Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-11-08

mau.u c1rsssrug!v and said, Papa sick ~
Next dag the doctor come. He sat an
hour with Frank: instructed me in the
new duties of my office AS nurse, for !
would have no other; pressed Franks
hand cordially. and left the room. fol
lowed him to the door
How long can he live?" | asked.
The doctor shook his head
"All will depend on the care of him
Mrs More on With such care as | know
YOU will give him. he may survive q
month OF even two lie has had 81 hard
trme. Damn the viilsinsl they'd be
torn to pieces like carrion. It had my
way with them.'
When | went back to Frank, he asked
NE what the doctor said.
Don't conceal anything from me dear
wife" said he There Is no need, !
have been on familiar terms with death
for many months. | im ready to CO.
Then | told him and he smiled. There
was q peculiar light in his eyes and he
turned them on me, and SAID:
MARY. | shall live till Spring"
II was October then. So many months
Of life yet? it seemed like a precious
boon. Nearly half year to live? Oh,
what a world of love should he crowded
into that time, and | believed him, too
don't know why, but | did.
The winter rolled by slowly, but he did
not die. Sometimes | would feel wild
hope that he might recover, and he would
smile and shake his head in answer tC
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 star
ling came to his old nest in the apple
Tree bv the well. Sometimes Frank
would bid me open the window, so that
ne could hear the plaintive note OF the
blue birds and the twitter of the sparrow
under the caves. Wrapped in heavy
shawls, and sitting in his great arm chair
he would gaze out of the window with his
dreamy blue eyes till he seemed to forget
that | was there.
They are getting ready" he would
murmur, al shall hear from them soon
l thought he was talking of the angels
what do you see out there, Captain
Frank?" asked DR.. Thomas, one such
day as he entered the room.
y am looking southwark ~ whispered
Frank. There will be grand news from
the front very soon. That Is what | am
waiting for"
Then we understood him. The window
looks south, and commands view of the
ROAD leading to the village ten miles away
L was there he sat when he died.
You must know that here on the hight;
we get the news but once a week. We
are on no highway where travellers pass
The half-dozen farmers who I've on the
nights with us, go to the village on Sat
urdays, the common market day. Then
we get weekly newspapers, which IS Is
sued in the village on Friday morning
and contains all the events of the week
that is past Prank slept none on Thurs,
day night, and Friday morning ne asked
that Philip be sent to the village for the
Republican.
II was afternoon when Philip returned
Frank sat by the open window, gazing
earnestly down the road. The air was as
balmv as June, and the birds were flying
about and twittering joyously in the trees
Presently Philip came in sight round a
bend in the road. He was waving the
newspaper in the air, and seemed TO be
shouting something, but we could not
hear. The orchard shut him from view
a minute after and | ran down to meet
him ana get the Republican.
"Hooraw cried Philip. Victory"
devoured the news with quick eyes
and ran up stairs to Frank, and knelt by
his chair.
Dear husband" !" said l, "the news is
grand Do you think you can bear It?'
MARY" said ne, 81 shall never be
stronger than [ am at this hour. 1t l;
my last. Tell me the good news. | have
waited long for it."
Amidst my tears | read the news
Richmond was evacuated and our troop:
occupied it, jeff Davis was flying fol-
life, and Lees whole army surrendered
TO Grant. An order had been issued tC
stop recruiting and drafting. Peace hao
already dawned.
He listened with closed eyes, and ar
expression OF unutterable happiness or
his white face. GLORY :" he murmured
when had done. Tine night Is past
Dear wife, | am happy now. ! knew
should live to see the dawn
An hour later he passed away. sa
at his feet clasping his hand in mine.
Mary he whispered. you know th'
legacy l leave my boy. He is too youni
to understand now, but as he grows uI
teach him its priceless value. The da,
will come when he viii be prouder t
know that his father died one OF th'
martyrs of freedoms cause than he woult
be if | had left him heir to millions.
was a soldier too. wore the army blue :.
His breath came fainter. His han'
grew lifeless in my clasp. Then he ros
up in his chair, gazed with brilliant eye
out at the window towards the south
waved his bony hand in the air, and tel
back upon the cushions. l touched M
cold forehead with my lips, and heard hi
! last faint whisper. -.
Mary don't forget!-I wore the blue I!
And he was one of the many.