The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-06-14

formed silent prayer goes up from the
heart of the widow and tears drop thick
and fast upon her furrowed checks, for
her home will now be desolate indeed
and when at last the two are made one
the mother presses her daughter to her
bosom-now hers no more foreyer-one,
long moaning sob, which she tries to re.
press, escapes her, and she feels that the
light has gone out from the hearthstoue
when the carriage containing the newly
married couple rolled away from the door.
A mouth had passed Captain Burnett's
absence had expired, he joined his regi-
ment taking his young bride with him
much against his better judgemeut-to
that desolate portion of Eastern Virginia
which was soon after the scene of a terri.
BILE battle.
But though he presented camp life and
marches in their dreariest aspect to her,
her reply was:
"'Where thou goest will co. Had
I thought you would refuse to let me bear
you company in your perils, [ would not
have married you"
"Lucy dearest, how can delicate form
| like yours bear the tedious marches
which many hardy soldier sinks under
and then to subsist for weeks on hard,
dry, often times repulsive food-what a
change from the delicacies you have been
nurtured on"
"Let me hut try, Edward am strong
and brave aud healthy, and will cheer
fully bear all the privations you mention,
nay, more, so l may be your companion" !"
| And thus it was that the brave cap
tain yielded to his young wife's entreaties.
The young bride was for some time
charmed with the novelty of camp life,
and while listening to the stirring beat
of the drum, as the different companies
went through their drills, she almost
wished herself ''brave soldier boy" No
prouder sight had her eyes ever witnessed
than that of her gallant husband as, at
the head of his brave band of cavalry he
set out for the battle field.
"And am | to be left behind ?" she
asked, as Edward spraug from his saddle
aud entered the tent to give her part
ing kiss.
"Certainly, dearest. What could we
do With woman on the battle field"
Il feel as if could Gght too, Edward.
Pray let me accompany you"
"Not for the wide world can I consent
Some i'll would most assuredly befall you !;
and you would be, at least, but STUN
bling block in our way. I have given
Stanton the charge Of affairs here, and
unit! return or you hear from me, fol-
low implicitly his directions Should |
fall, dear Lucy" and his voice tremb!ed
slightly "go back to your mother without
delay"
Lucy's eyes we're dim with tears, but
she soon wiped them away to watch the
little band which her husband led as they
galloped across the wide plain.
The battle field was not far distant and
soon she heard the roar of artillery. The
loud booming Of cannon and the fiendish
Kissing of the shells, that sped fercer
than thunderbolts through the air, set
her nearly frantic.
"Stauton /" she cried, going to the
door, where he was busy putting things
in marching order.
"Is there horse here 2"
"Yes, ma'am, couple"
fThen saddle the swiftess for me. [
am going out for ride"
"But, ma'am, the captain said"
"No matter what the captain said, [
must have the horse at once"
II have no lady's saddle"
"No matter; saddle Of any kind will
do"
"But, madam-~!'
Stamping her little foot.
"Look yonder !" And she pointed to
the northeast. "A heavy Rebel force is
coming unexpectedly, upon our troops.
With swift horse can reach my hus
bands column and give the alarm 10 time
to circumveut them. Now do my bidding
at cnccp %
Stanton in fear and wonder obeycd )!
and when he led forth the high melted
steed Lucy appeared in regular military
suit Of her husbands, with her curls SO
nicely slowed away beneath the close ft-
ting cap, that the man in waiting could
scarcely believe the boyish looking soldier
before him was 10 other than the CAP
tain's wife.
"Shall not accompany you, madam 7"
he asked, as she sprang lightly into the
saddle.
IL want no retainers, Stanton; stag
where you are, and follow the captains
orders"
Lucy did not wait for him to finish the
sentence, but putting spurs to her steed,
took the route her husband had taken,
L . r i