
feet, senseless
He was carried to the hospital, and lay
there weeks. lost in the deliriurn OF fever,
and every morning there peered in at the
inner door Of the stockadsa huge shock of
hair, and red, anxieu. face, with
The top of the mornin' to ye, docthor,
and It's ashamed am to be afthsr throukln'
ye SO often: but will yer honor plass to tell
me how Musther Talcott is the day?"
and having ireceived desired information.
Corny would take himself of with blessings
on his honor, that had consideration Of
the feelins' of poor Irisbman."
One morning there was change in the
programme.
'I have good news for you, Corny," said
the kindly doctor. 'Talcott ,is out OF
danger"
"Hurray! and the saints be praised fur
thst!' shouted Corny, cutting csper.
But have better news for you yet" con-
tinued the doctor, watching Cerny closely.
His name is on the list Of exchanged pris.
oners. and he will be sent home on rhursday
next"
Corny's face fell.
is he, henor?" very hesitntingly; and
tiion suudeuly Clearing up, ana nufra fur
that toe! and I'm an ongrsteful basts to be
sorry that he's to be clear of this hole.-bad
scran to it land long life till him, and
blessin' go wild him! and if''-cheking-
I'VE don't mate on earth, suret the Lord
won't kape him foriver in purgatory and he
50 kind and fselin' for the sick"
The doctor could not suppress q ihugh''at
this limited hope
But, Cerny, what if you are to be sent
home teo?"
''Me?--a1d was it me yer honor was
sayin'? Och, hiven bless ys fur that world
aud it S net laaghin' at me is yer honor2
Sure ye'd niver have the heart to ckate e
poor boy like that! All the saints be praised.
Fam a man agin, and not starvin' machine;
and shall see ye, Mary, mavouraesu but
och. the poor boys that we're lawn! Hurm!
howiver will ate three males a day, and
slape under blanket, and think of thin on
the ground, and starvin' by incbss!"
During the remainder Of his stay, Corny
balanced botwssn joy and his selashness in
being joyful, in Q manner efficiently
udicreus-breaking out one msmcnt in the
most extravagant demonstrations, to be
twitehed from it the next by a penitentia
spasm. As for Drake, hardly yet clear OF
the shadows that haunted his fever, he but
mistily comprehended the change that was
before him; and it will require weeks and
perhaps months Of home nursing and watch.
ing before body and mind can win back their
former strength and tone