The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-11-30

N'f"N NANo'AAhA hltAoNNNNN llN
back away from his lips that her
baby mouth might steal kiss.
"Frld, don'tlook so discouraged,
one of these days, when this war is
oyer, and tho dear old flag floats
once more, proudlicr than ever over
all our pure, FREQ America, | will
write book, and you shall be the
hero, and what is more, perhaps
there will bc u heroine.n
Fred smiled just little, got mp,
threw Nelly upon his shoulder,
and went to bis room whistling
" John Brown"
lie was to go back TO his regi.
mcnt the next day. lhad to crush
the tears back every time | thought
of that; but | did not let him
know it. He was brave hearted
and truo to his country in the hour
oi trial, and wished even then
and in all my alter sorrow | never
repented ,ha, wish--that | had u
dozen such brothers to defend the
dear old flag. | had but one, and
he himself was a host, and | own
felt very proud of him.
That evening tried to be very
gay. l laughed at all Melly's
pranks-l sang little snatches oI
songs carcssed Prince tried
50 hard to forget that withering to.
morrow that was to take my Fred
back to dangers and perils.
Fred, | think, understood my
feelings, for now and then | would
encounter look from those car.
nest eyes that wbitcncd my cheeks
and made me tremblo with the eft.
fort OF restraint thought that
evening would never one to an
end. But it did at last, and l had
kissed Fred good night and was
alone in my own room. | sat down
ON the bed where Nelly was sleep
ing, and let the great hot tears
roll down my face and fairly blind
ed me. | own felt ashamed to
cry. | could not but scorn my
, heart for being SO very weak.
know | wondered what had become
of those proud, patriotic feelings
that had hushcd all my fears Il
year before, when ut the first call
to arms, | had seen my dear one
ride away, and had chccrcd his
last hour at home with glowing
smiles and brave words. Ahl !
have learned since then--by many
u tale of woc-that sometimes
brave men that go forth to meet
the enemy come not back again.
i War has become thing more
real to me; but | knew | was
wrestling with fear when ought
to have been trusting in God.
slid down on my knees to the bed,
and strong, unvoiced prayer went
to the dear All-Father for strength
and courage.
My prayer was granted, for the
next morning parted with Fred
without tear. | buckled on his
sword, brushed back the brown
hair, every thread Of which was
dear to me; kissed for the last
time, those dear lips, claspcd that
: warm hand in mine, aud heard
God bless you, my own darling
sister " and Fred was gone
r Nelly cried bitterly for long time
t and at last fell asleep with hei
= tear stained face on the glossy nccl
r of Prince, who, in the Kindness o
. the canine heart had brushed the
little golden curls nearly straight
: with his sympathetic tongue.
} The days passed on. | had lit
tie time to weary waiting for let
ters. They came often and wcr
D full of inspiration and hope, un
mingled with dark torebodings O
o fears. March was resonant wit
trumpet winds-the sun grew still
warmer and warmcr-blue birds
meadow.larks and robbins twine,
!. their songs with the perfume o
j cowslips, liverwort and violets
:. and the warm rays bound them i,
b wreath and made the season
e royal crown. A radiance borrow
D ed from sunny days filled my heart
e | forgot my fears, or smiled ut til,
thought of them,
] All at once Nelly sickened. 4
great scarlet flame OF fever wrap
Il ped her about, and scorchcd, an,
smothered, and finally drank up tn
little stream OF life that had aeel
II musical with ripples of childisI
!. mirtb. / looked on the still face
SO sweet and peaceful, and iel
that Nelly was with her father ano
y mother in that beautiful and where
flowers are iadeless, and eternal
spring reigns. / thought how of,
y ten her baby voice had tried to sing,
81 want to be an angel )" and
now felt that God bad made her
f such, and although my heart was
sore with the loss, | could not but
Y feel that it was best for her. l laid
the little white face away beneath
e the violets, and went to my lonely
/, home, so stiff, SO silent, with no
' little gleeful laugh TO light it up.
| wrote the sad news to Fred. -
+. There were long, dark, weary days
: between the one ON which / wrote
0 and the one on which | received
e an answer. ! hardly know how
: endured them. Fred's letter came
so full Of sympathy and tender
love--so full of concern for me.
He had forgotten his own sorrow
\ 40